CALEDONIAN

Allgemeine Informationen

Kurs/Position

Die neuesten Nachrichten

TSB report on sinking of Caledonian released

Six weeks after it warned of a systemic problem of “vessel modifications and their impact on stability in the Canadian commercial fishing industry, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada found that the operating practices of othe "Caledonian" that capsized and sunk on Sep 5, 2016, was different from those presented in its stability booklet. The TSB Report was released during a news conference in Steveston, B.C. Wednesday, on Dec. 14, 2016. After the Caledonian sunk off the coast of Vancouver Island, three of the four crew members died and only the survivor was wearing a personal floatation device. In September, 2015, the "Caledonian" was trawling for hake about 20 kilometers west of Nootka Sound, B.C., reported TSB, which is separate from Transport Canada and investigates incident in aviation, railways, pipelines and marine. Built in 1974, the "Caledonian" was a 100-foot vessel owned by Caledonian Holdings Inc. of North Vancouver, British Columbia Below the main deck was the engine room (located forward), 6 fish holds (3 on each side), and 8 fuel tanks (4 on each side). There were also freshwater tanks located below the forward fish holds. At some point after 1998, Tthe tank configuration was changed, and the fuel tanks in the engine room were converted to freshwater tanks. The 2 fuel tanks below the forward fish holds were no longer used, and the 2 fuel tanks below the centre fish holds were used to store fuel for the 2 fuel tanks at the stern, which were the only tanks used to supply the main engine with fuel. At about 2:00 p.m. on Sep. 5, 2015, the crew of the "Caledonian" prepared to haul in the trawl. This involved adding seawater to the ice in the 2 centre holds so that they were filled halfway. At this time, the vessel had a slight port list. After the crew stored a bag of hake, the port list began to increase. Another bag of hake was pulled up the trawlway and was partially suspended from the boom. The deck hatch cover for the centre port hold had remained off after the initial bag had been stowed. The vessel was now trimmed by the stern and listed further to port, causing additional seawater to ship onto the deck, submerging nearly half of the trawl door. Eventually, about half a meter of water covered the deck and the vessel capsized. After the capsizing, the master stayed with the vessel and climbed onto the overturned hull. Shortly after the capsizing, the master saw the engineer in the water and called out, but there was no response. Nearly an hour later, the mate, who was wearing a PFD when the vessel capsized, managed to swim back to the overturned hull to join the master. The vessel sank about 10:00 p.m. The master and mate jumped into the water and the mate reached life raft, climbed inside and was later rescued. In its report, TSB has issued a new recommendation that Transport Canada require persons to wear suitable personal flotation devices at all times when on the deck of a commercial fishing vessel or when on board a commercial fishing vessel without a deck or deck structure and that the Department of Transport ensure programs are developed to confirm compliance. Full report: http://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/marine/2015/m15p0286/m15p0286.asp

Three dead off Tofino

Three people died after the "Caledonian" capsized 50 kilometers NW of Tofino on Vancouver Island off Kyoquot in the evening of Se 5, 2015. Rescue services were alerted about 10 p.m. but only found one survivor, who was wearing a life jacket. He was saved from a raft by the passing cruise ship "Statendam" and transported to Victoria Hospital. Two crew members were recovered dead and a fourth was missing. The Coast Guard sent boats and a helicopter in the hope of finding the missing person. On Sep 6 at 2 p.m. the crew of a Cormorant helicopter sighted a body floating in the water. It was the mssing crew member.