by Kyle Wells [email protected] BC Ferries maintains that the Queen of Chilliwack is safe, performs adequately and is the only available replacement on the Comox to Powell River run while the Queen of Burnaby undergoes an $11-million refit.
Mike Corrigan, executive vice-president and chief operating officer, and Captain Jamie Marshall, vice-president, fleet operations and training, explained as much in a written reply to a letter sent by City of Powell River Mayor Stewart Alsgard and Powell River Regional District Chair Colin Palmer on September 14.
Alsgard and Palmer’s letter questioned the suitability of the Chilliwack on the route and expressed concern over safety following a near eight-hour sailing of Chilliwack in November 2010 that happened as a result of a decision to sail despite wind warnings and rough seas.
The response from Corrigan and Marshall explains that over its two stints as a replacement for the Burnaby, the Chilliwack has delivered “a comparable level of service related to on-time sailing performance as well as heavy weather sailing cancellations.”
In regard to the eight-hour sailing, the letter details improvements in heavy weather sailing protocols, including new procedures for deciding whether or not to sail in heavy weather. The letter also assures that the Chilliwack meets all regulations and safety standards, including those outlined by Transport Canada.
“We are confident that the Master made the correct decision that night to delay the sailing for a significant period of time due to extremely heavy weather,” reads the letter. “However, based on customer and crew feedback, we have implemented a number of operational and customer communication improvements going forward.”
Flood doors were also installed on the Chilliwack in the spring of 2011. These doors can be used in heavy weather, mainly while the ship is on its usual route during the summer from Port Hardy to mid-coast communities. The doors will be tested on some low-utilized Saturday sails from Powell River to Comox but BC Ferries expects that they will not be used much otherwise.
In response to another of Alsgard and Palmer’s questions, the letter explains that no other suitable vessel, with comparable capacity and “vessel-trained crew” is available for the route.
Speaking to the Peak, Alsgard and Palmer said they are not entirely satisfied with BC Ferries’ response. For one thing, they addressed their original letter to BC Ferries CEO David Hahn and chair of the BC Ferries board Donald Hayes, and are a bit disappointed that the response came from staff.
For another, they don’t believe that comparisons between the Queen of Burnaby and the Chilliwack, in regard to heavy weather sailing, are adequate given that the two vessels are entirely different.
“You’ve got to get this information out so that people feel comfortable with the fact that these questions that we raise indeed are answered directly,” said Alsgard.
Palmer said people may not have been aware how the eight-hour sailing of the Chilliwack led to new sailing protocols for heavy weather. Palmer and Alsgard do believe, however, that the letter is a bit careful in its wording when saying that the Master made the correct decision to delay the sailing once near Texada Island, while failing to mention the decision to sail in the first place.
