VANCOUVER — Passenger ferries were involved in two close calls with float planes – one in Horseshoe Bay and one in Burrard Inlet – last year, according to federal transportation safety board documents.
The first incident, on June 1, involved BC Ferries’ 95-metre Queen of Capilano and a commercial West Coast Air seaplane landing at the entrance to Horseshoe Bay.
The second incident, July 15, involved TransLink’s 34-metre SeaBus Burrard Otter and an unidentified seaplane off Lonsdale Quay in Vancouver harbour.
Another SeaBus, the Burrard Pacific Breeze, also had a close-quarters incident with a military inflatable patrol craft in Vancouver harbour on Feb. 6 as part of Olympics security.
The documents, compiled at The Vancouver Sun’s request, officially categorize such incidents as "collision-near" but give no further details.
BC Ferries spokeswoman Deborah Marshall said the captain of the Queen of Capilano reported the incident to federal authorities because the float plane "touched down and crossed the vessel’s bow in close proximity in Horseshoe Bay. The Queen of Capilano reduced speed to prevent a close-quarters situation."
The International Regulation for Preventing Collisions at Sea states that a seaplane on the water shall, in general, keep well clear of all vessels and avoid impeding their navigation, she said.
Lyle Soetaert, operations manager for West Coast Air (owned by Harbour Air), said he spoke with the pilot at the time and he reported passing on the ferry’s port side and landing ahead of the ferry as it was approaching the dock. The pilot felt there was adequate distance and no risk of a collision. There was no further investigation.
TransLink spokesman Drew Snider said the Feb. 6 SeaBus incident occurred during a security training exercise before the Olympics, with a number of patrol craft in the harbour. "The Master felt one of the inflatables passed too close for comfort,’" he said. "The whole thing was under observation at all times."
Similarly, the seaplane on July 15 "came within the ferry’s comfort zone," Snider said. Crews are instructed to file an official report in such events.
Other near collisions last year in B.C.:
– Feb. 1, in Juan de Fuca Strait, between the fishing vessel Ocean Sunrise and cargo ship Global Serenity shortly after "disembarking its pilot at the Victoria B.C. pilot station."
– July 6, in Haro Strait, the U.S. pleasure craft Gail Force passed over the tow line between the tug Harken No. 10 and the 27 sections of logs it was towing.
– July 10, in the Fraser River near Garry Point, the tug Arctic Hooper, pushing a loaded barge outbound from the Fraser River, nearly collided with two rafted pleasure craft.
– July 11, near Point Roberts, Wash., the freighter Santa Pacifica and the broken-down pleasure craft Sortir in the northbound traffic lane. Persons aboard the Sortir abandoned the craft and were picked up by a Canadian Coast Guard auxiliary vessel.
– July 15, on the Fraser River near McDonald Beach, the tug Jacques Cartier towing a gravel barge and the sailing vessel Swish.
– July 28, Active Pass, the Seaspan passenger/train ferry Princess Superior had to take evasive action to avoid the fishing vessel Istra.
– Aug. 10, north of Deltaport, the chemical tanker Cedar Galaxy and the sailing vessel Lazy Lizard.
– Aug. 10, Fraser River, the dredger Fraser Titan and the fishing vessel Sure Thing.
– Aug. 15, Juan de Fuca Strait, the container vessel Genoa Bridge and an unnamed 30-metre fishing vessel.
– Aug. 26, near Fraser Surrey Docks, the tug Ken Mackenzie, towing a loaded chip barge, was forced to slow down to avoid a collision with the fishing vessel Sony Sue, blocking the channel with fish nets.
– Aug. 26, near Fraser Surrey Docks, the articulated tug and barge unit Sea-link Pusher was forced to "crash stop" to avoid a collision with the Miss Decca, with its nets set in the tug’s path.
– Sept. 3, Prince Rupert harbour, Canadian Coast Guard ship Vector went full astern and altered to port to avoid a collision with the sailing vessel Porpoise.
– Sept. 6, Fraser River, the bulk carrier Green Island and the fishing vessel Sun Mariner.
– Sept. 10, Sandheads in the Fraser River, the container ship Hyundai Dominion required a bold course alteration to avoid contact with the fishing vessel Island Spirit II.
– Nov. 2, between Denman and Hornby Islands, BC Ferries’ Kahloke, with fishing vessel Ingibjorg K.
lpynn@vancouversun.com
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