News release

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) released today its investigation report (M17C0035) into the April 2017 flooding aboard the fishing vessel L.K.C, near Sept-Îles, Quebec.

On 21 April 2017, at approximately 0330 Eastern Daylight Time, the engine room of the fishing vessel L.K.C flooded while the vessel was anchored 45 nautical miles east of Sept-Îles, Quebec. There were 4 crew members on board. The Canadian Coast Guard Ship Cap Rozier arrived on scene, helped pump out the water, and towed the vessel to Sept-Îles. There were no injuries or pollution.

The investigation found that the failure of the stern tube mechanical seal led to the flooding of the vessel. The high bilge-water alarm sounded only in the unmanned engine room. As such, the crew was unaware of the water ingress. Additionally, crew members did not detect the water ingress at an earlier stage, such as during an engine room inspection, as there was no consistent watchkeeping aboard the vessel while at anchor. Due to these factors, the water then rose to a level that rendered the vessel’s bilge pumps inoperative.

Following the occurrence, the owner of the L.K.C installed an additional warning device to sound in the wheelhouse when the high bilge-water alarm is triggered.