Vigil Marks Five Years Since Tugboat Tragedy
A poignant vigil was held in Vancouver on Tuesday to commemorate the fifth anniversary of a tragic tugboat accident that claimed the lives of two men in northern British Columbia. Charley Cragg, 25, and Troy Pearson, 58, died when the tugboat Ingenika sank in the Gardner Canal on February 11, 2021. Cragg’s mother, Genevieve Cragg, joined union members to demand stronger safety regulations for tugboat operations from federal authorities.
Calls for Enhanced Safety Regulations
During the vigil outside the Transport Canada office on Burrard Street, Genevieve Cragg and members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada (ILWU) Local 400 urged Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon to implement stricter safety standards for tugboats. ILWU 400 President Jason Woods criticized the government for its slow response to safety concerns, emphasizing that the issues that led to the Ingenika’s sinking remain unresolved five years later.
Woods highlighted the lack of inspections for smaller vessels, noting that some boats can operate their entire lifespan without ever being checked. The Ingenika, which had been in service for 50 years at the time of its sinking, had no record of inspection by the Transportation Safety Board (TSB). Woods expressed concern over the continued use of vessels not designed for towing heavy equipment, calling for regulations that define what types of vessels can tow commercial loads.
Transport Canada responded to the vigil by stating that since 2021, it has taken steps to enhance safety for small tug operations. This includes a compliance inspection initiative launched in 2022, which has resulted in over 275 inspections of vessels weighing 15 gross tons or less. However, Woods pointed out that voluntary inspection protocols have seen limited participation, leaving many vessels unmonitored.
Investigation and Legal Consequences
The tragic incident unfolded when Pearson, Cragg, and crew member Zac Dolan were towing a barge from Prince Rupert to Kitimat. The tug began taking on water in challenging conditions, leading to its sinking. While Dolan managed to escape and was rescued after hours in a life raft, both Pearson and Cragg drowned before reaching safety.
A TSB report indicated that the two men drowned due to improperly secured immersion suits, which can fill with water and hinder movement. The report also noted that the crew had not practiced using safety equipment prior to the accident. In 2023, the owners of the Ingenika, Wainwright Marine Services, and its president, James Geoffrey Bates, pleaded guilty to safety violations under the Workers Compensation Act. They were fined a total of $310,000 for failing to adhere to occupational health and safety regulations. Additionally, Transport Canada imposed a $52,000 fine on Wainwright Marine for not ensuring the vessel was adequately staffed and that crew members held the necessary certifications.
The vigil serves as a reminder of the ongoing need for improved safety measures in the tugboat industry, as families continue to seek justice and accountability for the lives lost in this preventable tragedy.
