Charges have finally been levied against the operator of a tugboat which sank near Kitimat two years ago, claiming two lives in the process.
On the morning of February 11th, 2021, the tugboat Ingenika sank amid extreme winds and stormy waters near the Gardner Canal.
Initially, crew member Troy Pearson had refused to leave the port in Kitimat, due to the conditions, but was convinced to by management.
Pearson and fellow crew member Charley Cragg, who was on his first shift, both passed away on the boat that morning.
Now, operator Wainwright Marine Services and director James Geoffrey Bates are facing 8 charges under the BC Workers Compensation Act.
Those charges, relating to failures in training, supervision, and planning, could result in a fine of up to $777,000 and 6 months in jail.
But Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP Taylor Bachrach says that holding one company accountable isn’t enough to protect marine workers.
He says that legal proceedings alone won’t solve the issues, and that stronger federal regulations, madatory inspections, and better enforcement are all needed.
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