Lack of training, crew awareness factors in capsize of tugboat on Fraser River last year
Posted October 2, 2019 12:09 pm.
Last Updated October 2, 2019 12:11 pm.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – A lack of training and crew awareness factored into the capsizing of a tugboat at the north arm of the Fraser River in August of last year, a new report says.
Transportation Safety Board investigators say the 19-metre-long George H. Ledcor became unbalanced after failing to navigate a change in direction for a barge carrying more than 4,600 tonnes of gravel. The attached tow rope pulled the smaller vessel over, capsizing it.
Four crew members had to be rescued from the overturned hull after the vessel “rapidly” capsized not far from Vancouver International Airport, with one deckhand suffering a serious injury to his hand.
Released today: Investigation report about the girding and capsizing of the tug George H Ledcor, 13 August 2018, #FraserRiver, British Columbia https://t.co/lYaRKlM5yP #TSBMarine
— TSB of Canada (@TSBCanada) October 2, 2019
The tugboat had the the capacity to carry 22,000 litres of diesel, but investigators were not able to determine how much fuel ended up in the river.
The investigation found three safety mechanisms on the tug could have released tension on the tow line but were in different locations and labelled differently — and the board predicts more incidents will occur if tug masters don’t receive recurrent training and the industry maintains its informal approach to safety.
Between 2005 and 2018, the TSB has investigated 21 capsizings under similar conditions.
With files from the Canadian Press
