Photo: Anjuli Patil/CBC
Four fishermen survive after a fast boat fire in the Bay of Fundy. Quick thinking skipper rescue, Coast Guard response, and ongoing investigation.
Emergency Call at Sea Sparks Fast Action
It started with a sudden call on Thursday morning in the waters of the Bay of Fundy. Right away, Nova Scotia skipper Blaine Hamilton heard that an old friend was in serious trouble. Moreover, the fishing vessel Ocean Otter had caught fire, and the crew needed help fast.
Meanwhile, Hamilton was already heading back to shore. However, he did not hesitate. Instead, he turned his boat around and raced toward danger. In addition, the vessel was about seven nautical miles away. Consequently, every minute mattered.
Quick Turn at Sea Saves Lives
Next, Hamilton pushed his vessel, the Laure O, straight toward the burning boat. Furthermore, he kept full speed as he closed the distance. Soon after, he arrived at a frightening scene.
In fact, he saw four fishermen clinging to the stern of the Ocean Otter. Importantly, that was the only safe spot left, since smoke filled the rest of the boat. Then, Hamilton and his crew pulled them to safety.
Moreover, just after the rescue, the situation got worse. “She just burst straight into flames,” Hamilton said. As a result, the boat was fully engulfed within moments.
Flames Destroy the Ocean Otter
Meanwhile, the fire spread quickly across the scallop dragger. In addition, the heat and smoke left no safe area behind. Consequently, the vessel soon became a total loss.
According to Hamilton, the timing mattered most. “I was pretty glad I was there,” he said. Moreover, he believed help from the coast guard would have arrived too late. At the time of rescue, only about 45 minutes had passed since the emergency call.
Fishermen Help Fishermen Without Hesitation
Even so, Hamilton said the rescue felt natural. Furthermore, he has spent his life in fishing communities like Digby, Nova Scotia. In addition, he knows how quickly danger can strike at sea.
Interestingly, this was not his first close call. Eight years earlier, he needed rescue himself after a fire in the Cabot Strait. Therefore, he says the response on Thursday felt like paying back a debt.
“All the fishermen are the same,” he said. Moreover, he added that helping others in danger is simply part of the job and the law of the sea.
Coast Guard Responds and Investigation Begins
After the rescue, officials stepped in. For example, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada confirmed an active investigation. In addition, a team went to the area to gather evidence.
Meanwhile, the Canadian Coast Guard reported the vessel later sank about 22 kilometres from Parkers Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada. Furthermore, crews spotted a small oil sheen, but they said it was not recoverable.
In response, the coast guard deployed the CCGS Shediac Bay from Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada to monitor the site. Consequently, officials will continue checking the area for pollution over the coming days.
A Close Call on Familiar Waters
Finally, the incident has left a strong mark on the tight-knit fishing community. Moreover, crews often rely on each other when emergencies strike far from shore. In this case, quick action made all the difference.
Ultimately, four fishermen walked away alive because one skipper turned his boat around without hesitation.
