VANCOUVER — Transport Canada has ordered the immediate detention of a vessel operated by a British Columbia fishing charter company, just weeks after its sister ship sank in a tragic accident that left one person dead and six others missing and presumed drowned.
The detention order was posted on Thursday on the window of the 11-meter boat operated by Top Vancouver Fishing Charter. Its nine-meter sister vessel, the Top Ocean, went down in the Strait of Georgia near Vancouver on June 28. According to the federal order, the remaining vessel is being detained due to safety deficiencies and regulatory violations, notably that it was being operated as a commercial passenger vessel despite only being registered as a pleasure craft. Government records identify the owner of the vessel as Lihe Yin.
Investigation into the Fatal Sinking
The enforcement action comes as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) intensify their investigation into the June 28 disaster. Authorities confirmed that 10 individuals were aboard the Top Ocean when it sank, and none were wearing life-jackets. While four people were rescued from the water roughly an hour after the vessel went down, one later died in the hospital. The remaining six passengers have been lost at sea.
Investigators are currently examining whether mechanical failure or improper operation played a role in the sinking. “Investigators continue to identify and engage with additional individuals who may possess relevant information regarding previous voyages involving the vessel,” police stated.
Warnings and Licensing Questions
Among those lost at sea is the vessel’s 22-year-old captain, Chen Ming. In the wake of the tragedy, family members have raised serious concerns regarding the maintenance of the charter fleet. Chen’s girlfriend, Hailey Lee, revealed she had been aboard the Top Ocean just two days before it sank, during which a broken side door suddenly sprang open and flooded the boat. Chen’s mother, Ashley Lin, noted that her son had also complained about the faulty door, adding that she was unsure if he held the proper commercial licensing required to operate a charter boat.
Representatives for Top Vancouver Fishing Charter have repeatedly declined to comment on the active investigation or the detention of their remaining vessel.
