BC Ferries is suing a German manufacturer of ship control systems in connection with a 2011 incident in which a ferry rammed a dock in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
The British Columbian ferry operator is seeking at least $4 million in damages from SAM Electronics GmbH for the Dec. 20, 2011 crash at Duke Point, which injured seven passengers and nine crew members and required several months’ worth of repairs.
In its court document, BC Ferries alleges that an isolating amplifier in the bow propulsion pitch control system, which controls the angle of the propeller blades, was not properly shielded against electromagnetic interference, resulting in the crash. In addition, the controls for the equipment were difficult to decipher and no audible alarm to warn the crew of danger was available.
An investigative report released by Canada’s Transportation Safety Board following the accident also said that the equipment malfunctioned, but added that the problem in the propulsion controls was missed because crew members did not follow proper procedures for testing the equipment before docking.
The ferry struck the Duke Point dock at a speed of approximately 5.6 knots, resulting in damage to both the vessel and the dock. The ferry was reportedly out of service for 23 days, while the dock was closed for repairs for three months.
BC Ferries has since implemented a variety of new systems and operating procedures designed to prevent similar accidents and better prepare the crew in the event of a problem.
