Backgrounder

Findings from TSB investigation M21P0030: February 2021 sinking of the tug Ingenika in British Columbia

Investigations conducted by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) are complex since an accident rarely results from a single cause. In the case of the February 2021 sinking of the tug Ingenika in British Columbia, which resulted in two crew member fatalities, several factors led to the accident. The three findings below detail the causes and contributing factors that led to this occurrence. Additionally during the course of the investigation, the TSB also made five findings as to risk and two other findings.

Findings as to causes and contributing factors

These are conditions, acts or safety deficiencies that were found to have caused or contributed to this occurrence.

  1. Without guidance to support a comprehensive assessment of the Ingenika’s suitability for the towing operation being undertaken, the tug and barge departed in adverse weather conditions unsuitable for the operation.
  2. As the tug and barge were making the turn around Europa Point in opposing wind and current with a reduced effective bollard pull, the drag force of the barge may have led the tug to heel over and the deck edge to submerge, resulting in downflooding through deck openings and the vessel sinking.
  3. The immersion suits on 2 of the crew members were only partially donned, which resulted in cold water entering the suits and caused the crew members’ deaths by hypothermia and subsequent drowning.

Findings as to risk

These are conditions, unsafe acts or safety deficiencies that were found not to be a factor in this occurrence but could have adverse consequences in future occurrences.

  1. If crew members do not have an opportunity to regularly practise responding to emergencies through drills, there is a risk that they will not respond effectively in an emergency, decreasing their chances of survival.
  2. If recurrent Marine Emergency Duties training is not required for crew members engaged on domestic voyages, there is a risk that they will not maintain their skills or be up to date with current knowledge and practices for handling emergencies.
  3. If towing companies do not prioritize risk management and provide guidance to help masters assess the suitability of tugs for the towing operations being undertaken, operational limits can be exceeded, placing the crew, the tug, the tow, and the environment at risk.
  4. If tugs of 15 gross tonnage or less are not subject to adequate regulatory surveillance, there is a risk that hazardous conditions and practices will not be addressed, leading to accidents.
  5. Without verification that crew members and vessels meet Pacific Pilotage Authority waiver requirements, there is a risk that non-compliance with waiver requirements will go undetected and compromise safety in compulsory pilotage waters.

Other findings

These items could enhance safety, resolve an issue of controversy, or provide a data point for future safety studies.

  1. The registration information for the Ingenika’s emergency position-indicating radio beacon was not up to date, which meant that search and rescue resources were not able to immediately contact the tug’s current owner.
  2. The surviving crew member, unencumbered by restrictions from a partially donned immersion suit, was able to remove himself from the water into the life raft before cold incapacitation caused him to drown.