Marine transportation safety investigation M17C0053

This investigation has been completed. The report was released on 4 January 2019.

Table of contents

    Inadvertent lowering of ship arrester and closing of lock gates on vessel
    Bulk carrier Federal Kumano
    Beauharnois, Quebec

    View final report

    Bulk carrier Federal Kumano
    Beauharnois, Quebec

    The occurrence

    On , the downbound bulk carrier Federal Kumano, while manoeuvering to exit lock No. 3 in Beauharnois, Quebec, was involved in a collision with the lock gates and the ship arrestor which had inadvertently begun closing. Minor damage to the ship arrestor was reported. No damage to the bulk carrier, injuries, or pollution were reported.

    Media materials

    News release

    2019-01-03

    Investigation report: May 2017 inadvertent lowering of ship arrester and closing of lock gates on vessel in Beauharnois, Quebec
    Read the news release

    Deployment notice

    2017-05-17

    TSB deploys a team of investigators to Montreal, Quebec, following a collision between a bulk carrier and a ship arrester
    Québec, Quebec, 17 May 2017 — The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is deploying a team of investigators to Montréal, Quebec, to assess the collision between the bulk carrier FEDERAL KUMANO and the ship arrester of Lock #3 of the St.Lawrence Seaway in Beauharnois, Quebec. The TSB will gather information and assess the occurrence.

    Investigation information

    Map showing the location of the occurrence

    M17C0053

    Inadvertent lowering of ship arrester and closing of lock gates on vessel
    Bulk carrier Federal Kumano
    Beauharnois, Quebec

      Download high-resolution photos from the TSB Flickr page.

    Class of investigation

    This is a class 4 investigation. These investigations are limited in scope, and while the final reports may contain limited analysis, they do not contain findings or recommendations. Class 4 investigations are generally completed within 220 days. For more information, see the Policy on Occurrence Classification.

    TSB investigation process

    There are 3 phases to a TSB investigation

    1. Field phase: a team of investigators examines the occurrence site and wreckage, interviews witnesses and collects pertinent information.
    2. 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.
    3. 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.