The TSB has completed this investigation. The report was published on 15 October 2020.
Capsizing and loss of life
Unregistered fishing vessel
Mackenna Point, Nova Scotia
The occurrence
On , an unnamed and unregistered oyster boat, with 3 people on board, capsized 0.5 nautical miles west of Bayfield, Nova Scotia. Two crew members lost their lives and one crew member survived. Local residents, first responders and an RCMP helicopter assisted in rescuing the crew.
Media materials
News release
Investigation report: April 2019 capsizing of a fishing vessel in Bayfield, Nova Scotia
Read the news release
Deployment notice
TSB deploys a team to Antigonish, Nova Scotia, following the capsizing of an oyster fishing vessel
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, 09 April 2019 – The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is deploying a team of investigators following the fatal capsizing of an oyster fishing vessel near Antigonish, Nova Scotia. The TSB will gather information and assess the occurrence.
Investigation information
M19A0090
Capsizing and loss of life
Unregistered fishing vessel
Mackenna Point, Nova Scotia
Investigator-in-charge
Glenn Budden has been a Senior Marine Investigator at the Transportation Safety Board of Canada since 2008.
Prior to joining the TSB, Mr. Budden owned and operated a commercial fishing business. He has 35 years’ experience in the fishing industry, operating, managing and advising on several types of fishing vessels and fisheries on both coasts. In his later years, in the fishing industry, he facilitated the first industry led stability education program (Fishsafe) to fishermen in British Columbia.
Mr. Budden holds a Fishing Masters II certificate, and his last vessel was the seiner ‘Ocean Venture’.
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.