More calls for Federal Government to address safety issues in marine towing industry following Transportation Safety Board report on Ingenika

The Transportation Safety Board released its report into the sinkin
of the Wainwright Tugboat Ingenika today
(image from TSB)

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada released its findings into the February 10, 2021 sinking of the Wainwright Tug MV Ingenika. 

The marine incident one which claimed the lives of Mariners Troy Pearson and Charley Cragg and left a third member of the crew, Zac Dolan hospitalized.

The report from today provided some additional background towards the conditions of the day and the nature of the work that the tug  was taking on in its part of its transit of Gardener Canal between Kitimat and Kemano. 

A pair of paragraphs from the report notes of the lack of requirements currently in place and the dangers that continues to bring to the industry.

Since 2015, the TSB has investigated six occurrences involving tugs of 15 GT or less operating on the west coast of Canada that have raised concerns around the adequacy of regulatory surveillance, a systemic safety issue that has been on the TSB Watchlist since 2010.

The TSB has also noted that there is currently no requirement for towing companies to assess any of the risks that might be present in their operations. This means that risks in towing operations will continue to go undetected and unmitigated, placing crews, tugs, tows, and the environment at risk.

The TSB then identified four areas for action from the Industry and the Ministry of Transportation.

Expand its surveillance program to include regular inspections of tugs of 15 gross tonnage or less to verify that these vessels are complying with regulatory requirements.

Require authorized representatives of tugs of 15 GT or less to assess the risks present in their operations, including the suitability of their tugs for the specific towing operations they are undertaking. 

The TSB also had recommendations for the Pacific Pilotage Authority: 

Verify that eligibility requirements are met before issuing pilotage waivers to companies operating tugs in compulsory pilotage areas. 

Implement a process to verify ongoing compliance with waiver conditions by companies operating tugs in compulsory pilotage areas. 

The full report can be reviewed here.

The overview from the TSB of Canada left Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP quite angered at the final findings from the Safety Board officials.

“I’m infuriated at the details contained in the TSB’s report. It paints a stark picture of negligence by both the vessel’s owner and the federal government — negligence that cost two workers their lives. I won’t rest until there is accountability and justice.” 

One of the key elements of the Safety Board  investigations to note how the  Ingenika’s crew were not adequately trained, onboard survival equipment had not been maintained, and the vessel was underpowered for the barge it was towing

“For years, the TSB has warned the Transport Minister about safety concerns related to smaller tugboats, but the government’s weak response so far has included only voluntary measures. The fact that two years have passed without the minister putting in place stricter rules is nothing short of shameful,” 

The Skeena Bulkley Valley MP who participated in a press conference following the decision called on federal transport minister Omar Alghabra to immediately implement all of the Transportation Safety Board’s recommendations, which include mandatory inspections for tugboats under 15 tons. 

He also called for increased enforcement presence by Transport Canada, and higher fines for non-compliance.

 “We can’t allow this Minister to continue his government’s legacy of foot-dragging and corporate capture that has persisted for far too long. Protecting worker safety cannot be voluntary — it must be mandatory. The mariners who board these vessels every single day on our coast deserve to come home to their families.”

Participating in todays conference along with the MP were members of the ILWU along with the families of both Mr. Pearson and Mr. Cragg. 

Judy Carlick-Pearson, spoke to the need to ensure that companies are liable for their actions 

"For me it's to try to understand why the sentencing and the fines are so low for these companies, to commit something as heinous and be charged with something so minimal. 

In other countries, the fines are so much more than in Canada and they're protected under WorkSafe.

It's not good, we've got to get out that so that companies and corporations are being held liable and thinking twice about being negligent in their operations"

All of those speaking  highlighted the failure of the government to provide proper oversight of the industry and called for the Ministry of Transportation to take action on the recommendations. 

The press conference can be viewed below:

You can review the history of the Ingenika incident from our archive page.