Marine transportation safety investigation M23C0257

Table of contents

    Sinking and subsequent loss of life
    Fishing vessel Silver Condor
    La Tabatière, Quebec

    The occurrence

    On , the fishing vessel Silver Condor, with six crew members on board, sank in the St. Lawrence River off Gros-Mécatina, Quebec.

    Around midnight, as the vessel was returning from the fishing grounds, the weather deteriorated with reported wave heights of 2 m. As the Silver Condor listed, it began taking on water rapidly at the stern, forcing the crew to evacuate the vessel urgently. The emergency position-indicating radio beacon automatically activated, initiating the search-and-rescue operations.

    All crew members were recovered from the water and taken to the hospital. Three crew members were fatally injured. The TSB is investigating.

    Investigation information

    Map showing the location of the occurrence

    M23C0257

    Sinking and subsequent loss of life
    Fishing vessel Silver Condor
    La Tabatière, Quebec

    Investigator-in-charge

    Amélie Boutour joined the TSB in 2022 as a regional investigator with the central region of the Marine branch. She graduated at the marine institute of Quebec in navigation and holds a Master Mariner certificate, issued by Transport Canada. She has more than 6 years of sea experience on Canadian tankers where she mainly sailed in Canadian waters, such as the Arctic. Ms. Boutour also worked as senior marine inspector for Transport Canada in Ottawa and as a search and rescue marine coordinator for the Canadian Coast Guard at the MRSC Quebec.

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    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

    1. Field phase: a team of investigators examines the occurrence site and wreckage, interviews witnesses and collects pertinent information.
    2. 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.
    3. 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.