It was a shaky trip for passengers after a harbour cruise vessel ran aground near Lighthouse Park in West Vancouver over the long weekend.
The Harbour Princess ran aground just before noon Sunday, resulting in one of the 41 passengers onboard experiencing a minor injury and little damage to the ship.
Harbour Cruises, which is owned by Graham Clarke Group, said the vessel did not take on water or experience any structural damage. A third party will conduct an inspection and the Transportation Safety Board of Canada will also investigate.
"I’d like to extend my sympathies to our passengers who had their cruise affected by this unfortunate situation,” said Graham Clarke. "We pride ourselves on an excellent safety record that goes back nearly 120 years."
Sunday’s incident prompted a response by the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Victoria, the Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue's Horseshoe Bay unit, the Canadian Coast Guard and the Vancouver Police Department’s marine unit.
JRCC Capt. Pedram Mohyeddin said one passenger was transported to an ambulance by a harbour craft. Harbour Princess was escorted back to Coal Harbour under its own power.
Shane Austin, media liaison for the West Van RCMSAR station, said Sunday’s “mayday” call – meaning highest priority – had the makings of a very difficult situation.
“When a boat strikes ground … there’s a lot of ways that can go,” Austin said. “It’s very easy and plausible that the boat gets stuck aground, which is difficult. You’re then going to have to get those people off a precarious spot where the boat is taking on water – that’s the worst-case scenario. Then you’re going to have to evacuate those people.”
He said he saw people, plates and glasses getting jostled around when the boat hit the rock.
“Given the circumstances, the call ended with a very positive outcome thanks to the fantastic response from all the agencies involved,” Austin said.
Harbour Cruises has been operating since 1908. Harbour Princess was built in 1994 and holds a standing capacity of 275. Passengers on Harbour Princess have been refunded their fares and those who booked on upcoming cruises will be served on the other vessels.
The vessel is expected to be back in service in seven to 10 days.
Abby Luciano is the Indigenous and civic affairs reporter for the North Shore News. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.
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