Two Injured in Rescue Boat Drill on B.C. Ferry

Queen of Cumberland ferry. Photo: B.C. Ferries

A B.C. Ferries car and passenger ferry has been temporarily taken out of service after two crew members sustained injuries during a rescue boat training drill.

According to media reports on the incident, the two crew members were aboard the Queen of Cumberland’s rescue boat when the boat fell into the water while being lowered during a drill near the Swartz Bay terminal on Wednesday.

Both were rescued from the water and taken to a hospital.

A spokesperson for B.C. Ferries said incident occurred after the davit used to lower the boat had failed.

B.C. Ferries posted the following service announcement to its website:

The Queen of Cumberland has been removed from service on April 19 due to an operational issue. As a result the Salish Eagle will sail in its place on a modified schedule. The safety of our passengers and crew is of primary importance to us. We don’t take the decision to cancel sailings lightly, as we know customers rely on us to get to their destinations.

The Queen of Cumberland ferry was built in 1992 and has a capacity of 462 passengers and crew and 112 vehicles.

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