- Our thoughts continue to be with the families of the crew members who lost their lives during the sinking of the tug INGENIKA.
- Transport Canada is committed to the promotion of a safe and secure, efficient, and environmentally responsible marine transportation system in Canada.
- Transport Canada has taken a series of steps to enhance its oversight of tugs like the INGENIKA and will respond to the Transportation Safety Board’s recommendations within the 90 day statutory timeline.
SUPPLEMENTARY MESSAGES
- Following the sinking of the tug INGENIKA, Transport Canada took immediate action to strengthen its oversight regime and educate owners and operators on their responsibilities under the Canada Shipping Act, 2001.
- These actions include launching a new component of the Small Vessel Compliance Program specific to tugs, pre-publishing the proposed Marine Safety Management System Regulations in the Canada Gazette Part I. It also helped establish the Pacific Tug Advisory Group to discuss safety issues and encourage the sharing of best practices between industry, labour and the department.
- The Department has taken steps to strengthen the safety of the tug and barge industry, including advancing updates to Canada’s marine safety regulatory regime, reinforcing regulatory compliance, and engaging partners to support the promotion of a culture of safety.
UPDATE
Transport Canada is analyzing recommendations from the Transportation Safety Board (TSB) in their final report on the incident and will be releasing its formal response in June 2023, within the 90-day deadline following the report’s release. While the analysis and responses are developed, the department continues to explore options to re-prioritize its oversight resources to enhance the number of annual risk-based inspections conducted on board tug and barge operations on the Pacific coast. Alongside increased inspections, Transport Canada is also continuing work with industry, labour, and other government partners to develop and advance initiatives aimed at holistically fostering a culture of safety in day-to-day operations on board small tugs.
BACKGROUND
- On February 10, 2021, the tug “INGENIKA” capsized in the Gardner Canal while engaging in towing operations, in reportedly difficult weather conditions. Two crew members perished in the incident and one crew member was rescued.
- The Transportation Safety Board released its final report on the incident on March 8, 2023. The report contains four recommendations, two of which are directed at Transport Canada. They call on the department to increase inspections of small tugs and to require operational risks for these vessels be thoroughly assessed.
- In response to the incident, Transport Canada continues to pursue numerous initiatives to improve safety on board small tugs, including initiating a pilot project to conduct remote inspections by leveraging the National Aerial Surveillance Program.
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- The department is also serving an active role on the newly established Pacific Coast Tow and Workboat Safety Advisory Group, which includes members from industry, labour, and provincial and federal governments, with the objective of creating a collaborative forum to enhance safety and provide recommendations.