Iris Frontier

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada reports that "On 12 March 1992, the Canadian ferry "QUEEN OF ALBERNI", under the conduct of the master, departed from Tsawwassen, British Columbia, bound for Nanaimo, British Columbia, and the Japanese bulk carrier "SHINWA MARU", under the conduct of a British Columbia coast pilot, departed from Roberts Bank Terminal (Westshore Terminals) enroute to the Victoria Pilot Station. The vessels collided approximately one nautical mile south-west of Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal in daylight, with calm weather conditions and visibility reduced by fog. The Board determined that the "QUEEN OF ALBERNI" and the "SHINWA MARU" collided in dense fog because all available means were not used by both vessels to assess risk of, and avert, collision in a rapidly developing close-quarters situation."