The White Bay Challenger was being escorted by the Canadian Coast Guard Ship Ann Harvey, when it was struck by ice and sank on April 17.
Photo submitted by Canadian Coast Guard
Third vessel abandoned in seal hunt
A third vessel taking part in the seal hunt was evacuated in mid-April.
The White Bay Challenger was headed towards Englee in the early morning on April 17, escorted by the Canadian Coast Guard Ship Ann Harvey, when it was struck by ice.
Coast Guard spokesman Kevin Barnes said the vessel started taking on water. Three pumps were placed in the vessel, which managed to keep it afloat for some time. But at about 6:30 a.m. the crew was forced to abandon the vessel.
“I guess they couldn’t keep up with the ingress (of water),” said Barnes.
The seven crewmembers were taken aboard the Harvey, which was headed to port in St. Anthony this morning.The vessel sank shortly after.
Two other vessels that had to be abandoned since the seal hunt started on were the Lacy May, which burned to the waterline off Catalina, and the BS Venture, which went ashore near Rocky Harbour.
No one was hurt in either instance.
(The Telegram)
