BC owners demand fair compensation following watery crash

A mechanical fault in a 7,000-tonne BC-based ferry, recently caused the vessel to loose power and subsequently crush approximately 22 boats in the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal in West Vancouver, according to Transportation Safety Board investigators. BC Ferries are now initiating meetings with the owners of the damaged boats regarding their demands for fair compensation.Some of the boat owners are insured for damages to their boats, however many of the affected owners own charter companies and do not have insurance on the business, as a result their livelihood might be challenged. BC Ferries officials say they will look into each case individually and determine how much compensation is warranted. The Queen of Oak Bay ferry’s main engine malfunctioned, causing it to shut down leaving all four clutches de-clutched and the vessel without any propulsion. Just two weeks prior to the incident, the Queen of Oak Bay (launched in 1981) had returned to service following a $35 million upgrade. No injuries were reported among the Queen’s 544 passengers or its crew. In addition, the boats, “crushed” by the ferry, were not manned at the time of the incident. The situation could have turned deadly if the ferry’s captain had kept on route towards the main ferry dock where hundreds of passengers were waiting to board. The Queen only suffered minor damages and should resume service following sea trials.