Classification
- Incident Type: Capsize girding
- Severity: Medium
- Region: Canada
Vessel Details
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Vessel Name | LCM131 |
| Vessel Type | Tug |
| Flag State | |
| IMO Number | |
| Gross Tonnage | |
| LOA (m) | |
| Breadth (m) | |
| Power (kW) | |
Incident Details
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Date | 2015-06-22 |
| Location | St. Lawrence Seaway near Cornwall, Ontario |
| Region | Canada |
| Coordinates | |
| Fatalities | |
| Injuries | 1 |
| Missing | |
| Direct Damage | |
| Economic Damage | |
Key facts
- TSB Appendix B identifies occurrence M15C0108 on 2015-06-22.
- LCM131 was manoeuvring a tow wire attached to barge OC 181.
- The tug girded and capsized near Cornwall on the St. Lawrence Seaway.
- The capsize occurred about five hours after tug Lac Manitoba capsized during the same barge-positioning work.
- The captain escaped with a broken ankle; other crew members evacuated to the barge or were recovered from the water.
Narrative
On 22 June 2015, two tugs capsized during work to position steel barge OC 181 at a footing of the Seaway International Bridge near Cornwall, Ontario. Lac Manitoba capsized first. About five hours later, LCM131 resumed the securing operation while connected to the barge by a towline. As the tug manoeuvred around the bow, the river current reportedly overpowered it and pinned it against the barge's hull. LCM131 listed, downflooded and rolled onto its side. Professional Mariner
Most of the crew evacuated onto the barge. Contemporary reporting showed one crew member in the water who was recovered shortly afterward. The captain was briefly trapped inside the tug, escaped with a broken ankle and was evacuated on a stretcher. The TSB deployed investigators the next day to assess both capsizes and stated that their relationship was then unknown. Its later Appendix B records LCM131 as occurrence M15C0108 and describes the tug as girding and capsizing while manoeuvring a tow wire attached to a barge. Cornwall Seaway News, TSB deployment notice, TSB Appendix B
Sequence of events
| Date/time | Event |
|---|
| 2015-06-22 16:00 local (approximately) | Lac Manitoba capsized during the OC 181 positioning work. |
| 2015-06-22 21:00 local (approximately) | LCM131 was pinned against OC 181 by the current, listed, downflooded and capsized. |
| 2015-06-23 | The TSB announced that investigators would assess both occurrences. |
Contributing factors
| Factor | Evidence status | Description |
|---|
| Strong river current | Reported | Contemporary reporting and a later account of TSB information describe the current overpowering LCM131 and pinning it against OC 181. |
| Suitability for the task | Reported | A TSB safety information letter quoted by Professional Mariner stated that the suitability of the tugs for the operation in the prevailing river conditions had not been thoroughly assessed. |
Investigation
Appendix B of TSB report M18P0230 records this earlier occurrence; the report investigates George H. Ledcor, and its causal findings do not establish the causes of this capsize. No standalone investigation report for M15C0108 has been identified. The TSB deployment notice corrected the second tug’s identity from Dyna-Mo to LCM 131. Professional Mariner reported a later TSB safety information letter, but the letter itself is unavailable.
References
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