National

Ship crews need to watch the forecast: TSB report

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 09 Feb, 2021 12:31 AM

A collision between two bulk carriers anchored while waiting for cargo at the Port of Vancouver has prompted a safety message by the Transportation Safety Board.

A board report released Monday says the crash happened between the Green K-Max and the Golden Cecilie on March 30 last year in the water between Saturna and South Pender islands.

It says a strong wind was blowing and the Golden Cecilie's anchor started to drag, sending it in the direction of the other anchored ship that had originally been almost 1,300 metres away.

By the time the master of the Golden Cecilie ordered the anchors to be heaved up and used the main engine to move away from the Green K-Max, it was too late and the ships collided, damaging both vessels above the water line.

The report says while the Cecilie's safety management system was certified and audited, the investigation found gaps in preparedness for adverse weather.

The safety board's message is that crews need to collect weather forecasts in a timely matter, be aware of risk factors that can lead to a dragging anchor and ensure that the main engines and anchors are ready to go at the first sign of a dragging anchor.

Photo courtesy of Istock.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Conversion therapy ban approved in principle

O'Toole allowed his MPs a free vote on the issue, part of his bargain with social conservatives that helped him secure the Conservative leadership in August.

Conversion therapy ban approved in principle

Blair pledges to address prison isolation concerns

Prisoners transferred to the units are supposed to be allowed out of their cells for four hours each day, with two of those hours engaged in "meaningful human contact."

Blair pledges to address prison isolation concerns

Andrew Scheer not voting in U.S. election

In the 2016 presidential election, there were approximately 620,000 Americans in Canada who were eligible to cast ballots, though only around 32,000 did.

Andrew Scheer not voting in U.S. election

COVID-19 deaths hit racialized communities hardest: Stats Can

The report's authors say it is more evidence that the pandemic is disproportionately affecting visible minorities, who are more likely to live in overcrowded housing and work in jobs that put them more at risk of exposure to COVID-19.

COVID-19 deaths hit racialized communities hardest: Stats Can

EI commissioners: start review of safety net now

The shortcomings in EI, flagged for years by experts, have been exposed by the pandemic, including that not every worker is covered, nor can everyone who is covered get benefits when they need them.

EI commissioners: start review of safety net now

Steep drop in right whale population raises fears

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported that as of January 2019, an estimated 366 North Atlantic right whales remained in the ocean, down from the previous count of 412 in 2018. Oceana Canada campaign director Kim Elmslie said the decline is "a reality check."