BC Ferries accident triggers long delays on busy route

BC Ferries ran extra sailings between Vancouver and Victoria Friday afteran accident involving two crew members forced cancellations on its busiest route just ahead of the long weekend.

The cancellationsled to waits of up to five sailings in both directions for vehicles travelling between Vancouver and Victoria on Friday.

"Our commitment to our travellers is everyone will get to where they need to go today," BC Ferries Mark Collins told On The Coast host Gloria Macarenko.

"We will keep working today until everyone is where they need to be."

The sailings were cancelled after two workers fell into the water during a safety drill on the Spirit of Vancouver Island at theSwartzBay terminal.

TheBC Ferries employees were lowering a rescue boat into the water when something went wrong with the cable brake. They fell about 15 metres to the water, and were taken to hospital with minor injuries.

Injuries remain unclear

It remains unclear what injuries were suffered by the crew members but Collins said they were recovering at home by mid-afternoon.

An RCMP vehicle was photographed on the deck of the ferry after the accident.

The incident has also raised concerns with the union representing BC Ferries workers which took the unusual step of sending out a media statement.

"Our thoughts rest with those injured and their families," said GraemeJohnston, president of the B.C. Ferry and Marine Workers Union,in a statement Friday morning.

"We anticipate there will be investigations by BC Ferries Services, WorkSafe and the Transportation Safety Board."

4 sailings cancelled

The affected sailings included:

• 7a.m.departing Swartz Bay
• 9a.m. departing Tsawwassen
• 11a.m. departing Swartz Bay
• 1p.m. departing Tsawwassen

Anyone with a reservation on the cancelled sailings will get an automatic refund and will be accommodated on the next available sailing, according to BC Ferries spokespersonDeborah Marshall.

An additional sailing was scheduled from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay at 11:00 p.m. but cancelled. A midnight sailing was planned instead.

Not the first time

This is the second time this summer that crew members have been injured during safety drills involving a rescue boat.

In April, two deckhands from the Queen of Cumberland fell into the water when a davit thesmall crane that lowersrescue boats failed.

That ship was taken out of service for about a month while the davit was replaced.

Collins said a review of that incident is still ongoing.

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With files from CBC Radio One's On The Coast