The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is citing 鈥淚nsufficient maintenance and the absence of regulatory surveillance鈥� as contributing causes to the fatal capsizing and subsequent sinking of Cowichan Bay鈥檚 Arctic Fox II in August 2020.

The incident occurred some 136 kilometres offshore of Cape Flattery, just south of Port Renfrew.

The TSBC鈥檚 report, released on Nov. 8, noted that when the ship鈥檚 skipper and two crew members left the marina for the fishing grounds, both the skipper and the vessel鈥檚 owner believed the risks of the commercial fishing trip had been addressed sufficiently.

鈥淭heir perceptions of risk were likely influenced by economic incentives, approvals and certificates, and many successful voyages,鈥� said the report.

But, in the early hours of Aug. 11, 2020, the fishing vessel Arctic Fox II was reported as taking on water.

鈥淭he master attempted to deal with the water ingress and safety-critical tasks unassisted and ordered the crew members to prepare to abandon the vessel. As the vessel drifted and rolled in the sea conditions, waves landed on deck, making it difficult for the master and crew members to maintain their balance,鈥� said the report. 鈥淭he master and crew were unfamiliar with the instructions for deploying the life raft and, in their efforts to deploy the raft, its painter line was disconnected from the vessel and went overboard. Shortly after, the master and one of the crew members entered the water with their immersion suit only partially zipped and with ankle straps unsecured. Consequently, they were exposed to the elements and eventually drowned.鈥�

Names were not released by the coroner, however family later confirmed that skipper Tom Lindberg, 76, was one of the men who died.

The report noted that 鈥渢he familiarization of the life-saving equipment that the crew received was insufficient for them to successfully abandon the vessel, and the crew鈥檚 response was guided only by their limited experience.鈥�

One crew member, a 19-year-old man, survived as he was able to reach the life raft. He was ultimately rescued by the United States Coast Guard.

The investigation found it was 鈥渋nsufficient vessel maintenance and the absence of 鈥� that contributed to the vessel sinking.

What鈥檚 more, the incident highlighted the requirement for Transport Canada to provide better monitoring and more surveillance 鈥渢o effectively ensure that vessel owners and authorized representatives take ownership of their safety responsibilities and comply with regulatory requirements.鈥�