Following the recent mention of the company, Intrafish published a clarification from KB Group on July 6, 2026.
We fully understand that the tragic accident on December 4, 2024 is being discussed. At the same time, we believe it is necessary to clarify matters that we experience as misleading in the discussion of the KB Group, our employees, systems, routines and safety culture.
The text below is the same clarification published by Intrafish.
IntraFish has in recent days published several stories based on the deeply tragic accident on December 4, 2024, in which one of our divers died. I fully understand that such an accident is being reported. I also greatly understand that the family of the deceased is seeking answers, and for the desire that such an incident will never happen again. The accident still affects us deeply.
However, it is necessary to clarify some matters. In our view, the coverage in IntraFish mixes the specific accident with other companies, previous history, source claims and matters that are still under consideration by the authorities. This leaves an impression of the KB Group and our employees that we do not recognize.
KB-Gruppen AS was established in 2019. Several of the matters discussed concern events before the company was established, or matters related to other companies and time periods. We made IntraFish aware of this well in advance of the articles being published.
I took over as CEO of KB-Gruppen in May 2024. During my time as CEO, we have experienced one serious incident: the accident on December 4, 2024. This is still under police investigation. That is precisely why we cannot pursue the cause, responsibility or details in the media.
It is not correct that KB-Gruppen has not wanted to comment on the matter. We have provided a number of written clarifications to avoid misunderstandings. We have chosen to respond in writing because the matter is serious, because it is still being investigated and because we want to provide precise answers without influencing the authorities' work.
The KB Group is critical of and has contested several of the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority's factual and legal assessments. Our comments have been given through the formal channels. The Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority's assessments are therefore not a unified or final picture of the case, even though they are presented as such in several places in IntraFish's coverage.
We reject that commercial considerations have taken precedence over safety in KB-Gruppen. We also reject that the company has had a practice where diving tables have been changed or circumvented in order to get more work done. KB-Gruppen does not accept bullying or harassment, and we do not recognize ourselves in a representation where this is described as part of our culture.
Prior to publication, we asked IntraFish to clarify several of the allegations. Without such information, it is difficult to verify the information and provide a real, simultaneous response. We have nevertheless reviewed internal communication channels, quality/HSE systems and HR systems, based on the information that was made known to us. The review has not provided support for several of the allegations as they are formulated, and in some cases the available information provides a different and more complex picture.
KB-Gruppen has routines for training, risk assessment, work planning, non-conformance reporting and notification. Over time, we have been subject to audits, supervision and customer assessments, and are continuously working on improvements in dialogue with customers, supervisory authorities and external professional communities.
It is difficult to be in the media spotlight that many of our employees experience as unfair and hurtful. We tolerate critical questions. But we cannot accept that a mix of different companies, time periods, claims and preliminary assessments paints a misleading and unrecognizable picture of us.
I am proud to lead a maritime service company with skilled and competent employees. We will help shed light on the issue through the right channels, learn from where there is a basis for it, and stand up for our employees and our responsibility as an employer.
Are Brekk
CEO of KB Group
