Classification
- Incident Type: Capsize girding
- Severity: High
- Primary Source: TSB Investigation
M19P0246
Vessel Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | Sheena M / Seaspan 566 |
| Vessel Names | Sheena M / Seaspan 566 |
| Vessel Type | Tug |
Incident Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Date | 2019-10-01 |
| Location | Williamsons Landing, British Columbia |
| Region | Canada |
| Coordinates | 49.4538, -123.4814 |
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Injuries | 1 |
| Missing | 0 |
| Investigation Body | TSB |
| Direct Damage | Sheena M capsized and sank |
Key facts
- Sheena M was towing the loaded chip barge Seaspan 566 with two people aboard the tug.
- The tug girded, capsized, and sank while making a turn near Williamsons Landing.
- The master reached and boarded the barge, while the deckhand reached a nearby log boom.
- A vessel of opportunity recovered both crew members; the deckhand sustained a minor injury.
Narrative
On 1 October 2019, the tug Sheena M was towing the loaded chip barge Seaspan 566 near Williamsons Landing, British Columbia. Two people, the master and a deckhand, were aboard the tug. During a turn, the tug girded, capsized, and sank.
Both crew members entered the water as the tug capsized. The deckhand, who was wearing a personal flotation device, swam to a nearby log boom, climbed onto it, and waited for assistance. The master swam to Seaspan 566 and boarded the barge. A vessel of opportunity arrived shortly afterward, recovered both people, and transported them to shore. The deckhand sustained a minor injury. No fatalities or missing persons were reported.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada classified the occurrence as a class 4 investigation. The investigation was limited in scope, and the published material did not contain findings or recommendations. The TSB nevertheless identified the occurrence as a girding and sinking, resolving the mechanism as girding rather than a non-girding capsize. The official material does not provide coordinates or detailed vessel particulars, so those values are not stated here.
Sequence of events
| Date/time | Event |
|---|---|
| 2019-10-01 | Sheena M began a turn near Williamsons Landing with loaded chip barge Seaspan 566 in tow. |
| 2019-10-01 | The tug girded, capsized, and sank; the master and deckhand entered the water. |
| 2019-10-01 | The deckhand reached a log boom and the master boarded the barge. |
| 2019-10-01 | A vessel of opportunity recovered both crew members and transported them to shore. |
Investigation
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada investigated the occurrence as M19P0246, Girding and sinking. The class 4 investigation confirmed the occurrence sequence, the two-person complement, the deckhand's minor injury, and the tug's sinking. Because the investigation was limited in scope, the published material contained no findings or recommendations.
References
Related
- Canada
- Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB)
- Capsize Girding
- Tug Incident Classification
- Sheena M
- Seaspan 566
Similar incidents
- 2016-04-19: Ricky J Leboeuf (2016)
- 2015-01-15: JMS Delta (2015)
- 1967-03-19: Vikingbank (1967)
- 2021-04-13: Seacor Power (2021)
- 2019-09-08: Golden Ray (2019)