BC Ferries' president has blamed the crew for nearly running a superferry into an island, saying they could have spotted a steering problem in "three seconds" if they made the required checks.
"You have a number of different events, human errors, coming together, where people are supposed to stand watch," David Hahn told CBC News of the incident, which saw the Spirit of British Columbia come within 365 metres of an island on Dec. 14, 2004.
The Spirit of British Columbia, one of the two largest vessels in BC Ferries' fleet, came within 365 metres of hitting Prevost Island on Dec. 14, 2004.
(BC Ferries)
According to an internal report obtained by CBC News earlier in the week, the superferry veered well off course as it left the congested waters of Active Pass in the Gulf Islands en route to Swarz Bay after the chief officer unknowingly shifted the vessel out of autopilot.
The captain then looked around, saw trees straight ahead and took control. He turned the massive vessel in an almost complete circle to avoid hitting Prevost Island, the report said.
The report describes how three different officers failed to check the position of the steering system on the 167-metre vessel, one of the largest in the B.C. Ferries fleet.
Hahn said the chief officer could have spotted the problem with the steering in "three seconds" if he had followed procedure.
Hahn refused to call the incident a near-grounding, but he acknowledged it was serious. He said safety changes were made and the chief officer was disciplined.
Union blames inadequate training
However, Capt. David Badior of the BC Ferry and Marine Workers Union said it was unfair to blame the crew.
"The problem is the training the crew get before that happens."
Badior said BC Ferries has outfitted its vessels with what he calls "bits and pieces" of new equipment, without providing adequate training.
Related
External Links
(Note: CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external sites - links will open in new window)
MORE BRITISH COLUMBIA HEADLINES »
- Homeless advocates take over building near city hall
- A group of advocates for the homeless has taken over another abandoned building in Vancouver, this time just a block from city hall.
- Surrey man charged in wife's death
- A Surrey man has appeared in provincial court, charged with second-degree murder in the stabbing death of his wife on Sunday.
- Rolling Stones postpone Vancouver concert
- The Rolling Stones concert scheduled for Vancouver Friday has been postponed because lead singer Mick Jagger is having throat problems.
- B.C. expands compassionate care leave
- Thousands more British Columbians may be eligible for compassionate leave to care for loved ones who are terminally ill, as the result of a change announced Tuesday by the provincial government.
- Threat of smoking ban snuffed out
- The City of White Rock has backed down on its threat to ban smoking in outdoor restaurant patios and bars.
