Tragedy at Sea: Former Owner Identifies Sunken Vessel as Inquiry Deepens

The Identity of the ‘Big Coast’ Revealed

The investigation into Sunday’s fatal maritime accident off the coast of Richmond, B.C., has taken a significant turn as the former owner of the sunken vessel has come forward to identify the craft. Tim Milne, host of the television series ‘Big Coast,’ confirmed the boat was a 30-foot aluminum KingFisher—a vessel he originally named after his show and sold over four years ago.

Milne expressed profound shock and sadness over the tragedy, which left six people presumed drowned and four others rescued. Describing the vessel as a “super solid craft,” Milne noted that it was well-suited for the rugged waters of the Inside Passage and tuna fishing off Vancouver Island, making its sinking in the Strait of Georgia even more difficult to comprehend.

Concerns Over Capacity and Safety Equipment

As investigators piece together the events leading to the disaster, questions are being raised regarding the number of passengers on board and the availability of safety gear. Milne noted that while he was unsure of the boat’s official listed capacity, he had never operated it with 10 individuals. “I think a number of people were surprised at the 10 people on the boat,” Milne said, adding that the reported lack of life-jackets among the survivors was a major concern for the local charter community.

The vessel’s Automatic Identification System (AIS) also remained registered to Milne’s show despite the sale years prior. Milne revealed that efforts to have the new owners update the registration were unsuccessful, leading to confusion when the boat was previously flagged for illegal fishing near Pender Island last year.

Challenging Recovery Efforts Continue

The Richmond RCMP Serious Crimes Unit is currently leading the investigation, with the Underwater Recovery Team utilizing SONAR technology to scan the seabed. Cpl. Frank Bryson of the Richmond RCMP cautioned that the search is hindered by “terrible” sea conditions, which were also reported on the day of the sinking. Even if the vessel is located promptly, recovery and documentation could take several days.

For those in the B.C. marine industry, the event is a rare and painful outlier. “We haven’t seen an incident like this in our industry in a very, very long time,” Milne said. “It hurts a lot of people on this coast.”