The whale watching boat that capsized off Tofino, B.C. over the weekend, killing five people, broached after being struck by a wave, the Transportation Safety Board revealed Tuesday.
Speaking at a late-afternoon press conference, the agency also announced the positioning of the people onboard the Leviathan II at the time of the deadly accident affected the vessel’s stability.
TSB investigators said the fateful wave hit on the starboard side of the boat while most passengers and crew were gathered on the port side of the top deck.
“This would have raised the centre of gravity, affecting its stability,” said Marc Andre Poisson, TSB director of marine investigations.
But Poisson said investigators haven’t examined the boat, and stressed that it’s too soon to draw any conclusions about what happened.
“This vessel would have encountered this type of situation thousands of times where [passengers and crew were] on the top of the vessel to observe, and nothing happened at those times,” he said.
After the wave struck, the vessel tilted upward, rolled and capsized. The TSB said it has determined one life raft was activated and at least two hand flares and one parachute rocket were fired.
The agency’s team of investigators has already met with the RCMP to go over information gathered in the immediate aftermath of the tragic accident, and has interviewed crew members and some survivors.
Next, the TSB will be examining the Leviathan II and reviewing its stability, as well as potential impacts of any modifications made on the boat.
