A passenger ferry hit a dock and ran aground outside the Village Bay terminal on Mayne Island on Nov. 2, 2013, due to what BC Ferries are calling an “operational issue.”Claire Atkin
BC Ferries is investigating after a passenger ferry collided with a dock and appeared to run aground at the Village Bay terminal on Mayne Island.
The vessel was "set out of position due to high winds" while departing the terminal around 10:45 a.m. PT on Saturday, according to a statement issued by BC Ferries. It said the ship's captain and crew followed emergency procedures and deployed both anchors to keep it away from the shore.
BC Ferries acknowledged the vessel crashed into a private dock on Mayne Island, but said it does not believe the ferry ran aground, as many witnesses claimed. Divers will conduct a dive to confirm, according to the statement.
The coast guard said tugboats had to be dispatched to pull the ferry back into deeper waters shortly before noon.
There were 22 crew members and two passengers onboard at the time of the incident. No one was injured.
The ferry does not appear to have sustained any damage.
BC Ferries says it will now conduct a "full investigation" into the incident. It does not believe there were any mechanical issues with the ferry.
The Queen of Nanaimo was expected to return to Long Harbour on Salt Spring Island with the assistance of the tugboats. The remainder of the vessel's sailings were cancelled for the day.
Andrea Woo