Royal Vancouver

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada states that "At 0818, 06 February 1992, in light airs, calm sea and fog, the catamaran passenger ferry "ROYAL VANCOUVER" and the British Columbia Ferry Corporation vehicle/passenger ferry "QUEEN OF SAANICH" collided head-on off Georgina Point at the northern entrance to Active Pass, British Columbia. On board the "ROYAL VANCOUVER", which was extensively damaged, 19 passengers and 4 crew members were injured. The bow doors of the "QUEEN OF SAANICH" were also damaged. The Board determined that the bridge team of the "ROYAL VANCOUVER" did not positively identify and track a radar target and, as a result, altered course into the projected path of the "QUEEN OF SAANICH" about one minute before the collision. Contributing to the situation was the bridge team's limited experience with the catamaran's equipment." "The "ROYAL VANCOUVER" is a high-speed water-jet-powered catamaran passenger ferry of aluminium construction. Service speed is 35 kn. Passenger capacity is 218 on the main deck and 84 on the upper deck. Passenger lounges resemble the cabin design and seating arrangements of an airplane. "