The TSB has completed this investigation. The report was published on 22 August 2023.
Bottom contact
Passenger vessel Kawartha Spirit
Halifax, Nova Scotia
The occurrence
On 26 October 2022, the passenger vessel Kawartha Spirit had a bottom contact near Purcells Cove at the entrance to Northwest Arm of Halifax, where it was navigating in restricted visibility with 59 people on board. This contact resulted in damage to both propellers and port rudder.
The vessel was able to return to its berth in Halifax under its own power. No pollution or injuries were reported.
Media materials
News releases
Investigation report: Bottom contact of passenger vessel Kawartha Spirit
Read the news release
Investigation information
M22A0355
Bottom contact
Passenger vessel Kawartha Spirit
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Investigator-in-charge
Janilie Raymond joined the TSB in 2022 as a Senior Investigator, with many years of experience in the marine industry. She graduated from the Rimouski Marine Institute and sailed on various types of vessels in international waters and in Canada, specializing in the Canadian Arctic waters navigation. She also worked for Transport Canada headquarters after obtaining her Master Mariner certificate. More recently she worked for Transport Canada, in the Compliance and Enforcement Division in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.
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.