Two navy sailors charged in fatal capsizing
Two members of the Royal Canadian Navy are facing charges of negligent performance of duties following an investigation into the death of a sailor who was aboard a military boat that capsized in Halifax harbour.
Military police say the victim, Petty Officer 2nd Class Gregory Applin, was one of two sailors who were thrown into the cold water of the Bedford Basin on Jan. 24, 2025, at around 10 p.m.
The Canadian Armed Forces issued a statement Wednesday saying Applin and the unnamed sailor were travelling in a seven-metre, rigid-hull inflatable boat — also known as a RIB — when it struck a mooring buoy and flipped over.
Both sailors, who were the only two people on the RIB when it capsized, were rescued by the crew aboard a nearby vessel and taken to hospital, where Applin later died.
The military said Sailor First Class Alexandre Garrison has been charged under military law with one count of dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death, and one count of negligent performance of military duties. At the time of the alleged service offences, Garrison was serving with the Naval Fleet School in Halifax.
Shortly after the capsizing, the navy confirmed the RIB driver was a small boat coxswain from the Naval Fleet School.
As well, Master Sailor David Terry has been charged under military law with one count of criminal negligence causing bodily harm and one count of negligent performance of military duties. Terry was serving aboard the frigate HMCS Montreal, which is based in Halifax.
Applin was a weapons engineering technician who was also serving aboard HMCS Montreal when he died. During his 19 years with the navy, he participated in operations and exercises around the world, and as an instructor at the Naval Fleet School.
Originally from Shoal Cove West, N.L., the 38-year-old sailor was also a husband and father.
Three days after the capsizing, the commander of Canadian Fleet Atlantic, Commodore Jacob French, confirmed HMCS Montreal had just completed sonar trials in the harbour when a RIB was dispatched to take some personnel to shore, about 1.6 kilometres away.
The temperature of the water that night was just above freezing, but French said the waves were less than a metre high and the outdoor temperature was around -7 C, with the wind chill reaching about -10 C. He said nighttime transfers were routine for the navy.
The commodore said the small boat flipped after its passengers were dropped off at the Mill Cove jetty on the northwestern side of the Bedford Basin, a huge body of water at the north end of the harbour. He said the coxswain had plenty of experience on the water.
On Wednesday, the navy’s chief commander, Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee, issued a statement saying the charges highlight the “challenging realities” of military service.
“We operate in a demanding environment where mistakes and errors can have fatal consequences, and we must be accountable for our actions and our inactions,” Topshee said, adding that this kind of incident was most likely the result of a combination of factors.
“Accountability is not limited to legal proceedings; it is a principle that guides our profession and maintains the trust placed in us by Canadians."
Topshee said the navy’s commanders “must be vigilant, proactive, and uncompromising in enforcing safety standards and operational discipline. The lives of (our) sailors depend on it.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 15, 2026.
By Michael MacDonald | Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.