Transportation Safety Board Identifies Safety Gaps in Tugboat and Workboat Collision Near Woodfibre LNG

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A Transportation Safety Board report highlights significant safety oversights leading to a 2024 collision between a tugboat and a workboat near the Woodfibre LNG project, resulting in the sinking of one vessel and highlighting communication failures among contractors.

RICHMOND, B.C. — A comprehensive investigation by Canada’s Transportation Safety Board (TSB) has revealed critical safety deficiencies that contributed to a collision between a tugboat and a workboat in December 2024, which resulted in the sinking of one vessel in Squamish, B.C. The TSB's final report, published recently, details the incident that occurred on December 18, 2024, within the marine safety zone designated for the Woodfibre LNG project, located approximately seven kilometers southwest of Squamish. The tugboat was engaged in pushing a barge loaded with supplies destined for a 'floatel' that serves as accommodation for workers at the Woodfibre site, while the workboat was idling nearby on standby. Notably, neither the crew of the tugboat nor that of the workboat had any forewarning of an impending collision, which ultimately led to the workboat sinking and necessitated a rescue operation for its sole crew member, who required treatment for hypothermia. The inquiry highlighted that the tug master’s visibility was severely hindered by physical structures in the area and was further compromised by intense lighting from the construction site and adjacent vessels, which created a glare on the water's surface. The report also noted that the pilot aboard the workboat did not receive any communication indicating the tug's approach, mistakenly believing that the vessel's lights would ensure its visibility to others in the vicinity. The investigation pointed to significant lapses in communication and safety management practices among the contractors involved in the operation of vessels near the Woodfibre LNG site. It was stated that hazards such as obstructed visibility and glare from nearby lighting were recognized at the operational level but had not undergone formal assessment or mitigation. Furthermore, it was observed that localized practices had emerged within individual operations, lacking a collective understanding of their potential impacts on one another. In response to the findings, the TSB reported that the parties involved in the marine operations near the Woodfibre LNG site have implemented several improvements since the incident, including enhanced lookout and communication protocols, as well as limiting barge movements to daylight hours to ensure greater safety.

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