BC Ferries accident triggers long delays on busy route

• This story is from Aug. 31 and no sailings were cancelled on Sept. 6.

An accident involving two crew members has forced BC Ferries to cancel four sailings on its busiest route just ahead of the long weekend.

The cancellations have led to up to four-sailing waits in both directions for vehicles travelling between Vancouver and Victoria on Friday morning.

The sailings were cancelled after two workers fell into the water during a safety drill on the Spirit of Vancouver Island at the Swartz Bay 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 a police 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 unusal 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, 4-sailing waits

The affected sailings include:

• 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.

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.

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