On 9/12/1995 , the vessel CHARLOTTE EXPLORER (Official Number 810531) was involved in a not involved in HIPPA ISLAND,QUEEN CHARLOTTES, B.C.,.

The vessel, with 15 persons on board, experienced the incident while engaged in regular operations. Fortunately, the ship was able to continue its voyage. No injuries or fatalities were reported, and there was pollution.

This incident was officially recorded by Transport Canada on 6/15/1998 . Weather at the time was reported as clear with winds from the NW at 9.00 knots.

The "CHARLOTTE EXPLORER 4" (CE4) and its two occupants were declared overdue when the small boat did not return to the mother ship "CHARLOTTE EXPLORER" on the evening of 12 September 1995. A search initiated by the crew of the mother ship using other small craft continued throughout the night. At dawn, more boats and a helicopter joined the search. The "CE4" was found upside down on a beach on the north-west corner of Hippa Island. Soon afterward, the crew of the helicopter sighted the bodies of the small boat's two occupants in a kelp bed just off the coast.

The Board determined that the chartered "CE4", while fishing alone with the outboard motor most likely stopped, capsized after drifting into an area of kelp and rocks where a combination of tide and sea swell was locally creating large waves of up to, or larger than, seven metres with breaking crests. The charter company's procedures with regard to fishing alone, maintaining regular radio contact and patrols to ensure the safety of its guests were not enforced. There was delay in determining that the small boat was overdue and in starting a search. As there was no witness, the exact location, time and cause of the capsizing could not be determined.