Close X
Friday, November 1, 2024
ADVT 
National

Charges laid in deadly tug sinking in B.C.

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 08 Feb, 2023 12:49 PM
  • Charges laid in deadly tug sinking in B.C.

PRINCE RUPERT, B.C. - Charges have now been laid against a tug and barge company and one of its senior officials two years after a tug sank off British Columbia's coast south of Kitimat, killing the captain and one crew member.

Court documents show a total of eight counts have been laid against Wainwright Marine Services and James Bates, the president of Bates Properties Ltd., which includes Wainwright Marine as one of its operations.

The charges relate to alleged violations of occupational health and safety regulations under the Workers Compensation Act, and court records show a first appearance is scheduled next month in a Prince Rupert courtroom.

Fifty-eight-year-old tug captain Troy Pearson and 25-year-old crew member Charley Cragg died, while a third crew member survived, when the tug Ingenika went down in a storm in February 2021 while towing a barge.

Transport Canada's website shows Wainwright and Bates Properties were fined a total of $62,000 last year for violations that included not ensuring enough properly trained crew members were aboard the Ingenika.

The Transportation Safety Board initially completed a brief probe of the sinking but after a 10,000-name petition was submitted by Pearson's widow, the case was expanded to a Class 3 investigation, meaning it "may have significant consequences that attract a high level of public interest."

The board's website shows the investigation is now in the report phase, but a release date has not yet been scheduled.

Family members of the victims also want the Ingenika to be raised from the bottom of the Gardner Canal on B.C.'s central coast, in part because the tug sank with 3,500 litres of diesel fuel aboard, but also because they believe the wreckage could indicate possible malfunctions, deficiencies or instability.

Transport Canada has said it would support the recovery, if directed by the safety board, but warned the tug lies at a depth that could complicate the effort.

MORE National ARTICLES

Anand returns from Ukraine talks without tank deal

Anand returns from Ukraine talks without tank deal
The Ukrainian government says it needs tanks to protect its troops and launch counter-offensives against Russian forces, particularly in the eastern part of the country. The Liberal government has not said whether Canada is open to sending some of its German-made Leopard 2 tanks.

Anand returns from Ukraine talks without tank deal

Police to release findings in B.C. bank shootout

Police to release findings in B.C. bank shootout
A report released last month by B.C.'s police watchdog said officers fired as many as 100 rounds at Mathew and Isaac Auchterlonie, who had semi-automatic rifles and were wearing body armour. Six officers were wounded, three of them with life-threatening injuries.

Police to release findings in B.C. bank shootout

Richmond RCMP execute search warrant for a fake lab, seize items such as blank ID cards and numerous computers

Richmond RCMP execute search warrant for a fake lab, seize items such as blank ID cards and numerous computers
Richmond RCMP executed a search warrant at a residence of a suspected forgery lab. Items seized during the search included high end printers and laminators including those capable of forging security features in governmental identification and thousands of blank ID cards, and numerous electronic devices and computers. 

Richmond RCMP execute search warrant for a fake lab, seize items such as blank ID cards and numerous computers

B.C. promises $50M to get at fire-damaged wood

B.C. promises $50M to get at fire-damaged wood
The premier says the money would be funnelled through the Forest Enhancement Society of B.C., with the goal of keeping those in the industry working. The premier says the forestry industry is "clearly in crisis" and that means industry and government need to "find new ways of doing business."

B.C. promises $50M to get at fire-damaged wood

Feds to repatriate 19 Canadians from Syria: lawyer

Feds to repatriate 19 Canadians from Syria: lawyer
Family members of the women and children, as well as four men, have been arguing in Federal Court that the government must arrange for their return, saying that refusing to do so violates the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.    

Feds to repatriate 19 Canadians from Syria: lawyer

No deal without pharmacare bill, says NDP leader

No deal without pharmacare bill, says NDP leader
New Democrat Leader Jagmeet Singh says if the Liberal government does not introduce a pharmacare bill in the House of Commons this year, he will consider it a deal-breaker. Both parties signed a confidence-and-supply agreement last March, in which the NDP agreed to support the minority Liberal government in key votes until 2025.    

No deal without pharmacare bill, says NDP leader