Six Presumed Drowned in Richmond, B.C. Charter Boat Tragedy Mourned

Around 100 community members gathered for an emotional public vigil at Steveston’s Imperial Landing Docks in Richmond, B.C., honoring the six individuals missing and presumed dead after a commercial fishing charter sank. The disaster took place in the deep waters of the Strait of Georgia near Roberts Bank, where the vessel, carrying 10 passengers, took on water and went down.

Incident Overview

• The Sinking: The vessel, run by a charter company called Top Fishing (though still using its previous radio name, Big Coast), foundered and sank. The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre was alerted after a nearby civilian sailboat spotted people in the water and issued a mayday.
• Casualties & Survivors: Rescuers recovered four individuals suffering from acute hypothermia; two have been released from the hospital, while two others remain in critical condition. Officials noted that none of those on board were equipped with life jackets. The remaining six passengers—four men and two women—are unaccounted for and believed to have drowned.
• The Captain: Chen Ming, the boat’s 23-year-old captain, is among the missing. At the vigil, loved ones and friends described him as a dedicated and conscientious young man.

The disaster has deeply shaken the local community, raising immediate concerns over vessel maintenance and maritime safety protocols:

• Known Mechanical Flaws: Friends, family, and past clients revealed that the vessel had a faulty side door. According to the captain’s girlfriend, this exact door burst open during heavy swells just two days before the accident, causing severe flooding that the passengers barely managed to pump out.
• Severe Weather Conditions: Fellow charter operators in the area stated they had called off all trips that day. They cited dangerous conditions near the river mouth, including powerful winds, strong river currents, and swells peaking at nearly 10 feet.

Current Status

The initial search and rescue effort has shifted to a recovery operation. A joint investigation into the cause of the sinking is currently underway, involving Transport Canada, the Transportation Safety Board, and the Richmond RCMP Serious Crimes Unit. To locate the wreckage, the RCMP Underwater Recovery Team is deploying sonar technology in a challenging search area, as the vessel lies in deep waters measuring between 150 and 180 meters.

Inquiry & Safety Red Flags

The disaster has deeply shaken the local community, raising immediate concerns over vessel maintenance and maritime safety protocols:

• Known Mechanical Flaws: Friends, family, and past clients revealed that the vessel had a faulty side door. According to the captain’s girlfriend, this exact door burst open during heavy swells just two days before the accident, causing severe flooding that the passengers barely managed to pump out.
• Severe Weather Conditions: Fellow charter operators in the area stated they had called off all trips that day. They cited dangerous conditions near the river mouth, including powerful winds, strong river currents, and swells peaking at nearly 10 feet.

Current Status

The initial search and rescue effort has shifted to a recovery operation. A joint investigation into the cause of the sinking is currently underway, involving Transport Canada, the Transportation Safety Board, and the Richmond RCMP Serious Crimes Unit. To locate the wreckage, the RCMP Underwater Recovery Team is deploying sonar technology in a challenging search area, as the vessel lies in deep waters measuring between 150 and 180 meters.