Responsible for an accident in Matane in 2019, the ferry Apollo was put into service while still under repair, without a risk assessment. This is the conclusion of the investigation by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB), the results of which were released on Wednesday.
Posted at 6:40 p.m.
The report states that the ship docking incident Apollowhich occurred in the spring of 2019 while making its usual crossing from Godbout to Matane with 94 people on board, stems from safety and risk management shortcomings.
The Société des traversiers du Québec (STQ) had acquired the boat to replace the one that provided the link between Godbout and Matane, before it was prematurely withdrawn from the network.
As’Apollo was already certified by Transport Canada, the STQ, in a hurry to relaunch the ferry service, had given the green light to the commissioning of the vessel “without carrying out an adequate identification of the dangers or an assessment of the associated risks”, reveals the final report of the TSB.
The study calls into question the effectiveness of in-service ship inspections, notes Line Laroche, manager of regional marine operations at the TSB.
To see a boat certified in this condition is very surprising.
Line Laroche, TSB Regional Marine Operations Manager
Transport Canada inspections have also been in the sights of the TSB since 2020.
Controversial departure
After buying theApollo, in January 2019, the STQ had drawn up a long list of repairs to be made on the boat, which previously made the connection between Blanc-Sablon and Newfoundland and Labrador. Transport Canada had carried out an inspection of the ship at the port of Matane, and 19 safety deficiencies had been identified.
Once these shortcomings were corrected, the Apollo had obtained certification from Transport Canada and had been authorized to navigate on the St. Lawrence.
The repairs initially requested by the STQ were still in progress. To allow the work to progress, the ferry schedule had even been reduced.
According to Merchant Navy Actit is the responsibility of the owner to ensure that a vessel is in good order and in good condition, recalls Line Laroche.
Recommendations
On March 16, 2019, theApollo left Godbout, on the North Shore, towards Matane. The ship’s captain was unaware that the bow thruster and electric cable were broken. During docking manoeuvres, the controls no longer responded. The vessel then struck the Matane wharf, and the hull was severely damaged. No spills or injuries were reported.
After the accident, theApollo was removed from the network by the STQ, which then identified defects on board the ro-ro ferry. Four days later, Transport Canada suspended the vessel’s operations.
An internal investigation was carried out by the STQ, which is currently offering recommendations to ensure the safety and risk management of its boats. The final report proposes a “pre-purchase inspection focusing on essential equipment without emphasizing the urgency of restoring service”.