The Polar Prince is seen here towing out the Titan submersible in St. John’s harbour, in what may be one of the last photos of the vessel before this week’s tragic, final descent. (Kenneth Sharpe/CBC)
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada says it’s launching an investigation into the operation of the Titan submersible by the Polar Prince support vessel off the coast of Newfoundland near the wreckage of the Titanic.
In a media release issued shortly after 4 p.m. NT on Friday, the TSB said the investigation is “in accordance with the Canadian Transportation Accident Investigation and Safety Board Act and international agreements.”
As the investigative authority of Canadian vessels, the TSB said it will conduct “a safety investigation regarding the circumstances of this operation conducted by the Canadian-flagged vessel Polar Prince.”
A team of TSB investigators is in to St. John’s to gather information, conduct interviews and assess the fatal incident that claimed all five lives of the crew members on board the Titan.
“In the coming days, we will co-ordinate our activities with other agencies involved,” the TSB wrote in its release. “This is all the information available at this time. Updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.”
Heading home
All Canadian rescue vessels involved in the search for the lost submersible Titan are now returning to base, after coming to the conclusion on Thursday that the sub and its five crew were lost.
It’s now time for those four Canadian ships to “regenerate search and rescue capability and prepare for future search and rescue events,” reads a statement from the Joint Rescue Command Centre.
The Polar Prince — a Newfoundland vessel tasked with towing the Titan submersible out to sea last weekend — is also coming home, after a harrowing week searching around the Titanic wreckage site.
It had also been carrying family members of some of the five missing crew.
The vessel is majority owned by Miawpukek Horizon, a company founded by the Miawpukek First Nation.
Miawpukek First Nation Chief Mi’sel Joe says he wanted to be close to the search. He’s pictured here speaking to reporters at a news conference Wednesday at the waterfront in St. John’s. (CBC)
“It’s going to be rough on the [Polar Prince crew],” said Miawpukek Chief Mi’sel Joe on Friday. “They’re looking after the ship, they’re looking after themselves and they’re looking after the family that’s on board. My heart goes out to them. To all of them. It’s a loss of life, and it’s never easy on family.”
The U.S. coast guard believes the debris field for the Titan was found within 200 metres of the Titanic. It believes the submersible imploded under the pressure of the water on its way down, killing the five men instantly.
“The extent of Canadian assistance with recovery and salvage is currently being discussed,” reads the JRCC statement.
Pain is personal for Mi’kmaq chief
Joe understands the pain more than most. He lost his eight-year-old son in a drowning incident 53 years ago. Joe travelled to St. John’s this week to be close to the search, and couldn’t help but feel the pain of his own loss decades ago.
“I had a feeling of sadness. Heart-wrenching sadness for the family that was out there, and the family that was waiting for them to come home,” he said. “I know how that feels.”
Joe was supposed to be on the Titan for a previous expedition, but had to cancel due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He told CBC News he wasn’t sure if he’d have been able to withstand eight hours crammed inside the small seven-metre submersible, where crew members couldn’t even stand up.
“Now at this stage, I’m thanking my lucky stars that I didn’t do it,” he said.
EDMONTON – RCMP say a second suspect has been arrested in the killing of an Alberta county worker.
Mounties say 28-year-old Elijah Strawberry was taken into custody Friday at a house on O’Chiese First Nation.
Colin Hough, a worker with Rocky View County, was shot and killed while on the job on a rural road east of Calgary on Aug. 6.
Another man who worked for Fortis Alberta was shot and wounded, and RCMP said the suspects fled in a Rocky View County work truck.
Police later arrested Arthur Wayne Penner, 35, and charged him with first-degree murder and attempted murder, and a warrant was issued for Strawberry’s arrest.
RCMP also said there was a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Strawberry, describing him as armed and dangerous.
Chief Supt. Roberta McKale, told a news conference in Edmonton that officers had received tips and information over the last few weeks.
“I don’t know of many members that when were stopped, fuelling up our vehicles, we weren’t keeping an eye out, looking for him,” she said.
But officers had been investigating other cases when they found Strawberry.
“Our investigators were in O’Chiese First Nation at a residence on another matter and the major crimes unit was there working another file and ended up locating him hiding in the residence,” McKale said.
While an investigation is still underway, RCMP say they’re confident both suspects in the case are in police custody.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
RICHMOND, B.C. – The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says the 26-year-old son of a man found dead on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast has been charged with his murder.
Police say 58-year-old Henry Doyle was found badly injured on a forest service road in Egmont last September and died of his injuries.
The homicide team took over when the BC Coroners Service said the man’s death was suspicious.
It says in a statement that the BC Prosecution Service has approved one count of first-degree murder against the man’s son, Jackson Doyle.
Police say the accused will remain in custody until at least his next court appearance.
The homicide team says investigators remained committed to solving the case with the help of the community of Egmont, the RCMP on the Sunshine Coast and in Richmond, and the Vancouver Police Department.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
VANCOUVER – Mediated talks between the union representing HandyDART workers in Metro Vancouver and its employer, Transdev, have broken off without an agreement following 15 hours of talks.
Joe McCann, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1724, says they stayed at the bargaining table with help from a mediator until 2 a.m. Friday and made “some progress.”
However, he says the union negotiators didn’t get an offer that they could recommend to the membership.
McCann says that in some ways they are close to an agreement, but in other areas they are “miles apart.”
About 600 employees of the door-to-door transit service for people who can’t navigate the conventional transit system have been on strike since last week, pausing service for all but essential medical trips.
McCann asks HandyDART users to be “patient,” since they are trying to get not only a fair contract for workers but also a better service for customers.
He says it’s unclear when the talks will resume, but he hopes next week at the latest.
The employer, Transdev, didn’t reply to an interview request before publication.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
