Preliminary report explains why whale watching boat capsized

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A preliminary report from the Transportation Safety Board says sightseeing passengers on board the whale watching boat that capsized near Tofino, BC had crowded to one side just as a strong wave hit from the opposite side.

With the passengers on the top deck, the Leviathan II’s centre of gravity was much higher than normal, and the ship rolled.

Investigators will try to access the ship’s electronic systems today to get more information about what was going on and why the ship became unstable.

Yesterday the coronor identified the five British nationals who died as David Thomas, 50, his son Stephen Thomas, 18, Jack Slater, 76, who was living in Toronto, Katie Taylor, 29 of Whistler,
BC, and Nigel Hooker, 63 of Southampton, England.

Twenty one people were rescued after the ship’s crew sent up flares to attract help.

An Australian man is still missing.