The TSB has completed this investigation. The report was published on 8 November 2022.
Sinking with loss of life
Fishing vessel Arctic Fox II
77 nautical miles west-southwest of Bamfield, British Columbia
The occurrence
On 11 August 2020, the fishing vessel Arctic Fox II, with 3 crew members on board, reported taking on water. The crew abandoned the vessel approximately 77 nautical miles west-southwest of Bamfield, Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The United States Coast Guard and the Canadian Coast Guard initiated search and rescue operations. The one surviving crew member was located in the vessel’s life raft, and the bodies of the master and the other crew member were recovered from the water. The vessel sank on 13 August and was not recovered.
Media materials
News releases
Insufficient maintenance and the absence of regulatory surveillance contributed to the fatal sinking of the Arctic Fox II near Bamfield, British Columbia
Read the news release
Investigation information
M20P0229
Sinking with loss of life
Fishing vessel Arctic Fox II
77 nautical miles west-southwest of Bamfield, British Columbia
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 3 investigation. These investigations analyze a small number of safety issues, and may result in recommendations. Class 3 investigations are generally completed within 450 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.