L'Acadien II

"L'Acadien II" was a Canadian-registered fishing vessel that capsized and sank on March 29, 2008. The vessel was being towed by Canadian Coast Guard Ship (CCGS) "Sir William Alexander" off Cape Breton, Nova Scotia at the time of the incident. Two of the crew of six were rescued and three men were killed in the incident. Recovery efforts have not located the sunken trawler nor the missing crew member who is now presumed dead. Canadian authorities have launched independent investigations into the incident.

Career

"L'Acadien II" was a 12-metre fishing trawler.

Mechanical trouble

"L'Acadien II" and her crew of six set out from Magdalen Islands the morning of March 28, 2008 to take part in the 2008 Canadian commercial seal hunt. She lost its rudder later in the day in the ice floes northeast of Neil's Harbour, Nova Scotia on Cape Breton Island.

She radioed for help from the Coast Guard and "Sir William Alexander" came to assist the tow.

Capsize and sinking

Witnesses say the "Sir William Alexander" was going too fast and failed to realize "L'Acadien II" had swerved into a large cake of ice and capsized. [http://www.trurodaily.com/index.cfm?sid=121884&sc=287 The Truro Daily News, Nova Scotia : National News | Families await explanation after sealing accident leaves four dead or missing ] ]

Navy divers searched the waters for four men, who had been sleeping in the lower decks of the vessel. When the vessel had capsized, a Cormorant helicopter and a Hercules aircraft came to aid the rescue. The vessel had since been secured to the side of the Coast Guard's vessel.cite news|title= Four men still missing after fishing boat on seal hunt capsizes|url=http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=9e91b88a-0ea7-4339-8f5d-733368599aa3&k=17366|publisher=Canada.com|date=2008-03-29|accessdate=2008-03-29] The navy divers recovered the bodies of three of the missing men on March 29.

Rescue and recovery

Two men, who were at the upper decks during the incident, were rescued by nearby fishing vessel "Madelinot War Lord" and transferred to "Sir William Alexander". A Coast Guard helicopter subsequently transported them to Magdalen Islands. The bodies of three crewmembers died in the incident were recovered by navy divers and brought oboard "Sir William Alexander". They have been identified as Bruno Bourque, the boat's owner and captain; Gilles Leblanc (in his 50s); and Marc-Andre Deraspe (in his early 20s). [ [http://www.cjfw.ca/node/691023 One missing, three dead as sealing boat capsizes off Cape Breton] , The Canadian Press] Crewmember Carl Aucoin remains missing and is presumed dead.http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=14e78006-8563-4a41-b97d-79114ca569f8 Navy divers recover bodies of three sealers] , The Gazette, March 29, 2008]

The search was scaled back by late afternoon on March 29 and the local Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has since been handling the case.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has recommenced to find missing crewmember Carl Aucoin and recover "L'Acadien II" on April 3 and since then has provided daily updates in its media releases on its website. [ [http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/media/news-presse_e.htm Media Room - News Releases - 2008 ] ] CCGS "George R. Pearkes", CCGS "Edward Cornwallis" and CCGS "Terry Fox" were engaged in the search based on the last known coordinates of the vessel, drift patterns and ice conditions. Canadian Forces Aurora and other patrols provided aerial support and surveillance. Canadian Forces divers were on stand-by once the vessel is located. The operation would be accompanied by officials of Transportation Safety Board. [ [http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/media/newsrel/2008/20080403_e.htm L’Acadien II - Update ] ]

Poor visibility due to fog and low ceiling hamperred the recovery operation, and on April 10, DFO has announced that CCG would call off the recovery effort. According to DFO, the search has covered an area of approximately 9,800 square nautical miles. [ [http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/media/newsrel/2008/20080406_e.htm L’Acadien II - Update ] ]

Aftermath

ea Shepherd Conservation Society

A release from the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society on April 2, [http://www.seashepherd.org/news/media_080402_1.html Sea Shepherd News - Seal Slaughter Suspended for a Week] , Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, April 2, 2008] said that it "recognizes that the deaths of four sealers is a tragedy but Sea Shepherd also recognizes that the slaughter of hundreds of thousands of seal pups is an even greater tragedy." Paul Watson was quoted in the same release: "One of the sealers was quoted as saying that he felt absolutely helpless as he watched the boat sink with sealers onboard. I can’t think of anything that defines helplessness and fear more than a seal pup on the ice that can’t swim or escape as it is approached by some cigarette smoking ape with a club. This is a seal nursery and these men are sadistic baby killers and that might offend some people but it is the unvarnished truth – they are vicious killers who are now pleading for sympathy because some of their own died while engaged in a viciously brutal activity."

Because of these quotes, the leader of the Green Party of Canada Elizabeth May decided on April 3 to resign from the advisory board of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. [ [http://thechronicleherald.ca/Canada/1047533.html Green party boss leaves advisory committee over Watson’s remarks] , The Chronicle Herald, April 4, 2008]

Investigation

DFO has confirmed that the RCMP is engaged in reviewing the incident. Transportation Safety Board will also conduct its own investigation. [ [http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/media/newsrel/2008/update_e.htm L’Acadien II ] ] Coast Guard will undertake an incident review, including its current towing policy. A final report will be presented to the DFO minister and the Commissioner of the Coast Guard in the fall of 2008.

External links

ee also

* List of missing ships

References