The case of the missing log book

You know you just want to say out loud, what the heck is going on at BC Ferries, as the happenings at the Ferry Corporation just get stranger and stranger these days.

The Victoria Times-Colonist is reporting on yet another strange occurrence aboard one of the BC Ferries vessels, one that will once again put the Ferry Corporation into the media spotlight.

In this instance, the October log book for the Queen of Prince Rupert has gone missing, taken from the bridge of the ship last week and appearing to have disappeared into thin air.

It’s a worrisome thing for a Ferry Corporation already under the microscope for any number of troublesome issues. So concerned is the Corporation that they have asked the RCMP to look into the situation, as well as conducting an internal review of their own.

The book was apparently removed from the bridge by two crew members who took it down to the crews mess in order to make some notes from it and it hasn’t been seen since.

The Ferry Corporation is at a loss for an explanation about the removal of the books from the bridge and has no idea why the books would disappear. The Ferry Corporation CEO, David Hahn who seems a tad fed up with all the issues surrounding his corporation stated that: No crew members have yet been disciplined, but, if the culprit is found, the discipline "would match up with it being a severe infraction.

To which the union replied was a gross over reaction to the situation and have since advised their members to not comment on the situation owing to the legal implications of it all. The controversy over the issue will no doubt create more tension between the union and management, as if that is something that needs any help these days.

It all makes for just another unusual happening for British Columbia’s Ferry Service and yet more distrustful moments for a Corporation that seems to have some serious Human Resources issues.


B.C. Ferries searching for log book from Queen of Prince Rupert

Judith Lavoie
Times Colonist
Wednesday, November 15, 2006

The strange case of the Queen of Prince Rupert’s missing October log book is the focus of an RCMP investigation and an internal B.C. Ferries review.

The log book, which has not been seen since last week, is like the diary of the ship, documenting course changes, passenger problems and anything that happens during the ferry’s trips between Port Hardy , Prince Rupert and the Queen Charlottes.

B.C. Ferries CEO David Hahn, who is vowing to get to the bottom of the mystery, said he has no idea why someone would want the log book.

"I don’t think it would have involved leaking it to the media," he said.

Recently, reporters got hold of B.C. Ferries’ safety log, which documented safety and technical problems, but the ship’s log is completely different, Hahn said.

The logbook was removed from the bridge by two crew members, who took it to the crew’s mess because they wanted to take notes from it, but it hasn’t been seen since, Hahn said.
"Why the hell would you take it off the bridge and why the hell wouldn’t you take it back?" asked an exasperated Hahn.

"We need to do an investigation and make sure this never happens again. It’s nonsense."
B.C. Ferries has asked the North Coast Marine Services of the RCMP to investigate and is also launching its own inquiry.

Hahn said management and human resources staff will meet with crew members, their lawyers and union shop stewards as soon as possible.

"We regard this as an extremely serious infraction. It’s missing and we want it back and we will do whatever we have to do to get to the bottom of it," he said.

No crew members have yet been disciplined, but, if the culprit is found, the discipline "would match up with it being a severe infraction," Hahn said.

Capt. Dave Badior, president of the ships officers component of the B.C. Ferry and Marine Workers’ Union, said he is flabbergasted by management’s response.

"It’s crazy talking about criminal charges and criminal investigations," he said.

"This is not an extraordinary circumstance. There’s nothing unusual about what happened up there except for the company response."

Union members are being warned not to talk about the case because of legal implications, Badior said.

RCMP Cpl. John May of North Coast Marine Services, said the police investigation will not start until B.C. Ferries has completed its own inquiry.

"At the moment it’s not really a criminal investigation. We don’t know if it left the boat or got thrown out," he said.

It is an unusual case, May said.

"The value of the product is not great in money terms, but the information on there is important," he said.

Meanwhile, the Queen of Prince Rupert — the only ferry serving the North Coast since the Queen of the North sank in March — will be out of service from Nov. 19 to Nov. 24 to repair a leaking seal.

Crab nets got caught in one of the shafts and a seal is now leaking oil, Hahn said.

"If we had a backup ship we could make adjustments, but we’ve got to tough it out for a few days," he said.

Repairs will be done at an Alaska drydock. A barge service will be available for commercial carriers traveling between Prince Rupert and the Queen Charlottes.

jlavoie@tc.canwest.com
© Times Colonist