BC charter boat sinking leaves captain Chen Ming missing, four rescued

On June 28 2026 a 30‑foot charter boat operated by Top Fishing (Chinese name Haishang) sank in the Georgia Strait off Vancouver in waters 150‑180 m deep. The vessel, formerly known as Big Coast, had a broken side door that water flooded through, a condition reported by the captain’s mother, Ashley Lin, and his girlfriend, Hailey Lee. Chen Ming, 23, was identified as the captain and was among six people missing; four others were rescued with hypothermia, none wearing life jackets.

The RCMP Underwater Recovery Team and West Coast Marine Services are using sonar to locate the boat, and the investigation is being led by the Richmond Serious Crimes Unit. A former owner, Tim Milne, said the boat’s automatic identification system still showed the old name, which helped locate it. Transport Canada had previously notified him that the vessel was impounded for being in an illegal fishing area. Lin has urged the charter firm’s owner to issue a statement, saying, “I wish the owner of the charter boat company would come forward to make a statement. You can’t let my son leave the world with so much regret.”