The TSB has completed this investigation. The report was published on 29 June 2020.
Capsizing and loss of life
Unnamed fishing vessel
Medway Harbour, Nova Scotia
The occurrence
On 5 May 2018, a 19 foot commercial fishing vessel with 2 people on board, was found capsized 0.04 nautical miles northeast of Beach Cove Point, Port Medway, Nova Scotia. The deckhand was found unresponsive on the shoreline approximately 0.08 nautical miles east of the overturned vessel. The deckhand was transported to hospital by ambulance and later pronounced dead. The master's body was recovered with some fishing gear near the vessel later the same day. The vessel was towed to the public wharf and removed from the water.
Media materials
News releases
Investigation report: May 2018 capsizing of a fishing vessel in Port Medway, Nova Scotia
Read the news release
Investigation information
M18A0076
Capsizing and loss of life
Unnamed fishing vessel
Medway Harbour, Nova Scotia
Investigator-in-charge
Chris Morrow has been employed as an investigator with the Transportation Safety Board since 2003, focussing mainly on fishing vessel accidents. Before joining the TSB, Mr. Morrow spent 25 years at sea, most on offshore fishing vessels and the remainder in the oil, gas, and seismic industries. He holds a Fishing Master Class 1 and Master, Intermediate Voyage certificates.
Photos
Download high-resolution photos from the TSB Flickr page.
Class of investigation
This is a class 4 investigation. These investigations are limited in scope, and while the final reports may contain limited analysis, they do not contain findings or recommendations. Class 4 investigations are generally completed within 220 days. For more information, see the Policy on Occurrence Classification.
TSB investigation process
There are 3 phases to a TSB investigation
- Field phase: a team of investigators examines the occurrence site and wreckage, interviews witnesses and collects pertinent information.
- Examination and analysis phase: the TSB reviews pertinent records, tests components of the wreckage in the lab, determines the sequence of events and identifies safety deficiencies. When safety deficiencies are suspected or confirmed, the TSB advises the appropriate authority without waiting until publication of the final report.
- Report phase: a confidential draft report is approved by the Board and sent to persons and corporations who are directly concerned by the report. They then have the opportunity to dispute or correct information they believe to be incorrect. The Board considers all representations before approving the final report, which is subsequently released to the public.
For more information, see our Investigation process page.
The TSB is an independent agency that investigates air, marine, pipeline, and rail transportation occurrences. Its sole aim is the advancement of transportation safety. It is not the function of the Board to assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability.