'What's going on on these ships?' Marine engineer questions Canada's ferry safety
‘There seems to be a problem in Canada,’ says Dalhousie industrial engineering prof
An on-board fire, a lost propeller, and a collision with a wharf have a marine engineer at Dalhousie University wondering what the federal government is doing to ensure that Canada's ferries are safe.
Two of these acccidents happened this month.
The Queen of New Westminster, which connects Vancouver Island to B.C.'s mainland, was pulled from service in the first week of September after a propeller sheared off during a crossing. On Sunday, the MV Confederation ferry, running between Nova Scotia and P.E.I., suffered a mechanical failure that caused it to slam into the wharf, punching a small hole in the bow.
In 2022, the Holiday Island caught fire while crossing between P.E.I. and Nova Scotia. The ferry was evacuated and later scrapped.
It is fortunate that the Holiday Island was close to the wharf in P.E.I. when it caught fire, says John Dalziel. (Shane Hennessey/CBC)
"It does bring into question what's going on on these ships," said John Dalziel, an adjunct professor in industrial engineering at Dalhousie University in Halifax.
"There seems to be a problem in Canada, across the country, particularly with ferries."
There were no serious injuries associated with any of these accidents, but Dalziel said the Holiday Island fire in particular had the potential to be a serious disaster. As it turned out, the fire started in calm weather and just as the ferry was pulling into the dock.
Had it happened in rough weather in the middle of the Northumberland Strait, the outcome might have been different, said Dalziel.
'That ship was in very bad condition'
The Holiday Island fire came just weeks after a CBC News report detailed maintenance problems with the ferry.
Those problems, which led to the ferry being out of service for much of 2016, should have been noticed earlier, said Dalziel.
Given the choice, John Dalziel says he would not ride the ferry between P.E.I. and Nova Scotia. (CBC)
"That ship was in very bad condition and it should have been known that it was in very bad condition," he said.
A further concern, he said, is that two years after the Holiday Island fire there is still no report on the cause. Such reports are important to preventing similar future accidents, he said.
A photo of the starboard tail shaft of the Queen of New Westminster after the propeller and hub assembly had been sheared off. (SubSea Global Solutions)
"I'd go to [Confederation] Bridge now," said Dalziel about how to get on and off P.E.I.
"I'd rather go on the ferry myself. I like boat rides, but they don't seem to have reliability."
Who is in charge?
The problems highlight the complicated levels of responsibility for many of Canada's ferries.
Generally responsibility falls on a vessel's owner, which in the case of the boats running between P.E.I. and Nova Scotia is the federal government. But that's muddied by Northumberland Ferries, which operates the service, being in charge of maintenance.
Given that confusion, Dalziel recommended another approach for getting answers.
"It's Transport Canada's marine safety [program's] obligation to enforce standards within Canada," he said.
"I would go and ask them what's going on. Why did a propeller fall off a ferry in B.C.? Why did the Holiday Island continue to operate in such bad condition?"
CBC News has for weeks been asking for an interview with federal Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez about the safety and reliability of the Northumberland Ferries service, but he has not been made available.
"We recognize how important reliable ferry service is for Islanders, and operations will continue on this vital route for Atlantic Canadians," said Laurent de Casanove, press secretary to the minister, in an email Monday.
With files from Island Morning
76 Comments
David Amos
"I'd rather go on the ferry myself. I like boat rides"
Me too and no buts about it
Jimmy Vee
Reply to David Amos
me too but really than call it a tourist attraction and run it as such.
David Amos
Reply to Jimmy Vee
I am no tourist
Comment by David Amos.
12 min ago
Anybody notice the ad to our right?
David Amos
Reply to David Amos
Save 25 percent on Fall Ferry Crossings to the Rock
arthur stewart.
Reply to David Amos
I don't have any ads coming up on my screen...so probably an algorithm thing.
Reply by David Amos.
4 min ago
Its still there
Reply by David Amos.
3 min ago
I clicked on it
https://www.marineatlantic.ca/offers-promotions/fall-discount?utm_source=cbc&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=mai-fall-campaign-english-2024&utm_content=non-resident
Comment by Billy Gauthier.
45 min ago
It's because politicians only care about lining their pockets and not the safety of Canadians it's been that way for a long time
Reply by Jimmy Vee.
36 min ago
please provide supporting links Billy
Reply by Jimmy Cocerell.
22 min ago
Queen of New Westminster
Reply by David Amos.
7 min ago
Will this link do for you?
http://checktheevidencecom.ipage.com/checktheevidence.com/pdf/2526023-DAMOSIntegrity-yea-right.-txt.pdf
Comment by Benjamin Jemima Jr.
2 hrs ago
At least the Provincially run ferries are operational - unlike our "used" Federal Subs that the Brits unloaded on us - at "fire sale" prices (literally) - after being unsuccessful trying to unload them on Pakistan and which we've subsequently spent Billions $ trying to keep afloat, as they have spent most of their time in drydock. So lets not let the federal Liberals anywhere near our ferries.
Reply by David Amos.
1 hr ago
Amen
Comment by Hugh MacDonald.
4 hrs ago
The problems with Canadian ferries is one 'Ferry Tale' that will not end "happily ever after".
Reply by David Amos.
1 hr ago
"It was late at night on the open road
Speeding like a man on the run
A lifetime spent preparing for the journey
He is closer now and the search is on
Reading from a map in the mind
In the rolling mist then he gets on board
Now there'll be no turning back
Beware that hooded old man at the rudder
And then the lightning flashed, and the thunder roared
And people calling out his name
And dancing bones that jabbered and a-moaned
On the water
And then the ferryman said
"There is trouble ahead
So you must pay me now, " ("Don't do it")
"You must pay me now, " ("Don't do it")
And still that voice came from beyond
"Whatever you do
Don't pay the ferryman
Don't even fix a price
Don't pay the ferryman
Until he gets you to the other side"
Comment by Carl Lark.
4 hrs ago
Keep pressing Minister Rodriguez for the interview CBC.
Reply by Bruce Normand.
3 hrs ago
The Minister is barely aware that anything worthwhile exists east of Montreal. No chance.
Reply by Jim Schultz.
2 hrs ago
He is too busy rewriting his resume for next October
Reply by David Amos.
just now
Oh so true
Reply by David Amos.
just now
Of that I have no doubt