Marine transportation safety investigation M25C0148

Table of contents

    Person overboard
    General cargo vessel Kathy McKeil
    Thunder Bay, Ontario

    The occurrence

    On 03 July 2025, the general cargo vessel Kathy McKeil was approaching the Superior Elevator dock in Thunder Bay, Ontario. During mooring operations, a crew member was being transferred to the dock using a landing boom—an apparatus designed to transfer personnel from the vessel to shore. During the transfer, the crew member handling the landing rope lost his grip, causing the other crew member to fall into the water.

    The crew member in the water was instructed to swim to a nearby ladder and climb onto the dock. A 2nd crew member was then transferred to the dock to assist with securing the vessel. No injuries were reported.

    Media materials

    Deployment notice

    TSB is deploying a team of investigators following an incident involving cargo vessel Kathy McKeil

    Investigation information

    Map showing the location of the occurrence

    M25C0148

    Person overboard
    General cargo vessel Kathy McKeil
    Thunder Bay, Ontario

      Download high-resolution photos from the TSB Flickr page.

    Class of investigation

    This is a class 3 investigation. These investigations analyze a small number of safety issues, and may result in recommendations. Class 3 investigations are generally completed within 450 days. For more information, see the Policy on Occurrence Classification.

    TSB investigation process

    There are 3 phases to a TSB investigation

    1. Field phase: a team of investigators examines the occurrence site and wreckage, interviews witnesses and collects pertinent information.
    2. Examination and analysis phase: the TSB reviews pertinent records, tests components of the wreckage in the lab, determines the sequence of events and identifies safety deficiencies. When safety deficiencies are suspected or confirmed, the TSB advises the appropriate authority without waiting until publication of the final report.
    3. Report phase: a confidential draft report is approved by the Board and sent to persons and corporations who are directly concerned by the report. They then have the opportunity to dispute or correct information they believe to be incorrect. The Board considers all representations before approving the final report, which is subsequently released to the public.

    For more information, see our Investigation process page.

    The TSB is an independent agency that investigates air, marine, pipeline, and rail transportation occurrences. Its sole aim is the advancement of transportation safety. It is not the function of the Board to assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability.