What could cause a 60ft passenger boat to sink quickly = 5 drowned

[Robert Wilson]

I heard a report on tv last evening by the Canadian Safety Board saying that pax all rushed from one side to the other, and the boat rolled-over.

From the above comments, and the "ooo look, there's a whale over this side" syndrome, it sounds feasible, and likely.

 

[oceanfroggie]

I heard a report on tv last evening by the Canadian Safety Board saying that pax all rushed from one side to the other, and the boat rolled-over.

From the above comments, and the "ooo look, there's a whale over this side" syndrome, it sounds feasible, and likely.

Yes but that "rushing" from one side to another is a typical and well known behaviour on whale and dolphin watch boats. There must be additional factors that affected the stability on the day (eg loading, sea state, raised CG due past modifications, or too many pax on upper level only). These tragedies are usually caused by a combination of factors.

I remember an air accident report from US years ago that showed average weight calculations per pax had not been updated for decades yet average pax weight had increased substantially since the 60s resulting in many small commuter aircraft unknowingly flying over their max TO weight for years when seats full.

 

[minkysailing]

A very sad incident. We were in Tofino in July of this year. We didn't go on any trips with this company, but attach an image of the vessel in question next to us whilst bear watching. Being a surveyor and MCA Coding inspector I took this image because I was surprised at the heel angle of the vessel with all the passenger over to one side. The MCA have strict stability requirements for heel angle. I am sure the Canadian equivalent have the same. If a vessel is modified it must be re-tested for stability.

The cause of the incident remains speculative at this time. I have sent a high res copy of this image to the MCA for passing onto the Canadian authorities should they wish to use it.

 

[oceanfroggie]

A very sad incident. We were in Tofino in July of this year. We didn't go on any trips with this company, but attach an image of the vessel in question next to us whilst bear watching. Being a surveyor and MCA Coding inspector I took this image because I was surprised at the heel angle of the vessel with all the passenger over to one side. The MCA have strict stability requirements for heel angle. I am sure the Canadian equivalent have the same. If a vessel is modified it must be re-tested for stability.

The cause of the incident remains speculative at this time. I have sent a high res copy of this image to the MCA for passing onto the Canadian authorities should they wish to use it.

View attachment 54331

Thanks for the photo which says it all. She's not even full, but all the pax are on the upper level. One can only guess the heel angle and stability if the upper deck was full. Looks like an avoidable tragedy.

 

[Capt Popeye]

I heard a report on tv last evening by the Canadian Safety Board saying that pax all rushed from one side to the other, and the boat rolled-over.

From the above comments, and the "ooo look, there's a whale over this side" syndrome, it sounds feasible, and likely.

Humm, yes having been on one of those Whale Watching trips over there and other places in Canada the rush 'too see' is perhaps encouraged by the crew on board these vessels.
What I cannot get my head round is the apparent statement that, 'a large wave' struck the boat, given by passengers. Well if all or most were watching out over say the Port side, how did they see a 'large wave' coming from the Starboard side?
In apparent calm waters, as well?
Just might it have been a passing Whale? that did it?

 

[Targa37]

I operate a 37' charter boat coded to MCA CAT 2/12 passengers(60 miles offshore).
Stability tests are carried out with ALL the amount of passengers the boat is licenced to carry leaning over the boat's rail at the same time.
The degrees of deflection determine whether the vessel is granted a licence to operate.
The stability of my vessel( Fairline) surprised even the MCA Surveyor who carried out the Coding Survey.
It would appear that the Canadian certification requirements are not as stringent/thorough as the UK!
The MCA persecute & harass UK charter boats very unfairly and unreasonably.
The stability tests are one of the actions they carry out however that are justified and acceptable in the pursuit of safety at sea.
Take care,
John.A.Dunn.

 

[JumbleDuck]

On a heavily loaded boat the impact of a large wave beam on could be significant with a lopsided pax load.

The Waverley often had problems manoeuvring when she did trips round the floating submarine dock in the Holy Loch. All the passengers would go to that side to look at it, lifting the "outside" paddle almost clear of the water. I'm told that she handles like an inflated cow skin at the best of times ...

 

[Bajansailor]

There is also a thread about this incident on the Boat Design Forum.
http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/boat-design/whale-watching-boat-sunk-54479.html
If you scroll to post #8, Tad offers a good summary / analysis.
The whole issue of stability is very complex - you can calculate it to death in theory, but in practice there will invariably be some factor that was not sufficiently considered.
Maybe this is one reason why so many commercial passenger carrying small craft are catamarans now.
This whale watching catamaran is not much longer than the poor vessel that capsized, but she can apparently carry up to 105 passengers.
http://www.allamericanmarine.com/project/65-aluminum-catamaran-tour-boat-hoku-naia/

 

[alant]

Newspaper report says it was a calm and sunny day.

Hence "rogue".
Ships wash?

 

[alant]

A very sad incident. We were in Tofino in July of this year. We didn't go on any trips with this company, but attach an image of the vessel in question next to us whilst bear watching. Being a surveyor and MCA Coding inspector I took this image because I was surprised at the heel angle of the vessel with all the passenger over to one side. The MCA have strict stability requirements for heel angle. I am sure the Canadian equivalent have the same. If a vessel is modified it must be re-tested for stability.

The cause of the incident remains speculative at this time. I have sent a high res copy of this image to the MCA for passing onto the Canadian authorities should they wish to use it.

View attachment 54331

Doesn't look much different to many of the passenger tour boats in Poole Harbour. I skippered some of those & passengers headed for top deck when fine weather & none were expected to wear lifjackets as norm.

 

[Richard Shead]

To add some balance re lifejackets, I went whale watching out of Vancouver (Granville Island) when visiting a mate recently. Much to my surprise we all had to wear survival suits! It soon became apparent as to why as the boat we went out on was an open type landing craft which held 30 people. The flip side meant we had 3.5 hours at 25 knots in an open boat.....

Once on "site" there were about 20 boats of similar design (like the one that went down) with pretty much everyone on the top deck.

 

[rafiki_]

For info, we have whale watched several times in the States, east and west coasts, never felt anything other than completely safe. No life jackets but I had a good look round before we cast off to work out exit routs if required.