RO/RO Passenger Ferry Safety: A Perspective from the Canadian West Coast

Abstract

This paper discusses actions which the British Columbia Ferry Corporation has undertaken subsequent to the catastrophic 1994 Estonia capsize accident in the Baltic Sea that resulted in the loss of 912 lives. The corporation sets as its highest goal the provision of a "safe, efficient and effective ferry system," and therefore the actions described form part of a continuum of safety improvement which is central to the BCFC operating philosophy. Recommendations with respect to both rough water, northern route vessels and to the southern route, more sheltered water fleet are outlined. In addition, the improvement of safety on the northern routes vessels by the fitting of improved supporting and closing devices on the bow visors, by improving the bow ramp securing arrangements and by installation of inner weathertight doors is described in detail. Some recent model testing undertaken to investigate the potential for "bow scooping," and which has provided valuable input to the International Maritime Organization's Panel of Experts in determining the limits of application of proposed bow flooding criteria, is reviewed.