Person overboard and loss of cargo
Cargo vessel Sivumut
Frobisher Bay, Nunavut
The occurrence
On , the cargo vessel Sivumut was anchored in Frobisher Bay, Nunavut, transshipping cargo to Iqaluit, Nunavut, using barges and tugs.
During the cargo operations in the bay, the tug Qimmiq departed from the mother vessel Sivumut and was pushing a barge carrying 24 containers and a crew member. Shortly after the tug’s departure, the barge suddenly listed to port, which resulted in the tug assistant going overboard along with 23 containers.
The tug assistant was pulled out of the water 8 minutes later by the Sivumut crew, and carried to Iqaluit for medical assistance. A total of 16 containers were later retrieved. The TSB is investigating.
Media materials
Deployment notice
TSB to deploy a team of investigators following a marine incident aboard the general cargo vessel Sivumut in Iqaluit, Nunavut
Québec, Quebec, 7 November 2023 — The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) will be sending a team of investigators to Bécancour, Quebec, to investigate a loss of containers and a person overboard during transshipment operations involving the general cargo vessel Sivumut, which occurred on 27 October, in Iqaluit, Nunavut. The TSB will gather information and assess the occurrence.
Investigation information
M23C0305
Person overboard and loss of cargo
Cargo vessel Sivumut
Frobisher Bay, Nunavut
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.
Photos
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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
- 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.