Tag Archives: F/V Elite Navigator

F/V Elite Navigator carried more safety equipment than required, writes TSB in investigation report
It’s impossible to know what caused the fire on the Elite Navigator in July 2024, as the fishing vessel was never recovered. But nearly seven months later, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada’s (TSB) investigation reveals what happened in the vessel’s final moments. According to the TSB report released on Wednesday, light smoke was visible in the engine room soon after a smoke alarm sounded at 7:30 p.m. NT. “A crew member in the deckhouse yelled that there was a fire in the exhaust trunking.” The report says the crew of the Elite Navigator were highly skilled in distress communications, even carrying devices not required by regulation like satellite communication devices and cell phones. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 16:22
‘Andrew went above and beyond’: Lucky Seven crew member thankful for Furey’s support
After enduring 52 hours in a life raft in the open ocean, the seven crew members were rescued and brought home to New-Wes-Valley, where a crowd of loved ones, including the premier, welcomed them home. “When I shook hands with Andrew in front of the fire hall in New-Wes-Valley, he said, ‘How are you feeling?’” Tiller recalled. “I said, ‘Jesus, I’m feeling perfect’ — he couldn’t believe it, that I was in all good spirits.” Since then, Furey has done far more than just staying in touch with the crew; Tiller said they’ve become good friends. When Tiller first heard the news of Furey’s resignation, he was shocked. Like many others, it was the last thing he expected. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:55

Lost at Sea
When a group of seven fishermen went missing off the northeast coast of Newfoundland in July, the small community of New-Wes-Valley was gripped with dread. Coast Guard captain Colin Roul describes the waters around Newfoundland and Labrador as dangerous and unforgiving. “Usually, when you hear distress situations like this, where no sign or sound was heard from these guys, yeah, the outcome is bleak,” he said. As 24 hours turned to 36, then 48, not much hope remained. “We knew this was going to be a regional funeral,” said Michael Tiller, mayor of New-Wes-Valley, where five of the seven men were from. “The food was ready. The place was booked. We were ready to help this town go through one of the worst disasters that it could ever go through. “But then, news of the nearly impossible — the men were found in a raft about 270 kilometres from shore. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:43
F/V Elite Navigator, 10 posts, >>CLICK TO READ<<
After a harrowing rescue in the cold Atlantic, a fisherman wanted two things: A new guitar, and Nickelback tickets
After a harrowing rescue in the cold North Atlantic, and more than 48 hours on a life raft with six of his fellow crewmates, fisherman David Tiller wanted two things: A new guitar, and tickets to see an upcoming Nickelback concert in St. John’s. He’s gotten more than he bargained for: Multiple brand-new instruments, including a black guitar signed and christened by former Great Big Sea frontman Alan Doyle. The present was gifted to Tiller by Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey on Friday. “I couldn’t be happier with the amount of responses, I mean all the people that thought about us is just overwhelming.” Tiller and his six crewmates from the Elite Navigator have become known as Newfoundland and Labrador’s “Lucky Seven.” Video, photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 13:54
Moved by the rescue of the ‘Lucky 7,’ Gander artist creates tribute sketch
Inspired by the rescue last week of seven fishermen feared lost at sea, a Gander artist has created an artwork in tribute to the crew of the Elite Navigator. Keisha Collins created the artwork beginning shortly after the seven men were reported found. “It just kind of hit home to Newfoundland. And the fact that all seven were OK and, you know, were found safe, it was a happy ending. And it was one that Newfoundland needed to see.” A fire aboard their boat forced the crew to abandon ship into a to sink, and the men — since dubbed the “Lucky 7” — were found floating in a life-raft two days later, after using their final flare to signal search and rescue crews. Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:54
F/V Elite Navigator crew happy to be back on shore and plan to get back to sea as soon as they can
Toby Peddle, one of seven fishermen who spent more than two days drifting in a life-raft on the Atlantic Ocean, still can’t believe his good fortune. Peddle said he hoped to get back fishing that evening, whereas Jordan King said he’d give himself a week. “Plan to go back when I can,” he said. Carter said it would be a couple of days before he was ready to go again. “Then I’m good to go again. I don’t want the fish to get away, right?” he said. Carter says they were making supper Wednesday when an alarm went off and a fire was discovered in the engine room. “Toby grabbed the fire extinguisher, tried to extinguish it but as soon as we thought it’d gone out, then it pretty much jumped right back at us, twice as bad,” said Carter. The calls of “fire” rang out to wake everyone up, he said. Video, photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:46

‘Nothing short of a miracle’: Missing N.L. fishing crew arrive home safely
The crew members’ safe arrival was emotional as family and friends tightly hugged the loved ones they thought they’d lost. Captain of the Elite Navigator, Eugene Carter, said the crew is happy to be home after spending almost three days in a life-raft following a fire on the ship that escalated quickly. “Within five minutes, we had seven men aboard a life-raft and there was fire around us everywhere,” Carter said. In the days that followed, Carter said the crew had to keep each other warm, there was limited water supply, and the raft kept drifting farther away from land. Nonetheless, they stayed in good spirits. “We were actually sitting around joking with each other, using the microphone, interviewing each other with the flashlight trying to keep our hopes and everything up,” he said. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:26
Missing N.L. fishing crew found safe, returning home
The crew of the Elite Navigator, the fishing vessel missing since Wednesday, has been found safe. The fishing vessel went missing off the northeast coast of Newfoundland, with the boat’s last known location about 300 kilometres northeast of Gander. Premier Andrew Furey posted to social media around 1 a.m. Saturday that search and rescue efforts had been a success. “Our entire province is so relieved to hear the crew members of the Elite Navigator have been found and are returning to safety to their families, who have been waiting so anxiously for this good news,” Furey posted. “Thank you to all the dedicated people involved in the search and rescue effort.” more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:57
UPDATE: Residents of New-Wes-Valley anxious for missing fishermen to be found safe, says mayor
A community on Newfoundland’s east coast is waiting for any news about a missing fishing vessel that is the focus of an intense search, says a mayor. The vessel, the 15-metre Elite Navigator, has not been heard from since Wednesday evening. New-Wes-Valley mayor Mike Tiller said the people of his community are worried and anxious for any updates, and hoping the vessel will be found. The missing vessel has a crew of seven. Five are from New-Wes-Valley, he said, one is from Centreville-Wareham-Trinity and another from the Gander Bay region. “They were out for a trip of turbot. I think they were due back in Valleyfield yesterday afternoon. And I guess when they didn’t show up of course that’s what set off the initial alarms,” said Tiller. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 13:41
Search Underway For Fishing Vessel Overdue off Northeast Coast
A search is continuing for a fishing vessel reported overdue off the northeast coast of Newfoundland yesterday. The last communication with the 56-foot Elite Navigator was around 11 p.m. Wednesday night, when they were en route to Valleyfield to offload their catch. The vessel was reported overdue Thursday afternoon, with heavy fog hampering search and rescue efforts in the area. More info as it becomes available. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:38