Sea-Link Rigger

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada states that "On 06 August 1995, the self-dumping log barge "Sea-Link Rigger" capsized during the unloading operation. When the load of logs would not dump, preparations were begun to bring the barge back to the upright and unload by crane. The load then started to dump, but the barge was not ejected from under the load and was rolled over onto its beam ends and capsized. Two crew members from the towing tug were on board the barge; the deck-hand was rescued from the water, but the mate had to escape from a pump-room of the overturned barge. The barge was declared a total loss after it sank in deep water during subsequent salvage attempts. The Board determined that the "Sea-Link Rigger" capsized when, in a ballasted condition, it did not separate from a slow-dumping load of high-specific-gravity logs and the dynamics of the dumping operation rolled the barge past its beam ends. During the capsizing, a crew member from the tug "Arctic Hooper" became trapped in a pump-room of the overturned barge because personnel were required to proceed below decks to control ballasting operations. "