The four crab fishermen who died in Placentia Bay in Newfoundland nearly two years ago were no doubt shocked when their boat capsized, and they didn’t have time to react.
This was terminated by the Transportation Safety Board (TSB) of Canada in its investigation report, released on Wednesday, on the sinking of Sarah Anne on March 25, 2020.
The four fishermen left St.Lawrence the night before the tragedy took its toll: Captain Eddie Norman, 67; his son Scott norman, 35 years; his nephew Jody Norman42 years old, and Isaac Kettle33 Years.
Lack of information on the stability of fishing vessels
The lack of stability of Sarah Anne and the lack of control over the stability of small fishing boats in general will contribute to the tragedy, according to TSB.
The stability of a ship is the ability to straighten itself after giving a heel under an external force, such as waves or wind.
Small boat owners like Sarah Anne does not necessarily make a stability analysis. The crew was therefore not very aware of the possibilities of their boat capsizing, according to TSB.
ang TSB has requested in the past that the Federal Department of Transport require all small fishing vessels to undergo a stability assessment, particularly since they represent more than 99% of Transport Canada-registered fishing vessels. But Ottawa never lived up to this recommendation.
According to the Transportation Safety Board, the load aboard Sarah Anne is approximately 1200 kg heavier than the captain’s experience in snow crab fishing in this area using this boat.
Since there is no stability assessment, the TSB estimate that the crew made operational decisions without knowing the actual safe operating limits of the ship. This can affect its stability, and lead to overturning.
ang TSB the crew on this type of boat also like to wear personal floating equipment (PFD) all the time.
It is likely that the boat capsized and all the crew unexpectedly went into the water according to Clifford Harveythe Director of Investigations for the Transportation Safety Board.
As a result, the four fishermen did not have time to wear these garments, or put on a life raft.
Source: Radio-Canada
