Maritime Monster All Jobs Moored Here
Marine investigators in Canada released a report outlining how gaps in situational awareness and a breakdown in communication caused a collision involving a tug, a barge, and a workboat in Squamish Harbor, British Columbia, in December 2024. The incident involved the tug Haisla Northwind, the barge BSG Lubricator, and the workboat Triton 1. It occurred in the marine safety zone of the Woodfibre LNG Project site.
The incident on December 18, 2024, occurred while the tug was pushing the barge on a scheduled run carrying provisions to the Isabelle X, a former ferry that was being used as a floating accommodation (floatel) for project workers, which was moored at the site. The barge collided with Triton 1, which was idling on standby, causing the workboat to capsize and sink.
The workboat’s operator, who was the only person on board, entered the water before being rescued by the workboat Roe 5 that was nearby and was treated for hypothermia. Only minor pollution was observed following the collision, with spill containment booms being deployed as a precaution. While no damage to the tug or barge was reported, the Triton 1 was not salvaged.
Due to the obstructed visibility from the wheelhouse, the master of Haisla Northwind was not aware of the workboat directly on his path. The investigators also established that bright lights from the construction site and nearby vessels also reflected off the water, creating glare that made the Triton 1’s navigation light difficult to distinguish from other lights in the area.
FULL ARTICLE AVAILABLE HERE: maritime-executive.com
