Skip to main content

Accidents

River Queen (2010)

River Queen capsized and sank on the Fraser River after a log boom tow overtook the tug in a strong current.

Classification

  • Incident Type: Capsize girding
  • Severity: High

Vessel Details

FieldValue
Vessel NameRiver Queen
Vessel TypeTug
Flag State
IMO Number
Gross Tonnage8.8
LOA (m)
Breadth (m)
Bollard Pull (t)
Power (kW)
Owner/OperatorForrest Marine Ltd.
TEU
Year Built1972
Crew Size2

Incident Details

FieldValue
Date2010-06-02
LocationFraser River near Delta Cedar Products sawmill, British Columbia
Coordinates55.0013, -125.0024
RegionCanada
Fatalities0
Injuries0
Missing0
Cargo Loss
Direct DamageThe tug sank in about 10 feet of water and was later recovered for unspecified repairs.
Economic Damage
Insured Loss
Salvage/Cleanup Cost

Key facts

  • River Queen capsized at about 08:30 on 2 June 2010 near the Delta Cedar Products sawmill on the Fraser River in British Columbia.
  • The article attributed the casualty to a strong current catching the log boom, allowing the tow to overtake the tug and gird it over on the starboard side.
  • A Delta Cedar boom boat rescued both crew members almost immediately. They were reported uninjured after hospital observation.
  • River Queen was a 25-foot tug of 8.8 gross tons, built in 1972 and owned by Forrest Marine Ltd.
  • The tug sank in about 10 feet of water, was later recovered, and was reportedly undergoing unspecified repairs.

Narrative

On 2 June 2010, River Queen was delivering a log boom from Annacis Island to the Delta Cedar Products sawmill on the Fraser River. At about 08:30, near the sawmill, the strong current caught the boom and caused it to overtake the tug. The tow girded River Queen over on its starboard side, and the tug sank in about 10 feet of water.

A Delta Cedar boom boat witnessed the sinking and recovered the two crew members almost immediately. They were taken to hospital for observation and were later released. The article identifies Forrest Marine Ltd. of Coquitlam, British Columbia, as the owner. It describes River Queen as a 25-foot, 8.8-gross-ton tug built in 1972. The vessel was later recovered and was reportedly undergoing unspecified repairs in July.

The available account states that the exact circumstances remained under investigation at the time. It does not identify a final investigation report, damage estimate, flag state, or official vessel registry identifiers.

Sequence of events

Date/timeEvent
2010-06-02 08:30 localRiver Queen capsized near the Delta Cedar Products sawmill after the log boom tow overtook and girded the tug.
2010-06-02A Delta Cedar boom boat rescued both crew members almost immediately; they were later released after hospital observation.

Contributing factors

FactorEvidence statusDescription
Strong current and tow overtakingReportedThe account, quoting a Transportation Safety Board investigator, states that the current caught the boom and caused it to overtake and gird the tug.

Investigation

The available Professional Mariner account quoted a Transportation Safety Board of Canada investigator and stated that the exact circumstances remained under investigation. No final investigation findings or official report link are identified in the available public account.

References

Similar incidents