A recent investigation by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) revealed that a barge that capsized in Frobisher Bay in 2023 was overloaded due to crew members not being informed of proper procedures. The incident occurred on Oct. 27, 2023, near the Iqaluit port, leading to a crew member and 23 shipping containers falling into the water. The individual was rescued unconscious after eight minutes and taken to the hospital for treatment of hypothermia and other injuries, with 16 containers being recovered.
The TSB report, released this week, highlighted that the barge was operating beyond its stability limits, struggling to regain balance amidst the bay’s waves. Investigators discovered that the company overseeing the barge had a cargo loading plan that was not communicated to the crew, remaining onshore. Additionally, there were no protocols in place for container handling, barge loading, and cargo securing, resulting in crew members relying on past experiences to load the vessel, leading to overloading and operating with insufficient crew members.
Furthermore, the investigation revealed that the crew lacked appropriate life-saving equipment, such as life rings and gaffs, necessary for water rescues. Despite the crew member who fell overboard having an inflated personal flotation device (PFD), it required three others to assist in pulling him onto a container. The report highlighted the importance of proper safety gear, suggesting that a flotation suit or jacket and pants could have aided in flotation and thermal protection.
Following the incident, NEAS Inc., the managing company, has requested a loading guide for their barges, implemented a new safety manual within Transport Nanuk Inc.’s system, and installed a recovery device known as Jason’s Cradle on each tug boat. A contractor recovered one of the missing shipping containers in 2024, while plans for salvage operations by Transport Nanuk Inc. in Aug. 2025 were mentioned in the report without specifying the outcome.