Warnings of the Past

Looking back at the last few days of coverage of the Sinking of the Queen of the North, one story in particular seems to jump out at the observer of the last few days of events. It is a sense of foreboding that seems to have been intimated by many, including BC Ferries own executives over the last few years. They are warnings that seem to have not been properly addressed by the various levels of government. Especially considering that the expiry date for the end of service of the vessels was pushed back and more stringent government regulations given “special dispensation” to keep the ships at sea.

With ships that were supposed to be out of the water by 2004 still in service, it’s pretty obvious that a lack of decisiveness has come back to haunt all the stakeholders involved in the ferry file.

The Daily News did an admirable job of tracing the last five years of bureaucracy regarding all three vessels of the Northern service; it’s provided below in Podunkicized form.

WE NEED A PLAN AND QUICKLY, SAYS COONS
By Patrick Witiwicki
The Daily News
Friday, March 24, 2006
Page one

With the North Coast still reeling after the sinking of the Queen of the North Wednesday morning, it is widely anticipated that people will now be concerned about the safety of B. C. Ferries other single-compartment vessels, including the Queen of Prince Rupert.

The Queen of Prince Rupert is being rushed back into service, and B. C. Ferries hopes to have it running between the Queen Charlotte Islands and Rupert by next week. However, that doesn’t address any of the concerns regarding safety, nor answer what will happen in the summer, said North Coast MLA Gary Coons.

Funding was approved earlier this week for the construction of three new ships, but they won’t be available until 2009, although B. C. Ferries President David Hahn suggested this week that the timeline could be moved up.

Coons though, who is the Opposition’s ferries critic, wants answers.

“We need to sit down and figure out what to do,” he said. “We’re devastated, and it’s going to be devastated for years to come.”

Concern about the safety of BC Ferries’ ships came up in the legislature Thursday afternoon, where Coons and his colleagues wanted others to know more about a report that was released in November of 2001. At that time, Bob Lingwood then president and CEO of B. C. Ferries, made a presentation regarding the northern fleet to the North and Mid-Coast Ferry Advisory Committee, said Coons. I dealt with changes to Transport Canada’s Damaged Stability Regulations, and was documented that those changes “will impact all three of the vessels used on the Northern service.”

Coons said the recommendations in 2001 were as follows:

Regarding the Queen of the North – “The Damaged Stability regulation means that the vessel will be used only in the calmer periods of the year (summer)”

Regarding the Queen of Prince Rupert – “The Damaged Stability regulation means that the vessel is no longer serviceable beyond 2004.”

Regarding the Queen of Chilliwack (which has been touted as a possible option for the upcoming summer runs) – “The Damaged Stability regulation means the ship will not be serviceable after the 2003 summer service schedule, and must be retired.” (Source –www.bcferries.ca/about/public_consult/bcf_facs/docs/minutes/NSFACM_011106.pdf)

However, with the North Coast needing a ferry service, the B. C. Government went out after the 2001 report and asked for exemptions from Transport Canada, and were given special dispensation to continue using the vessels, said Coons. But he said he is more interested in finding a way to move ahead than he is in apportioning blame.

“If we don’t do something, for the next four years, we’re hoped,” he said.

Coons would like representatives from both sides of the legislature to gather in Prince Rupert to look for ways to safely service the North Coast, instead of arguing about what to do in the legislature.

“We don’t need to blame each other,” he said. “I mean they’re to blame for dragging their feet, and we had the Fast Cats. That’s not the point here. I want the premier and the transportation minister (Kevin Falcon) to come to Prince Rupert so we can come to some solutions. Tourism is all we’ve got… we’ve lost everything else.

“You don’t solve problems by pretending they aren’t there.”