B.C. Charter Boat Company Had Two Vessels Out in Poor Weather at Time of Deadly Sinking

The mother of a missing boat captain is searching for answers after a fishing charter vessel sank off the coast of British Columbia in poor weather on June 28.

Ashley Lin of Richmond says her son, Chen Ming, was operating the vessel and is among six people presumed drowned.

Company Had Two Boats on the Water

Lin told Postmedia News that the company operating the sunken vessel, Top Vancouver Fishing Charter, had two boats on the water that day.

She said she spoke with the company owner on the day of the sinking and again the next day, but has not heard from him since.

According to Lin, the owner told her the two boats left one after the other and were no more than five minutes apart.

She said the owner was on the second boat with clients and told her he lost sight of the boat that later sank.

Mother Waited at Steveston Harbour

Lin said she waited at Steveston Harbour that night, hoping her son would return.

She said Chen loved fishing and first joined Top Vancouver Fishing Charter trips as a guest.

Over time, he began helping out on the boat and later took on different duties.

Lin said her son initially went for fun, then was told he could join trips without paying if he helped on board.

Sunken Vessel Located by Underwater Drone

On Wednesday, Richmond RCMP announced that the sunken vessel had been found with the help of an underwater drone.

Police also confirmed that one of the four people rescued after the incident had died.

The boat was identified as a 2017 Kingfisher named Top Ocean, according to RCMP.

It sank near Roberts Bank.

Ten People Were on Board

Police said there were 10 people aboard the vessel when it went down.

They included the vessel operator, an assistant and eight passengers.

Four people were rescued, while six remain missing and are presumed drowned.

Rescued Passengers Identified by Police

The rescued survivors included:

• A 26-year-old man from Richmond
• A 33-year-old woman from Toronto
• A 33-year-old man from Redmond, Washington

Police said a 28-year-old woman, identified as a Chinese citizen living in Seattle, was also rescued but later died in hospital.

Six People Remain Missing

RCMP said the people still missing include:

• A 33-year-old man from Toronto
• A 31-year-old woman from Redmond, Washington
• A 31-year-old man, a Chinese citizen living in Seattle
• A 29-year-old woman from West Vancouver
• A 32-year-old man from West Vancouver
• The vessel operator, a 22-year-old man from Richmond

Police did not release names, but Lin identified the missing operator as her son, Chen Ming.

Weather Conditions Under Scrutiny

Postmedia said it has made several attempts to contact the owner of Top Vancouver Fishing.

Another charter company previously said it cancelled trips that day because of poor conditions.

A B.C. couple who used a dinghy from their sailboat to help rescue three people described waves reaching up to 2.5 metres.

RCMP Gathering Evidence

RCMP Cpl. Frank Bryson said investigators have spoken with survivors and several witnesses.

Police have also collected photographs, video evidence and information about the boat and the company that operated it.

Investigators have contacted former passengers and others who previously booked charters through Top Vancouver Fishing.

RCMP said they are continuing to identify and speak with more people who may have information about previous trips involving the vessel.

Boat Found 153 Metres Underwater

The vessel was located about 153 metres below the surface.

Police said investigators were able to confirm the boat’s identity, but the depth, darkness and underwater conditions made it difficult to examine the interior.

No bodies were found outside the vessel underwater.

Officials are now reviewing options for bringing the boat to the surface, which would require specialized equipment and technical expertise.

Multiple Agencies Involved

The investigation is being led by the Richmond RCMP.

It is receiving support from Transport Canada, WorkSafeBC and the B.C. Coroners Service.

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is also conducting its own investigation into the sinking.

Anyone with information about the boat is asked to contact Richmond RCMP at 604-278-1212.

The sinking of the Top Ocean near Roberts Bank has left families grieving and searching for answers. With six people still missing and presumed drowned, including 22-year-old operator Chen Ming, investigators are examining the vessel, the company’s operations and the weather conditions that day. The boat has now been found deep underwater, but recovering it and determining exactly what happened will require further technical work.