Sinking of the Leviathan II

Sinking of the Leviathan IIDate| 25 October 2015 (2015-10-25)

|

Location| Off Vargas Island, Tofino, British Columbia, Canada
Coordinates| 49°11′6″N 126°5′7″W﻿ / ﻿49.18500°N 126.08528°W﻿ / 49.18500; -126.08528
Cause| Struck by a breaking wave
Participants| 27
Deaths| 6

On October 25, 2015, the whale watching boat Leviathan II broached in the vicinity of Plover Reef off the coast of Vargas Island near Tofino, British Columbia, Canada. The 20 m (66 ft) vessel was struck by a breaking wave over the reefs and its sinking resulted in the deaths of 6 of its 27 passengers[1][2][3]

The dead were identified as five men and one woman ranging in age between 18 and 76. Five were British citizens, though two were also Canadian residents, and the sixth was an Australian citizen.[4][5] The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) said a wave flipped the ship when most of the passengers and crew were on the top deck, raising the center of gravity and making it easier to capsize.[6] The TSB released its final report in June 2017 recommending changes to emergency safety practices. The TSB's recommendations included 1) better precautions from tour boat operators to identify and avoid hazardous waves, 2) that Transport Canada implement and oversee risk management guidelines, and 3) mandatory emergency beacons on seafaring vessels.[1]

A plaque was later installed near the wharf in Tofino to commemorate those who died in the capsizing.[4]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Leviathan II whale-watching tragedy caused by breaking wave". BBC News. 14 June 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
2. ^ "5 dead, 1 missing after whale watching vessel sinks off Tofino, B.C." CBC News. 26 October 2015.
3. ^ "Canada whale-watching tragedy: Five dead as Leviathan II boat sinks". BBC News. 26 October 2015.
4. ^ a b Larsen, Karin; Lindsay, Bethany (14 June 2017). "Report into Tofino whale-watching tragedy recommends changes to safety practices". CBC News. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
5. ^ "Leviathan II whale-watching boat sinks off Tofino, killing 5 britons; 1 missing - CTV News". CTVNews. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
6. ^ Payne, Ed; Elam, Stephanie (28 October 2015). "Couple recalls horror after whale-watching boat sank". CNN. Retrieved 7 April 2016.