The Transportation Safety Board has identified several factors in the sinking of a fishing vessel off of Georges Bank back in 2018.
In an investigation report released on Wednesday, the Board said the vessel ‘Atlantic Sapphire’ was overloaded with fish, ice, fuel and freshwater, which lead to its sinking.
The investigation said the vessel should have been carrying no more than 41 long tons of cargo, but the trawler was loaded with over 60 long tons, putting it about 46 per cent over capacity.
The Board also determined that the boat was already overloaded when the crew hauled in a final catch of haddock weighing seven long tons.
Sea state caused a slight roll, which was enough to bring water onto the deck and then into the fish hold through an open hatch.
The report added that the boat’s owner, Nova’s Finest Fisheries Inc. of Middle West Pubnico, hadn’t been ensuring compliance regarding capacity.
The vessel sunk on December 13th 2018; the three person crew was rescued by another vessel.
