A review in to a 2017 tugboat incident south of Kitimat has the Transportation Safety Board issuing concerns over crew fatigue.
In July of 2017, the Ocean Monarch touched bottom while pulling a barge full of cement through the Princess Royal Channel.
According to the review, both the tug’s master and deck hand were asleep below deck when fatigue caught up with the watch keeper left in charge.
A combination of previous night shifts, chronic sleep deprivation, and the monotonous workload led to the crew mate falling asleep.
While no one was harmed, and no pollutants were spilled, the results could have been much worse.
Last May, the Board completed its review in to the Nathan E Stewart Tugboat crash, determining that it was also the result of crew fatigue.
