Marine transportation safety investigation M19C0403
The TSB has completed this investigation. The report was published on 15 November 2022.
Table of contents
Engine room fire
Bulk carrier Tecumseh
Detroit River
Windsor, Ontario
The occurrence
On 15 December 2019, the bulk carrier Tecumseh had a fire in the engine room while transiting the Detroit River off Windsor, Ontario. There were 16 crew members on board at the time. The vessel dropped both anchors, and the fixed fire suppression system was used to extinguish the fire. The fire later re-ignited, and the vessel was towed to the Port of Windsor, where the fire was extinguished on 16 December with the assistance of shore-based resources.
Media materials
News release
2019 bulk carrier fire in Windsor, ON raises concerns around firefighting capabilities at some Canadian harbours and ports
Read the news release
Deployment notice
TSB deploys a team of investigators following an incident onboard the bulk carrier Tecumseh on the Detroit River, Ontario
Québec, Quebec, 17 December 2019 – The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is deploying a team of investigators to Windsor, Ontario, following a fire onboard the Canadian-registered bulk carrier Tecumseh on the Detroit River on Sunday. The TSB will gather information and assess the occurrence.
Investigation information
Map showing the location of the occurrence
Investigator-in-charge
Line Laroche is the Manager of regional maritime operations with the Central Region. Before joining the TSB, Mrs. Laroche was Manager, Inspection Division at Transport Canada Marine Safety in Quebec. She spent 18 years at Transport Canada, including 11 years as a Maritime Safety Inspector in Montreal.
Mrs. Laroche began her career at the M.I.L. Davie shipyard in Quebec and holds a diploma from the Institut Maritime du Québec in Naval Architecture.
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
- Field phase: a team of investigators examines the occurrence site and wreckage, interviews witnesses and collects pertinent information.
- 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.
- 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.