The TSB Releases Report into the May 2011 Sinking of the Small Fishing Vessel Neptune II east of the Broken Islands in Johnstone Strait, British Columbia

GATINEAU, QC, July 24, 2012 /CNW/ - The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) today released its investigation report (M11W0063) into the sinking of the small fishing vessel Neptune II on 9 May 2011, in Johnstone Strait, British Columbia.

Shortly after 4 am local time on 9 May 2011, a fire broke out in the engine room of the small fishing vessel Neptune II. After their attempt to fight the fire failed, the two crew members abandoned the vessel into their dive tender and issued a distress call. Neptune II burned to the waterline and subsequently sank. There were no injuries. The TSB found, among other things, that "not practising or evaluating emergency drills routinely can leave crew members at risk of being unprepared in cases of emergency," and "that crews who have not experienced an emergency in the past may have a lower perception of risk."

The TSB has identified Fishing Vessel Safety as an issue on its Watchlist. Visit the Transportation Safety Board's website (www.bst-tsb.gc.ca) for information about the new Watchlist which identifies the transportation safety issues that pose the greatest risk to Canadians. In each case, the TSB has found that actions taken to date are inadequate, and that industry and regulators need to take additional concrete measures to eliminate the risks.

The report is available on the TSB website at www.tsb-bst.gc.ca.

The TSB is an independent agency that investigates marine, pipeline, railway and aviation transportation occurrences. Its sole aim is the advancement of transportation safety. It is not the function of the Board to assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability.

 

SOURCE: TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD OF CANADA

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