Classification
- Incident Type: Capsize unknown mechanism
- Severity: High
- Primary Source: TSB Marine Investigation Report
M13N0014
Vessel Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | Western Tugger / Arctic Lift I |
| Vessel Names | Western Tugger / Arctic Lift I |
| Vessel Type | Tug |
| Flag State | Canada [CA] |
| Gross Tonnage | 389 |
| LOA (m) | 35.4 |
| Power (kW) | 1455 |
| Owner/Operator | Midnight Marine Limited |
| Year Built | 1943 |
| Crew Size | 8 |
Incident Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Date | 2013-05-10 |
| Location | About 33 nautical miles southwest of Burgeo, Newfoundland and Labrador |
| Region | Canada |
| Coordinates | 47.0000, -58.5000 |
| Fatalities | 1 |
| Injuries | 0 |
| Missing | 0 |
| Investigation Body | TSB |
| Vessels Lost | 1 |
| Direct Damage | |
| Economic Damage | |
| Outcome | Arctic Lift I capsized and was lost; the tow-wire strain shattered Western Tugger's auxiliary brake drum. |
Key facts
- Western Tugger was towing the steel-rebar-laden barge Arctic Lift I with eight crew aboard the tug.
- Arctic Lift I capsized at about 0625 local time, approximately 33 nautical miles southwest of Burgeo.
- The resulting strain on the tow wire shattered an auxiliary brake drum on Western Tugger's tow winch.
- Brake-drum fragments struck a crew member, who later died from the injuries.
Narrative
On 10 May 2013, the Canadian tug Western Tugger was towing Arctic Lift I, a barge loaded with steel rebar, off Newfoundland and Labrador. Western Tugger had eight crew members aboard and was operated by Midnight Marine Limited. At about 0625 local time, approximately 33 nautical miles southwest of Burgeo, Arctic Lift I capsized while under tow.
The barge's capsize imposed strain on Western Tugger's tow wire. The strain shattered an auxiliary brake drum on the tug's tow winch, and fragments from the drum struck a crew member. The injured crew member later died. The report described no additional injuries, and all persons were accounted for.
The principal physical casualty was the capsize of Arctic Lift I, while the fatal consequence occurred aboard Western Tugger. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada documented the tug as a Canadian vessel of 389 gross tonnage, 35.4 m in length, with 1,455 kW propulsion. It was built in 1943. The available report record does not establish the barge's capsize mechanism, so the occurrence remains classified as a capsize of unknown mechanism. It also does not provide an IMO number, breadth, or bollard pull for Western Tugger, and no coordinates or normalized economic-loss figure are stated.
Sequence of events
| Date/time | Event |
|---|---|
| 2013-05-10 06:25 local | Arctic Lift I capsized while under tow about 33 nautical miles southwest of Burgeo. |
| 2013-05-10 | Tow-wire strain shattered an auxiliary brake drum on Western Tugger's tow winch, and fragments struck a crew member. |
| 2013-05-10 | The injured crew member later died from the injuries. |
Investigation
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada investigated the casualty as M13N0014, Capsizing of tow and accidental death. The report documented the barge capsize, the resulting tow-wire strain and brake-drum failure, and the fatal injury aboard Western Tugger. The available evidence does not establish the mechanism by which Arctic Lift I capsized.
References
Related
- Canada
- Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB)
- Capsize Unknown Mechanism
- Tug Incident Classification
- Western Tugger
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