Atlantic Charger crew members reunite with families in Newfoundland

Crew members of an ill-fated fishing vessel have finally returned home to Newfoundland, a few days after they were forced to abandon their sinking boat off the coast of Nunavut.

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• Atlantic Charger's crew rescued from life-raft in Frobisher Bay
• Atlantic Charger rescue mission: Canadian Forces detail their role

After they were located and rescued in Frobisher Bay, crew members were taken to Iqaluit before starting their journey back to Newfoundland.

The men finally arrived in Harbour Grace round 9:30 a.m. Friday aboard the fishing trawler Katsheshuk. They were greeted by anxious family members.

Conditions 'pretty rough'

After coming ashore, crew member Winston Dearing told CBC News that while he isn't sure what exactly caused the boat to take on water, the conditions that day were less than ideal.

"Sea conditions were pretty rough," Dearing, who lives in Moreton's Harbour, said from his car after being reunited with his wife on Friday. "I don't really want to comment on what happened and I don't really know for sure anyway."

When asked how the crew held up during 10 long hours in a life-boat, Dearing said thinking of families back home allowed the nine crew members to stay calm and focused.

"Just the will to get back to our families," he said.

"I'm sure it was a lot harder for family and friends at home than it was for us. We knew what was happening. We kind of had some control over our destiny, but they didn't know."

Rescuers praised

Dearing credits the work of those who came to rescue them, as well as those on the Katsheshuk II, for ensuring they all got back to Newfoundland safe and sound.

He told CBC News that despite the close call, he will continue to work as a fisherman.

"It's what I've always done," he said. "That's what I'm going to continue to do."

Brad Watkins, the owner of the sunken vessel, told reporters after the crew arrived that he still can't believe the prized boat is now sitting at the bottom of the ocean.

"I'm dumbfounded. I know what she was capable of, and I still find it very hard to believe that Mother Nature took her down, I still can't believe it — but she did," he said.

That's what Newfoundlanders do — we hold together.- Brad Watkins, owner of the Atlantic Charger

"There's nothing in Atlantic Canada that can do what this vessel done, you can't replace her, she's irreplaceable."

Watkins said he had insurance on the Atlantic Charger, but losing it will still be a big blow to his business.

Seeing his crew embracing their families was a welcome sight after days of anxiety and sleepless nights waiting for them to arrive back home.

"I was stomach sick all morning because I just wanted to see them and talk to them and thank them," he said.

"The feeling of knowing they're on their way and safe is great, but you've got to see them for it to sink in."

Watkins said he still isn't exactly sure what happened to the boat, but he suspects rough weather conditions played a part in the sinking.

The military has told him that the Atlantic Charger is now completely submerged and no longer visible, despite earlier reports that it was still only partially under water.

He said the quick actions of the ships that came to rescue the crew are to thank for everyone getting home safe.

"They had a hard time going to rescue the boys too, they were in a storm," he said.

"Being on the water and seafarers, you got to look out for one another. It was the right thing to do, and that's what Newfoundlanders do — we hold together."

The St. John's-registered Atlantic Charger is a 20-metre fishing vessel designed by TriNav Marine Design and built by Val Cull of Northern Boat Building and Repair in Port Saunders.

The crew was fishing for turbot near Nunavut when they began began taking on water off Resolution Island early Monday, forcing the nine members, all from Newfoundland and Labrador, to declare an emergency and scramble into a lifeboat.

Initial reports were that the boat had sunk, but authorities later clarified that the boat was taking on water.

The Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Halifax said the crew was well prepared and in good health following Monday's rescue.

Mike Forward, a crew member of the Katsheshuk, told CBC News on Friday that the Atlantic Charger crew was well trained, which likely prevented them from getting in more trouble than they did.