Devastated loved ones of Richmond boat operator say he was ‘caring’
Posted July 6, 2026 6:58 am.
Last Updated July 6, 2026 11:20 am.
New details are coming to light following that deadly boat sinking in Richmond late last month.
An emotional vigil was held Sunday evening, exactly one week after the vessel capsized in the waters off Vancouver International Airport (YVR). Four people were rescued hours later on June 28, while six others, including the 23-year-old boat operator, Chen Ming, remain missing and presumed drowned.
Speaking to our sister station, OMNI Television, Ming’s girlfriend and mother shared their heartbreak as they try to make sense of the tragedy.
“He is a very responsible and caring person. I believe that in that moment, he was thinking of others before himself,” said his mother, Ashley Lin. “I just want him to come back home. Hailey and I are waiting for you at home. You’ve been out long enough.”
She adds she’s grateful for those who helped search the water the day of the sinking. The pair says they will continue to pray for everyone involved to return home.
We’re also learning what may have been wrong with the boat prior to its sinking.
Hailey Lee, Ming’s girlfriend, says they were out on the vessel just two days before the incident and thinks a door left open allowed water to flood the boat somewhat before friends on board were able to “pump the water out.”
His mother goes on to say she reached out to the charter company the day after the boat sank, in search of answers.
“They just kept saying they didn’t know and were waiting for updates from the police,” said Lin.
“Since then, they haven’t contacted us again,” adds Lee.
The Richmond Serious Crimes Unit is leading the investigation into what happened. In a statement last week, Mounties said conditions have made the search slower and more difficult.
They add that even after the vessel is found, it could take days to investigate, document, and potentially recover it.
The RCMP Underwater Recovery Team and West Coast Marine Services are using sonar to search for the charter boat that sank in what investigators have called “very deep waters” of between 150 and 180 metres.
— With files from The Canadian Press
