Passenger overboard and subsequent loss of life
Passenger vessel Northern Spirit I
Toronto, Ontario
The occurrence
On 13 June 2015, the passenger vessel NORTHERN SPIRIT I reported a passenger fell overboard during an evening cruise 4 nautical miles west of Toronto, Ontario. Search and Rescue authorities were notified and a search was conducted without success. The deceased person was later recovered in the area of the occurrence.
Media materials
Deployment notice
Transportation Safety Board of Canada deploys team to Toronto, Ontario, to assess passenger falling overboard from the vessel Northern Spirit
Québec, Quebec, 15 June 2015 — The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is deploying a team of investigators to Toronto, Ontario, where a person fell overboard from the passenger vessel Northern Spirit during the evening of 13 June 2015. The passenger has not been found; the search continues. The TSB will gather information and assess the occurrence.
Investigation information
M15C0094
Passenger overboard and subsequent loss of life
Passenger vessel Northern Spirit I
Toronto, Ontario
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.