BC Ferries
305370
223901777
2008-07-06T12:28:09Z
Rjwilmsi
203434
no 'of' between a month and a year per [[Wikipedia:Manual_of_Style_%28dates_and_numbers%29#Longer_periods|MOS]] using [[Project:AutoWikiBrowser|AWB]]
{{Infobox_Company |
company_name = British Columbia Ferry Services Inc. |
company_logo = [[Image:bcflogo.png|300px]]|
company_type = Organized as a [[privately held company]], with the provincial Crown as sole shareholder |
foundation = [[Victoria, British Columbia]] ([[1960]]) |
location = [[Victoria, British Columbia]], [[Canada]] |
key_people = Elizabeth J. Harrison, Chair<br>David Hahn, President & CEO |
industry = [[Transportation]] |
products = Ferry service |
revenue = {{gain}} [[Canadian Dollar|C$]]640.7 million (2008)<ref name="financial">{{cite web |url=
http://www.bcferries.com/bcferries/faces/attachments?id=16783|title=BC Ferries Releases Year-end Results |accessdate=2008-06-12 |date=2008-06-12 |format=PDF |pages=4}}</ref> |
operating_income = {{gain}} C$71 million (2008)<ref name="financial"/> |
net_income = {{loss}} C$37 million (2008)<ref name="financial"/> |
num_employees = 3,153 (2005) |
slogan = Life on the coast. |
homepage = [http://www.bcferries.com/ www.bcferries.com]
}}
'''British Columbia Ferry Services Inc.''' or '''BC Ferries''' is the company that provides all major passenger and vehicle [[ferry]] services for coastal and island communities in the Canadian province of [[British Columbia]]. Set up in 1960 to provide a substantially better service than those provided by the [[Puget Sound Navigation Company|Black Ball Line]] and the [[Canadian Pacific Railway]], which were affected by [[strike action|job action]] at the time, BC Ferries has become the largest passenger ferry line in North America and the second largest in the world, boasting a fleet of 37 vessels with a total passenger and crew capacity of over 27,000, serving 49<!-- Full list on talk page --> locations on the B.C. coast.
As BC Ferries provides an essential link from mainland Canada to the various islands on its routes, it is subsidized by [[Transport Canada]]. The subsidy for 2004-2005 was [[Canadian dollar|CAD]] $25 million<ref> [http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=4138541b-8cb4-4498-998e-2a90e5caf1db&k=7083 ''Vancouver Sun'' article (see last paragraph for subsidy information)]</ref> and is adjusted annually to keep pace with the rate of inflation.
==History==
In the late 1950s, a [[Strike action|strike]] by employees of the Black Ball Line caused the [[British Columbia Social Credit Party|Social Credit]] government of [[W.A.C. Bennett]] to decide that the coastal ferry service in B.C. needed to be government-owned, and so he set about creating BC Ferries.
[[Image:Tsawwassen-Terminal-aerial.jpg|right|300px|thumb|[[Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal|Tsawwassen terminal]] was constructed by filling in a large area at the end of a causeway]]
[[Image:BC Ferries Tsawwassen Tollbooths.jpg|thumb|300px|Tollbooths at Tsawwassen Terminal]]
[[Image:BC Ferries Loading Ramp.jpg|thumb|300px|A BC Ferries loading dock (berth 4 at Tsawwassen terminal)]]
[[Image:Loaded onto a ferry.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Final loading of cars onto a ferry]]
BC Ferries' first route, commissioned in 1960, was between [[Swartz Bay, British Columbia|Swartz Bay]], a small suburb of [[Sidney, British Columbia|Sidney]] on [[Vancouver Island]], and [[Tsawwassen, British Columbia|Tsawwassen]], a part of the [[Delta, British Columbia|Corporation of Delta]], using just two vessels. These ships were the MV Tsawwassen<ref>[http://www.bcferries.com/about/fleet/profile-queen_of_tsawwassen.html BC Ferries:<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>, which is still in use on a smaller route, and the [[Retired BC Ferries ships|MV Sidney]] which has been retired. The next few years saw a dramatic growth of the B.C. ferry system, as it took over operations of the Black Ball Line and other major private companies providing vehicle ferry service between [[Vancouver Island]] and the [[Lower Mainland]]. As the ferry system expanded and started to service other small coastal communities, BC Ferries had to build more vessels, many of them in the first five years of its operations, to keep up with the demand. Another method of satisfying increasing demand for service was BC Ferries' unique "stretch and lift" program, involving seven vessels being cut in half and extended, and five of those vessels later cut in half again and elevated, to increase their passenger and vehicle-carrying capacities. The vast majority of the vessels in the fleet were built in B.C. waters, with only two foreign purchases and one domestic purchase. In the mid 1980s, BC Ferries took over the operations of the saltwater branch of the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Highways, which ran ferry services to very small coastal communities. This action dramatically increased the size of BC Ferries' fleet and its geographical service area. The distinctive 'dogwood on green' flag that BC Ferries used between 1960 and 2003 gave the service its popular nickname "the Dogwood Fleet".
At its inception, BC Ferries was a division of the British Columbia Toll Highways and Bridges Authority, a provincial Crown corporation. Through successive reorganizations, it evolved into the British Columbia Ferry Authority, and then the British Columbia Ferry Corporation, both of which, again, were provincial Crown corporations. In 2003, the Government of [[British Columbia]] announced that BC Ferries, which had been in debt, was going to be reorganized into a private company. This was established through the passing of the Coastal Ferry Act<ref>[http://www.leg.bc.ca/37th4th/1st_read/gov18-1.htm Legislative Assembly of British Columbia<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> (Bill 18-2003). The single voting share is held by the [[BC Ferry Authority]], which operates under the rules of the Act.
A controversy began in July, 2004 when BC Ferries, under a new American CEO, announced that the company had disqualified all Canadian bids to build three new [[Coastal Class ferry|Coastal class]] ships, and only the proposals from European [[shipyard]]s were being considered. The contract is estimated at $542 million for the three ships, which are each designed to carry 370 vehicles and 1600 passengers.
The argument for domestic construction of the ferries is that it would employ numerous British Columbia workers, would revitalize the sagging B.C. shipbuilding industry, and entitle the provincial government to a large portion of the cost in the form of taxes. However, European shipbuilders had far more experience and shipyards that were more capable of constructing the ships at a significantly lower cost, and contract terms with European shipyards could be negotiated that were superior to what was likely to be available from B.C. shipbuilders.
On [[September 17]], [[2004]], BC Ferries finally awarded<ref>[http://www.bcferries.com/news/files/04-071-super_c_vessels.pdf Microsoft Word - 04-071 Super C.doc<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> the vessel construction contract to [[Germany]]'s [[Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft|Flensburger shipyard]]. The contract protects BC Ferries from any delays through a fixed price and fixed schedule contract, and the performance of the ferries is guaranteed with strong contractual requirements. ''[[Coastal Renaissance]]'' entered service in March 2008, while ''[[Coastal Inspiration]]'' was delivered the same month, and is expected to be in service prior to summer. The third ship, ''[[Coastal Celebration]]'' is to be delivered and entered into service mid-summer of 2008.
On [[August 18]], [[2006]], BC Ferries commissioned<ref>http://www.bcferries.com/news/files/06-049contracttobuildnewnorthernvessel.pdf</ref> Flensburger to build a new vessel for BCF's Inside Passage route, with the contract having many of the same types of terms as that for the Coastal Class vessels. The new northern service vessel is to be delivered in Spring [[2009]].
==Current routes==<!-- Unnecessary image: [[Image:BC Ferries Passenger Gangway.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Passenger Gangway at Tsawwassen terminal]] -->
===List===
Route numbers are used internally by BC Ferries. All routes allow vehicles unless stated otherwise.
*Route 1 - [[Georgia Strait]] South ([[British Columbia Highway 17|Highway 17]]): [[Swartz Bay, British Columbia|Swartz Bay]] to [[Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal|Tsawwassen]]
*Route 2 - Georgia Strait Central ([[British Columbia Highway 1|Highway 1]]): [[Nanaimo, British Columbia|Nanaimo]] (via [[Departure Bay, British Columbia|Departure Bay]]) to [[Horseshoe Bay, British Columbia|Horseshoe Bay]]
*Route 3 - [[Howe Sound]]: [[Langdale, British Columbia|Langdale]] to [[Horseshoe Bay, British Columbia|Horseshoe Bay]]
*Route 4 - Satellite Channel: [[Swartz Bay, British Columbia|Swartz Bay]] to [[Saltspring Island]] (at [[Fulford Harbour, British Columbia|Fulford Harbour]])
*Route 5 - Swanson Channel: [[Swartz Bay, British Columbia|Swartz Bay]] to the Outer Gulf Islands ([[Galiano Island, British Columbia|Galiano]], [[Mayne Island, British Columbia|Mayne]], [[Pender Islands, British Columbia|Pender]], and [[Saturna Island, British Columbia|Saturna]] Islands)
*Route 6 - South Stuart Channel: [[Crofton, British Columbia|Crofton]] to [[Saltspring Island]] (at [[Vesuvius, British Columbia|Vesuvius]])
*Route 7 - [[Jervis Inlet]] ([[British Columbia Highway 101|Highway 101]]): [[Earls Cove, British Columbia|Earls Cove]] to [[Saltery Bay, British Columbia|Saltery Bay]]
*Route 8 - Queen Charlotte Channel: [[Horseshoe Bay, British Columbia|Horseshoe Bay]] to [[Bowen Island, British Columbia|Bowen Island]] (via [[Snug Cove, British Columbia|Snug Cove]])
*Route 9 - [[Active Pass]] Shuttle: [[Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal|Tsawwassen]] to [[Saltspring Island]] and the Outer Gulf Islands (listed above in route 5)
*Route 10 - [[Inside Passage]]: [[Port Hardy, British Columbia|Port Hardy]] to [[Prince Rupert, British Columbia|Prince Rupert]]
*Route 11 - Hecate Strait ([[British Columbia Highway 16|Highway 16]]): [[Prince Rupert, British Columbia|Prince Rupert]] to [[Queen Charlotte Islands]] (via [[Skidegate, British Columbia|Skidegate]])
*Route 12 - [[Saanich Inlet]]: [[Brentwood Bay, British Columbia|Brentwood Bay]] to [[Mill Bay, British Columbia|Mill Bay]]
*Route 13 - Thornbrough Channel: [[Langdale, British Columbia|Langdale]] to [[Gambier Island]] and [[Howe Sound|Keats Island]] (passengers only)
*Route 17 - Georgia Strait North: [[Powell River, British Columbia|Powell River]] (via [[Westview, British Columbia|Westview]]) to [[Comox, British Columbia|Comox]] (via [[Little River, British Columbia|Little River]])
*Route 18 - [[Malaspina Strait]]: [[Powell River, British Columbia|Powell River]] to [[Texada Island, British Columbia|Texada Island]] (via [[Blubber Bay, British Columbia|Blubber Bay]])
*Route 19 - Northumberland Channel: [[Nanaimo, British Columbia|Nanaimo Harbour]] to [[Gabriola Island, British Columbia|Gabriola Island]] (via [[Descanso Bay, British Columbia|Descanso Bay]])
*Route 20 - North Stuart Channel: [[Chemainus, British Columbia|Chemainus]] to [[Thetis Island, British Columbia|Thetis]] and [[Kuper Island, British Columbia|Kuper]] Islands
*Route 21 - [[Baynes Sound]]: [[Buckley Bay, British Columbia|Buckley Bay]] to [[Denman Island]] (via [[Metcalf Bay, British Columbia|Metcalf Bay]])
*Route 22 - Lambert Channel: [[Denman Island]] (via [[Gravelly Bay, British Columbia|Gravelly Bay]]) to [[Hornby Island, British Columbia|Hornby Island]] (via [[Shingle Spit, British Columbia|Shingle Spit]])
*Route 23 - [[Discovery Passage]]: [[Campbell River, British Columbia|Campbell River]] to [[Quadra Island, British Columbia|Quadra Island]] (via [[Quathiaski Cove, British Columbia|Quathiaski Cove]])
*Route 24 - [[Sutil Channel]]: [[Quadra Island, British Columbia|Quadra Island]] (via [[Heriot Bay, British Columbia|Heriot Bay]]) to [[Cortes Island, British Columbia|Cortes Island]] (via [[Whaletown, British Columbia|Whaletown]])
*Route 25 - Broughton Strait: [[Port McNeill, British Columbia|Port McNeill]] to [[Alert Bay, British Columbia|Alert Bay]] (on [[Cormorant Island, British Columbia|Cormorant Island]]) and [[Sointula, British Columbia|Sointula]] (on [[Malcolm Island, British Columbia|Malcolm Island]])
*Route 26 - Skidegate Inlet: [[Skidegate, British Columbia|Skidegate]] (on [[Graham Island, British Columbia|Graham Island]]) to [[Alliford Bay, British Columbia|Alliford Bay]] (on [[Moresby Island, British Columbia|Moresby Island]])
*Route 30 - Mid-Island Express ([[British Columbia Highway 19|Highway 19]]): [[Nanaimo, British Columbia|Nanaimo]] (via [[Duke Point, British Columbia|Duke Point]]) to [[Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal|Tsawwassen]]
*Route 40 - Discovery Coast: [[Port Hardy, British Columbia|Port Hardy]] to [[Bella Coola, British Columbia|Bella Coola]] (with stops at [[Bella Bella, British Columbia|Bella Bella]], [[Shearwater, British Columbia|Shearwater]], [[Ocean Falls, British Columbia|Ocean Falls]] and [[Klemtu, British Columbia|Klemtu]])
===Maps===
Numbers in blue circles are ferry route numbers. [[List of British Columbia provincial highways|Provincial highway]] trailblazers are added where appropriate.
<gallery perrow="5">
Image:BC Ferries Zone One.png|Zone 1 - Southern Gulf Islands
Image:BC Ferries Zone Two.png|Zone 2 - Central Georgia Strait
Image:BC Ferries Zone Three.png|Zone 3 - Northern Georgia Strait
Image:BC Ferries Zone Four.png|Zone 4 - Queen Charlotte Sound
Image:BC Ferries Zone Five.png|Zone 5 - North Coast
</gallery>
===Regional districts served===
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
* [[Capital Regional District, British Columbia|Capital]]
* [[Central Coast Regional District, British Columbia|Central Coast]]
* [[Comox Valley Regional District, British Columbia|Comox Valley]]
* [[Cowichan Valley Regional District, British Columbia|Cowichan Valley]]
* [[Metro Vancouver]]
* [[Mount Waddington Regional District, British Columbia|Mount Waddington]]
{{col-break}}
* [[Nanaimo Regional District, British Columbia|Nanaimo]]
* [[Powell River Regional District, British Columbia|Powell River]]
* [[Skeena-Queen Charlotte Regional District, British Columbia|Skeena-Queen Charlotte]]
* [[Strathcona Regional District, British Columbia|Strathcona]]
* [[Sunshine Coast Regional District, British Columbia|Sunshine Coast]]
{{col-end}}
==Vessels==
[[Image:QueenofSaanich.jpg|thumb|300px|right|''Queen of Saanich'' is a [[V class ferry]]]]
[[Image:SpiritOfBritishColumbia.jpg|thumb|300px|right|''Spirit of British Columbia'' is an [[S class ferry]]]]
[[Image:Bc ferries superferry1 under construction 09 09 1992.jpg|thumb|300px|right|''Spirit of British Columbia'' under construction at [[Fraser Surrey Docks]] in September 1992.]]
BC Ferries has the largest fleet of vehicle ferry vessels in the world. There are 36 vessels, ranging from small 16-car ferries up to 470-car "superferries". All of the vessels in use by BC Ferries are [[RORO|"roll-on, roll-off"]] car ferries. Most of the major vessels are based on similar designs which are aggregated into "classes" of ferries:
===Current Vessels===
* Two [[Coastal Class ferry|Coastal class]] vessels in service; one just arrived, with post-arrival operations including crew training in progress.
* Two [[S class ferry|S class]] or "superferries", the largest in the fleet
* Five [[C class ferry|C class]], double-ended ferries
* Three [[V class ferry|V class]]. Built in the 1960s, these ferries have been stretched and lifted to increase their capacity. BC Ferries plans to retire these vessels in 2008 once all three of their new Coastal (Super-C) class ships built in Germany are in service. Plans to sell these vessels were formally announced in January, 2008.
* Three [[Burnaby class ferry|Burnaby class]]. Built in the 1960s, these ferries have been stretched to increase their capacity, except for the ''MV Queen of New Westminster'', which has been stretched and lifted.
* Two [[I class ferry|Intermediate class]] vessels.
* Three [[Powell River class ferry|Powell River class]] ships.
* One [[Century class ferry|Century class]] vessel. As the name suggests, this vessel can carry 100 cars per load, for use on busy, short inter-island routes.
* Four [[K class ferry|K class]] and Two [[Q class ferry|Q class]] ships, for small inter-island routes.
* Two [[T class ferry|T class]] ships.
* [[Other ships of BC Ferries (not classed)]]
===Future Vessels===
* [[Coastal Celebration|''MV Coastal Celebration'']] (2008)
* ''[[MV Island Sky]]'' (2008)
* [[M/V Northern Expedition|''MV Northern Expedition'']] (2009)
* [[M/V Northern Discovery|''MV Northern Discovery'']] (2010)
===Former Vessels===
* [[Retired BC Ferries ships]]
* [[FastCat Series]]
==Accidents==
''The following is a summary of some of the incidents which have occurred in the BC Ferries fleet:''
====Queen of Victoria====
On [[August 2]], [[1970]] the [[Soviet]] freighter ''Sergey Yesenin'' collided with the ''[[Queen of Victoria]]'' in Active Pass, slicing through the middle of the ferry, days after her return to service following stretching. Three people were killed and damage was estimated at over $1 million (1970) dollars. The Soviet ship was not supposed to be in Active Pass, and as such, the Soviet government was forced to compensate BC Ferries.
Years later, while in Active Pass and within metres of the site of the 1970 collision, the ''Queen of Victoria'' was disabled by a fire in the engine room.
==== Queen of Alberni ====
On [[August 9]], [[1979]], the ''[[Queen of Alberni]]'' was transiting through Active Pass when it ran aground on Galiano Island, tipping fifteen degrees to starboard. Several large commercial vehicles on board the vessel at the time were damaged. No persons were injured, but a racehorse on board was killed.
On [[June 1989]], the ''Queen of Alberni'' collided with the loading dock at Departure Bay causing significant damage to the ship and dock. 6 people were injured including a cook who suffered a fractured cheekbone as he was walking down a set of stairs.
On [[March 12]], [[1992]], at 8:08 am (16:08 [[UTC]]), the ''Queen of Alberni'' collided with the Japanese freighter ''Shinwa Maru'' southwest of Tsawwassen. The collision occurred in heavy fog, with both vessels suffering minor damage. Injuries included 2 serious and 25 minor injuries for the 260 people on the ferry, while none of the 11 people aboard the freighter received injuries. <ref>[http://www.tsb.gc.ca/en/reports/marine/earlier/m92w1022/m92w1022.asp Canadian Transportation Safety Board report on ''Shinwa Maru''/''Queen of Alberni'' collision]</ref>
====Queen of Cowichan====
On [[August 12]], [[1985]] three people were killed when the ''[[Queen of Cowichan]]'' ran over a pleasure boat near the Horseshoe Bay terminal.
==== Queen of Saanich ====
On the morning of [[February 6]], [[1992]] the ''[[Queen of Saanich]]'' and the ''Royal Vancouver'' passenger ship collided in heavy fog while navigating near the northern entrance of Active Pass. A total of 23 passengers aboard the ''Royal Vancouver'' were injured. Blame was cast upon the crew of the ''Royal Vancouver'' for failing to track the ''Queen of Saanich'' on radar, though both vessels were equipped with sophisticated radar systems.
==== Queen of New Westminster ====
In October, [[1971]], the ''[[MV Queen of New Westminster|Queen of New Westminster]]'' pulled out of her berth at the Departure Bay terminal while vehicle loading was in progress. A car and its two occupants fell into the water. Both of the vehicle's occupants were rescued.
In a similar incident, on [[August 13]], [[1992]] the same vessel pulled out of her berth at the Departure Bay terminal while vehicle loading ramps were still lowered and resting on the ship. Three people were killed, one was seriously injured, and two others received minor injuries when a van from Alberta containing 6 people fell 15 m (about 50 ft) from the upper deck onto the lower car deck and finally into the sea below. The van was stopped and instructed to wait on the loading ramp by terminal crew members. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada determined that this accident was caused by the vessel not properly following departing procedures and secondarily due to poor communication between terminal and ship crew members. <ref>[http://www.tsb.gc.ca/en/reports/marine/earlier/m92w1057/m92w1057.asp Canadian Transportation Safety Board report on ''Queen of New Westminster'' accident]</ref>
==== Mayne Queen ====
On [[November 7]], [[1995]] the ''[[Mayne Queen]]'' departed from Snug Cove and ran into a neighbouring marina, heavily damaging a floating dock in addition to 12 small pleasure boats (one of which sank). The crash was primarily attributed to human error and while transferring steering and power control from one control panel to the other located in the ship. The captain of the vessel was also inexperienced with the ''Mayne Queen'' and normally piloted other vessels. More alarming was the fact that the captain promptly left the scene of the accident after the incident occurred without conducting a proper damage assessment. <ref>[http://www.tsb.gc.ca/en/reports/marine/1995/m95w0195/m95w0195.asp Canadian Transportation Safety Board report on 1995 ''Mayne Queen'' accident]</ref>
On [[August 12]], [[1996]] the ''Mayne Queen'' departed Swartz Bay terminal and ran aground off Piers Island after losing steering control. The grounding occurred while performing a regular weekly test of the batteries for the steering control system. A crew member overheard there was going to be a test and in an attempt to be helpful and without direction cut all power from the vessel's steering batteries as he had done at night when the ship was stored, not realizing the test in question only required the removal of a battery charger and that his assistance was neither requested nor required. No one was injured in the incident and the vessel was assisted off the rocks at high tide but she suffered extensive damage to her propulsion system, having two of the four steering and propulsion pods for the right-angle drives sheared off and one of the two remaining pods suffering propeller damage.<ref>[http://www.tsb.gc.ca/en/reports/marine/1996/m96w0175/m96w0175.asp Canadian Transportation Safety Board report on 1996 ''Mayne Queen'' accident]</ref>
==== Spirit of Vancouver Island ====
On [[September 14]], [[2000]] the ''[[Spirit of Vancouver Island]]'' collided with the 9.72 m (about 32 ft) ''Star Ruby'' while attempting to overtake the vessel in a narrow channel. The collision occurred approximately 1km (about ½ mi) from the Swartz Bay Terminal where the ferry had departed from. The ''Spirit of Vancouver Island'' struck the ''Star Ruby'' on its port side, causing the pleasure craft to flip over and eventually right itself, though swamped and heavily damaged. Two passengers aboard the ''Star Ruby'' later died as a result of their injuries sustained by the collision.<ref>[http://www.tsb.gc.ca/en/reports/marine/2000/M00W0220/M00W0220.asp Canadian Transportation Safety Board report on ''Spirit of Vancouver Island'' accident]</ref>
==== Queen of Surrey ====
On [[May 12]], [[2003]] the ''[[Queen of Surrey]]'' was disabled as a result of an engine room fire. The ''[[Queen of Capilano]]'' was dispatched and tethered to the ''Queen of Surrey'' while tugboats were dispatched. The vessel was then towed back to shore. None of the 318 passengers were injured, but several crew members were treated for minor injuries. Some buckling of the main car deck resulted from the heat of the fire. However, no vehicles were damaged in the incident.<ref>[http://www.tsb.gc.ca/en/reports/marine/2003/m03w0073/m03w0073%5Findex.asp Canadian Transportation Safety Board report on ''Queen of Surrey'' engine fire]</ref>
==== Queen of Oak Bay ====
[[Image:June30FerryCrash01.jpeg|300px|thumb|right|The ''[[Queen of Oak Bay]]'' after crashing into a marina on [[June 30]], [[2005]].]]
On [[June 30]], [[2005]] at about 10:10 in the morning (17:10 UTC), the vessel ''[[Queen of Oak Bay]]'', on the [[Nanaimo]] to [[Horseshoe Bay, British Columbia|Horseshoe Bay]] (or [[British Columbia Highway 1|Trans-Canada Highway]]) ferry route, lost power four minutes before she was to dock at the Horseshoe Bay terminal. The vessel became adrift, unable to change speed, but able to steer with the rudders. The horn was blown steadily and an announcement telling passengers to brace for impact was made minutes before the 139 m (456 ft) ship slowly ran into the nearby [[Sewell's Marina]], where she destroyed or damaged 28 pleasure craft and subsequently went aground a short distance from the shore. No casualties or injuries were reported.
<ref>{{cite news | title=B.C. ferry runs aground in West Vancouver, hits marina and boats | publisher = [[The Seattle Times]] | date = 2005-06-30 | url = http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2002353141_webbcferry30.html }}</ref>
<ref>{{cite news | title=B.C. ferry that hit marina 'just kept coming' | publisher = [[CBC News]] | date = 2005-07-01 | url = http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2005/06/30/ferry-050630.html }}</ref>
<ref>[http://www.boomcity.biz/librarybooks/ferry.html ''Queen of Oak Bay'' Collision Simulator]</ref>
On [[July 1]], [[2005]], BC Ferries issued a statement that [[Transport Canada]], the [[Transportation Safety Board]], and [[Lloyd's Register of Shipping]] were reviewing the control and mechanical systems onboard to find a fault. An inspection revealed minimal damage to the ship, with only some minor damage to a metal fender, paint scrapes to the rudder, and some minor scrapes to one blade of a propeller.
On [[July 7]], [[2005]], BC Ferries concluded that a missing [[cotter pin]] was to blame. The pin normally retained a nut on a linkage between an engine [[speed governor]] and the fuel control for one of the engines. Without the pin, the nut fell off and the linkage separated, causing the engine, [[clutch]]es, and [[propeller]]s to increase in speed until overspeed safety devices tripped and shut down the entire [[Marine propulsion|propulsion]] system. The faulty speed governor had been serviced 17 days before the incident during a $35-million upgrade and the cotter pin was not properly replaced at that time.
The ''Queen of Oak Bay'' was quickly repaired and tested at [[sea trial]]s. She returned to regular service on [[July 8]], [[2005]]. A complete investigation report consisting of a 14-page Divisional Inquiry and a 28-page Engineering Incident Investigation was finally released in [[September 2006]]. <ref>BC Ferries Corporation ([[September 25]], [[2006]]). ''[http://www.bcferries.com/files/PDFs/InternalInvestigationsQueenofOakBay.pdf Queen of Oak Bay Grounding at Sewell’s Marina: Divisional Inquiry and Engineering Incident Investigation]''.</ref>
The Transportation Safety Board's Marine Investigation Report, released on September 6, 2007, indicated that "inadequacies in BC Ferries' procedures on safety-critical maintenance tasks and on ship handling during berthing operations" were major contributing factors to the accident. It appears that insufficient oversight of work done by contractors also played a role in the accident.
====Queen of the North====
{{main|Queen of the North}}
On [[March 22]], [[2006]] the ''[[M/V Queen of the North]]'' sank 135 [[kilometre|km]] (81 [[Mile|mi]], 70 [[nautical miles]]) south of [[Prince Rupert, British Columbia|Prince Rupert]], [[British Columbia]] when she struck [[Gil Island (Canada)|Gil Island]] at approximately 1 a.m. PST. Two people from [[100 Mile House]] went missing. David Hahn, CEO of BC Ferries states, "There is a real possibility that they went down with the ship." It is unlikely that it will be possible to salvage the ''North''.
Officials have determined the cause of this accident is due to human error by 3 BC Ferry and Marine Union members' neglecting their navigational duties. Charges are being considered of Criminal Negligence Causing Death, and a Class Action Lawsuit for the passengers is proceeding while the Union seeks to re-instate the fired crew who failed to provide information to the $1 million TSB enquiry. <ref>[http://www.bcferries.com/about/qnorthdivisionalinquiry.html BC Ferries: Divisional Inquiry<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
====Quinsam====
On [[January 9]] [[2007]], the MV ''Quinsam'' was loading traffic from [[Nanaimo]] to [[Gabriola Island]] when the ferry unexpectedly pulled out of its berth. A pickup truck that was on the boarding ramp plunged into the water below. Ferry workers were able to warn the truck's lone occupant, who was able to escape before the vehicle fell.<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2007/01/10/ferry-gabriola-070110.html Truck rolls into harbour when Nanaimo ferry leaves dock early]</ref>
==Sponsorships==
{{Trivia|date=February 2008}}
*BC Ferries is the title sponsor for the [[Vancouver Canucks]] 2007/2008 training camp as well as having advertising at [[GM Place]].
*BC Ferries Also Sponsors the [[BC Lions]] CFL team with advertising and promotions during games. As well, BC Ferries offers special late night sailings from Tsawwassen on BC Lions game nights.
*BC Ferries is partnered with local food service companies such as White Spot Triple-Os and Bread Garden.
*BC Ferries also has a partnership with Sport BC.
==See also==
*[[Alaska Marine Highway]] - Alaska's Marine Highway System, similar to BC Ferries. Also serves [[Prince Rupert, British Columbia|Prince Rupert]].
*[[Puget Sound Navigation Company|Black Ball Line]]
*[[British Columbia Ministry of Highways]] - responsible for the ferries on the lakes and rivers of the B.C. Interior.
*[[Fast Ferry Scandal]] - information about the Pacificat class of vessels that BC Ferries briefly operated.
*[[Georgia Strait Bridge]] - a controversial idea of replacing the ferry service with a fixed link between Vancouver Island and the British Columbia mainland.
*[[Kootenay Lake Ferry]], a ferry in the British Columbia interior operated by the BC Ministry of Transportation
*[[Marine Atlantic]], An east-coast analogue of BCFerries.
*[[Washington State Ferries]]
*[[Inter-Island Ferry Authority]]
==External links==
{{commonscat|BC Ferries}}
* [http://www.bcferries.com BC Ferries Official Site]
:* [http://orca.bcferries.com:8080/cc/conditions/maps.asp BCF Vessel Tracking] - realtime vessel positions
* [http://www.bcfmwu.com BC Ferry & Marine Workers Union]
* [http://www.bcferrycommission.com Martin Crilly, Commissioner of BC Ferries]
* [http://www.geocities.com/ferries_bc The Ferry Terminal - Ferries of British Columbia]
* [http://www.pbase.com/kstapleton/root BC Ferries and Ships on the BC Coast] (very extensive photo galleries)
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
* Bannerman, Gary and Patricia. ''The Ships of British Columbia - An Illustrated History of the British Columbia Ferry Corporation.'' Surrey: Hancock House Publishers, 1985
=== Press releases===
<div class="references-small">
*BC Ferries Corporation ([[June 13]], [[2005]]). ''[http://www.bcferries.com/news/files/05-037upgradedoak_bayreturnstoservice.pdf Upgraded Queen of Oak Bay Returns to Service]''. Press Release.
*BC Ferries Corporation ([[June 30]], [[2005]]). ''[http://www.bcferries.com/news/files/05-049queenofoakbay1.pdf Queen of Oak Bay Loses Power and Runs Aground]''. Press Release.
*BC Ferries Corporation ([[June 30]], [[2005]]). ''[http://www.bcferries.com/news/files/05-050updatequeenofoak_bay.pdf Update on Queen of Oak Bay Grounding Incident]''. Press Release.
*BC Ferries Corporation ([[July 1]], [[2005]]). ''[http://www.bcferries.com/news/files/05-052prelimiaryinspectionqueenofoakbay.pdf Investigation into Queen of Oak Bay Incident Continues]''. Press Release.
*BC Ferries Corporation ([[July 3]], [[2005]]). ''[http://www.bcferries.com/news/files/05-053insurance.pdf BC Ferries to Meet with Horseshoe Bay Boat Owners]''. Press Release.
*BC Ferries Corporation ([[July 5]], [[2005]]). ''[http://www.bcferries.com/news/files/05-055oakbayseatrials.pdf Queen of Oak Bay to Undergo Extensive Sea Trials]''. Press Release.
*BC Ferries Corporation ([[July 7]], [[2005]]). ''[http://www.bcferries.com/news/files/05-056qobpreliminaryinvestigationresults.pdf Preliminary Investigation into Queen of Oak Bay Incident Released]''. Press Release.
*BC Ferries Corporation ([[March 22]], [[2006]]). ''[http://www.bcferries.com/files/AboutBCF/06-014queenofthenorth2.pdf Queen of the North grounded and sank]''. Press Release.
</div>
{{BC Ferry Classes}}
[[Category:BC Ferries| ]]
[[Category:Ferries of Canada]]
[[Category:Ferry systems]]
[[Category:Transportation in Greater Vancouver]]
[[Category:Transportation in British Columbia]]
[[Category:Companies established in 1960]]
[[Category:Coast of British Columbia]]
[[de:BC Ferries]]
[[es:B.C. Ferries]]
[[fr:BC Ferries]]