RCMP plans careful recovery of sunken BC fishing charter after six presumed dead

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police are overseeing a careful recovery of a sunken commercial fishing charter in the Strait of Georgia near Richmond, British Columbia. The vessel, which lies about 150 metres below the surface, is being treated as evidence in an ongoing investigation.

Ten people were aboard when the boat capsized on June 28; four were rescued, one later died in hospital and six are presumed dead, with ages ranging from 22 to 33. An underwater drone located the wreck, but no bodies have been seen inside. A second vessel owned by Top Vancouver Fishing Charter was detained by Transport Canada for operating a pleasure craft as a commercial passenger vessel and for safety deficiencies, including a broken side door that the captain, Chen Ming, had reported.

RCMP and partner agencies are assessing options to safely raise the charter while preserving investigative evidence.