Canada to investigate school ship sinking

LUNENBURG, Nova Scotia, March 4 (UPI) -- Canada's Transportation Safety Board Thursday began investigating the sinking of a Canadian sail training ship off the Brazilian coast last month.

The board's manager of marine investigations, Ken Potter, told The (Halifax) Chronicle-Herald the MV Concordia is registered in Barbados, which is investigating the vessel's Feb. 17 capsizing and sinking.

However, he said Canada also has a right to investigate as the ship is owned and operated by a Canadian company in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.

All 64 crew, teachers and students were rescued from lifeboats by passing ships, although First Officer Kim Smith told the Canwest News Service he couldn't understand why it took the Brazilian military more than 20 hours to respond to the first distress call.

"They are saying that 20 hours is standard procedure -- I find that incredible," Smith said. "If your house is on fire, are you going to wait 20 hours?"

However, Brazilian Cmdr. Paulo Fernando told The Calgary Herald the Concordia had not followed Brazilian maritime protocols and each distress situation is a judgment call.

"Everyone was rescued in the end, so it's time to move on," he told the Herald.