Police located the sunken boat, 153 metres below the surface, with the help of an underwater drone.
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A charter boat that sank just off the coast of Richmond has now been located with the help of an underwater drone.
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The news came in an update shared by police on Wednesday, in which officials also confirmed one of the four rescued passengers has since died.
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The 2017 Kingfisher boat, the Big Coast, had been operated by Top Vancouver Fishing Charter Inc. when it went down near Roberts Bank on June 28.
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On board were 10 people, including the vessel operator and an assistant, and eight passengers.
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Four people were rescued that day while the other six remained unaccounted for and are now presumed drowned.
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Those rescued include a 33-year-old woman from Toronto; a 33-year-old man from Redmond, Wash. and a 26-year-old man from Richmond.
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A 28-year-old woman, identified as a Chinese citizen who had been living in Seattle, was also rescued but has since died in hospital.
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Those who remain missing include:
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• a 33-year-old man from Toronto, Ont.;
• a 31-year-old woman from Redmond, Wash.;
• a 31-year-old man, a Chinese citizen residing in Seattle, Wash.;
• a 29-year-old woman from West Vancouver, B.C.;
• a 32-year-old man from West Vancouver, B.C.; and
• the vessel operator, a 22-year-old man from Richmond, B.C.
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No names have been released.
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In the statement, Cpl. Frank Bryson said police have spoken to the survivors and a number of witnesses, gathered photographs and video evidence and collected information relating to the boat and the operating company.
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Police have also contacted past passengers of the Big Coast and others who had previously chartered through Top Vancouver Fishing as part of the investigation.
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“Investigators continue to identify and engage with additional individuals who may possess relevant information regarding previous voyages involving the vessel,” read the statement.
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The boat itself, located about 153 metres below the surface, was found with the use of an underwater drone with support from West Coast Marine Services.
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“Although investigators were able to confirm the vessel’s identity, significant depth, darkness and underwater conditions limited efforts to examine the interior,” the statement read.
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No bodies were found underwater outside the vessel. Officials are now “evaluating specialized recovery options” as the boat’s location will need the use of specialized equipment and technical expertise to raise to surface.
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The investigation, led by the Richmond RCMP, continues with support from Transport Canada, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, WorkSafeBC and the B.C. Coroners Service.
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Anyone with information about the boat is asked to contact Richmond RCMP at 604-278-1212 and cite file number 2026-20338.
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More to come…
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