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Final report to be released into sinking of Leviathan II

Six people died when the whale-watching boat capsized and sank in October 2015.
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The bow of the Leviathan II, a whale-watching boat owned by Jamie’s Whaling Station, is seen near Vargas Island Tuesday, October 27, 2015 as it waits to be towed into Tofino, B.C., for inspection. The Transportation Safety Board is analyzing cameras from passengers and crew as part of its investigation into a deadly whale-watching accident that claimed six lives near Tofino, B.C. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

A final report into the sinking of a whale-watching vessel off Vancouver Island will be released next month by the Transportation Safety Board (TSB).

The Leviathan II capsized and sank on Oct. 25, 2015 about eight nautical miles off off Plover Reefs in Clayoquot Sound. The TSB will be issuing it’s investigation report on June 14 in Vancouver.

Nearly 30 people on board the 65-foot ship were thrown into the ocean and six people were killed in the tragedy.

Preliminary findings from the TSB found that most of the passengers were on the top deck of the vessel when a large wave hit. This caused the boat’s centre of gravity to shift and then capsize.

At least one life raft was activated and at least two flares and parachute rocket were deployed.

The Leviathan II was owned and operated by local wildlife watching company Jamie’s Whaling Station and was the largest vessel in the company’s fleet.

Survivors of the incident filed a lawsuit against the tour company last year.