Charter Boat Sinks Off Richmond with Six Missing: What It Means for Strait of Georgia Waterfront Decisions

A charter boat with 10 people on board began taking on water near Roberts Bank off the Richmond coast at approximately 11:45 a.m. on Sunday, June 28, according to the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Victoria. Police believe all 10 entered the water, many without life jackets, triggering a large-scale search and rescue operation. By 1:15 p.m., four people had been pulled from the water and transported to the Sea Island coast guard station in Richmond for medical care. The remaining six were still missing as of Sunday evening. At 9:45 p.m., the search commander suspended active rescue efforts and handed the incident over to the RCMP. The vessel sank roughly 18 kilometres southwest of Vancouver International Airport, and the cause remains under investigation.

The rescue mobilization was substantial. Assets included a Canadian Forces CH-149 Cormorant helicopter and a CC-295 Kingfisher aircraft from 19 Wing Comox, the Canadian Coast Guard Hovercraft Siyay, lifeboats from Ganges Harbour station, and crews from Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue auxiliary stations 6, 7, and 8. B.C. Ferries vessels, civilian boats, and RCMP marine units also responded. The location near Roberts Bank sits off the Richmond coast, roughly 18 kilometres southwest of Vancouver International Airport. For the real estate market, this stretch of water is adjacent to Richmond’s western and southern waterfront, where direct water-access and view properties represent a distinct segment of the local housing stock.