Marine transportation safety investigation M17C0292
This investigation has been completed. The report was released on 06 September 2018.
Table of contents
Fall overboard
Bulk carrier Federal Champlain
Thunder Bay, Ontario
08 December 2017
The occurrence
On 08 December 2017, the bulk carrier Federal Champlain reported that while docked at the Thunder Bay terminal in Thunder Bay, Ontario, the Third Officer fell overboard from a ladder into the water while reading the midship draught. He was rescued by a small vessel and sent to the nearest hospital for treatment. The TSB is investigating.
Media materials
News release
Investigation report: December 2017 incident involving a person who fell overboard from the bulk carrier Federal Champlain at the Thunder Bay terminal, Ontario
Read the news release
Deployment notice
TSB deploys investigators to Montreal, Quebec to assess a man overboard incident
Québec, Quebec, 14 December 2017 — The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is deploying a team of investigators to Montreal, Quebec, to assess the man overboard incident from the Bulk Carrier Federal Champlain. There were no fatalities. The TSB will gather information and assess the occurrence.
Investigation information
Map showing the location of the occurrence
Investigator-in-charge
Mélissa St-Jean has been a senior marine investigator at the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) since 2016.
Prior to joining the TSB, Mélissa has worked at the Canadian Coast Guard for 10 years in various positions and recently as acting Regional Supervisor in Search and Rescue. She also worked for 4 years as Marine Safety Coordinator for the Société des traversiers du Québec.
In addition to being a certified ship's navigation officer, Ms. St-Jean has a college degree in navigation from the Marine Institute of Quebec and a Bachelor of Maritime Studies from Memorial University of Newfoundland.
Photos
Download high-resolution photos from the TSB Flickr page.
Class of investigation
This is a class 3 investigation. These investigations analyze a small number of safety issues, and may result in recommendations. Class 3 investigations are generally completed within 450 days. For more information, see the Policy on Occurrence Classification.
TSB investigation process
There are 3 phases to a TSB investigation
- Field phase: a team of investigators examines the occurrence site and wreckage, interviews witnesses and collects pertinent information.
- Examination and analysis phase: the TSB reviews pertinent records, tests components of the wreckage in the lab, determines the sequence of events and identifies safety deficiencies. When safety deficiencies are suspected or confirmed, the TSB advises the appropriate authority without waiting until publication of the final report.
- Report phase: a confidential draft report is approved by the Board and sent to persons and corporations who are directly concerned by the report. They then have the opportunity to dispute or correct information they believe to be incorrect. The Board considers all representations before approving the final report, which is subsequently released to the public.
For more information, see our Investigation process page.
The TSB is an independent agency that investigates air, marine, pipeline, and rail transportation occurrences. Its sole aim is the advancement of transportation safety. It is not the function of the Board to assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability.