‘Human factors’ caused ferry crash, report says

VICTORIA, B.C. – A key crewmember on a ferry that sank off the coast of British Columbia didn’t know the ship was headed for a crash until she saw trees looming ahead, authorities said Monday.

In a long-awaited report probing last year’s fatal ferry crash, B.C. Ferries officials said that “human factors were the primary cause of the sinking of the Queen of the North,” the Canadian Press reported.

The 457-foot-long ferry was carrying 101 passengers and crew members when it hit rocks at Gil Island in Wright Sound, near Prince Rupert, and sank in March 2006. Two passengers were never found and were presumed dead.

The report concludes in part that the ferry’s fourth officer “failed to make a necessary course alteration or verify such alteration was made.” Investigators also said the navigational watch didn’t maintain a “proper lookout.”

Quartermaster Karen Bricker told investigators she didn’t know where the Queen of the North was when she assumed the job of lookout on the night of the crash.

When the fourth officer, Karl Lilgert, loudly ordered Bricker to make a 109-degree course change, she questioned it – and then saw the trees of Gil Island ahead.

Bricker also told investigators she didn’t know where the switch to disengage the autopilot was located, but B.C Ferries officials were skeptical about that claim.

Bricker and Lilgert were not identified in the report, but separate court documents filed by passengers suing B.C. Ferries have identified them as the quartermaster and fourth officer that night.

The current report makes 31 recommendations for equipment, emergency and evacuation procedures. The company said some of those changes already have been made.