The public relations battle for BC Ferries is going to require a bit more effort it would seem, with the latest troubles of the Northern Adventure still fresh in everyone’s mind, Tuesday’s Daily News featured a letter to the editor that doesn’t exactly help the battered image of the Ferry Corporation on the North Coast.
The letter outlines the rather exciting events of a sailing of the Northern Adventure on December 29th from Port Hardy to Prince Rupert, a voyage that seems to have left a rather grim impression on the letter writer, poses some interesting questions from the letter writers perspective and provides a first hand passenger account of what appears to have been a very rough sailing.
ROUGH SAILING SHOOK PASSENGERS
Letter to the Editor
Prince Rupert Daily News
Tuesday, December 8, 2007 pages four and five
To the editor:
The B. C. Ferry Services vessel, the Northern Adventure has again been dubbed the Vomit Comet (now with a 2).
On a recent sailing from Port Hardy to Prince Rupert, on Sat. Dec. 29, my family and I were aboard as passengers. Before leaving Port Hardy terminal, we listened to the marine weather report on our VHF radio in our vehicle.
Did the captain and mates listen? If they did, they did not heed the warnings!
The weather report was calling for gale- to storm-force winds, with sea heights from five to seven metres, for Saturday evening. We were very surprised when we left Port Hardy at 6 p. m. on Saturday, the 29th.
My dad advised the family to take their Gravol pills and prepare for a rough ride. The crew was also announcing on the ship’s intercom that it was going to be rough. Little did we know, how much rougher it would be!
We were about an hour out when it started to get rough. The Northern Adventure was approaching Pine Island when it got very rough. We were rocking back and forth violently; passengers and crew could not walk around safely. Some elders were confined to the Raven lounge (TV room) because they were scared they would get hurt if they tried to get back to their cabins. In our cabin, everything went flying off the tables and chair. Our luggage, clothing and toiletries were thrown all over the floor. Everyone in the cabin was hanging on as we were rocked violently back and forth. Life jacket boxes inside and out were breaking free and sliding all over the ship. Garbage cans and chairs were falling and sliding all over.
The Christmas tree near the cafeteria fell over and was sliding around. Galley equipment could be heard crashing to the floor. I learned later that the ship’s bow was diving into the waves and getting buried, waves were so large that when the bow hit some of them the spray went right over the wheelhouse.
I was told that bridge equipment and tables were thrown all over. We heard the first aid attendant being paged on the intercom. I learned that two passengers and an engineer were injured. Was there more not reported?
I bet there was a lot of bumps and bruises!
Many passengers were sea sick and scared. The ‘vomit comet’ continued on into the high seas for a few hours more.
It arrived at Bella Bella at approximately 5:30 a. m. on Sun. Dec 30. We learned that three vehicles were damaged due to the violent rocking and rolling of the ship. The ship did not leave the dock on time. Everyone was told that the Northern Adventure had mechanical problems that needed to be repaired. Apparently, two engines over heated during our crossing of the Queen Charlotte Sound, in very rough seas.
If one or both engines shut down, it is our opinion that the ship would have been in a May Day situation. The ship was delayed for five hours to carry out the necessary repairs and clean up of the ship. The deck, catering and engineering crew were all very caring and professional throughout the ordeal.
The topic of conversation at everyone’s breakfast table that morning was why did the captain and bridge team decide to leave Port Hardy yesterday, why didn’t they go an alternate route, why didn’t they turn back. There must be a safety line drawn for cancellation of sailings due to rough weather. We seriously believe that they jeopardized the safety of the passengers, crew, ship and environment, that evening.
Yours truly,
SAGA’ALGAX
The letter outlines the rather exciting events of a sailing of the Northern Adventure on December 29th from Port Hardy to Prince Rupert, a voyage that seems to have left a rather grim impression on the letter writer, poses some interesting questions from the letter writers perspective and provides a first hand passenger account of what appears to have been a very rough sailing.
ROUGH SAILING SHOOK PASSENGERS
Letter to the Editor
Prince Rupert Daily News
Tuesday, December 8, 2007 pages four and five
To the editor:
The B. C. Ferry Services vessel, the Northern Adventure has again been dubbed the Vomit Comet (now with a 2).
On a recent sailing from Port Hardy to Prince Rupert, on Sat. Dec. 29, my family and I were aboard as passengers. Before leaving Port Hardy terminal, we listened to the marine weather report on our VHF radio in our vehicle.
Did the captain and mates listen? If they did, they did not heed the warnings!
The weather report was calling for gale- to storm-force winds, with sea heights from five to seven metres, for Saturday evening. We were very surprised when we left Port Hardy at 6 p. m. on Saturday, the 29th.
My dad advised the family to take their Gravol pills and prepare for a rough ride. The crew was also announcing on the ship’s intercom that it was going to be rough. Little did we know, how much rougher it would be!
We were about an hour out when it started to get rough. The Northern Adventure was approaching Pine Island when it got very rough. We were rocking back and forth violently; passengers and crew could not walk around safely. Some elders were confined to the Raven lounge (TV room) because they were scared they would get hurt if they tried to get back to their cabins. In our cabin, everything went flying off the tables and chair. Our luggage, clothing and toiletries were thrown all over the floor. Everyone in the cabin was hanging on as we were rocked violently back and forth. Life jacket boxes inside and out were breaking free and sliding all over the ship. Garbage cans and chairs were falling and sliding all over.
The Christmas tree near the cafeteria fell over and was sliding around. Galley equipment could be heard crashing to the floor. I learned later that the ship’s bow was diving into the waves and getting buried, waves were so large that when the bow hit some of them the spray went right over the wheelhouse.
I was told that bridge equipment and tables were thrown all over. We heard the first aid attendant being paged on the intercom. I learned that two passengers and an engineer were injured. Was there more not reported?
I bet there was a lot of bumps and bruises!
Many passengers were sea sick and scared. The ‘vomit comet’ continued on into the high seas for a few hours more.
It arrived at Bella Bella at approximately 5:30 a. m. on Sun. Dec 30. We learned that three vehicles were damaged due to the violent rocking and rolling of the ship. The ship did not leave the dock on time. Everyone was told that the Northern Adventure had mechanical problems that needed to be repaired. Apparently, two engines over heated during our crossing of the Queen Charlotte Sound, in very rough seas.
If one or both engines shut down, it is our opinion that the ship would have been in a May Day situation. The ship was delayed for five hours to carry out the necessary repairs and clean up of the ship. The deck, catering and engineering crew were all very caring and professional throughout the ordeal.
The topic of conversation at everyone’s breakfast table that morning was why did the captain and bridge team decide to leave Port Hardy yesterday, why didn’t they go an alternate route, why didn’t they turn back. There must be a safety line drawn for cancellation of sailings due to rough weather. We seriously believe that they jeopardized the safety of the passengers, crew, ship and environment, that evening.
Yours truly,
SAGA’ALGAX
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