I was on this ferry when this happened, I was headed back from work at a logging camp and was upstairs in the lounge at the front talking with my buddy when this happened, a whole lot of chaos, I could tell a long story here, I was 22yrs old at the time. it's not an experience I'll forget. it was a very long night
I was on a following ferry and saw the carnage as it was towed back to the dock. I was also on the next Ferry when the Queen of Alberni went up on the rocks right there in 1979.
I can't imagine what that would have been like - chaos sounds like an understatement. Sometimes it's great to be a witness to history, other times not so much.
If it had been any other Naval Architect who designed the Queen of Victoria, there would have been more deaths. Philip F. Spaulding was one heck of a good ship designer. That well compartmentized double hull, and attention to detail, was what made the difference against that Soviet Freighter.
The fact that the soviet ship did not hear the ferry announcement is not an explanation. The international rule of the road applies clearly in this case and the vessels are in view of each other; no communication should be necessary to avoid a collision. As far as it is possible to tell from these clips the soviet ship is the give-way vessel and should have turned to starboard to pass behind the ferry, or reduced speed enough for the ferry to pass safely in front. The problem was probably a misjudgement of the very strong current by the pilot on the soviet vessel which resulted in her turn being too wide.
I'm from Vancouver Island and have traveled through active pass many times. I was even born on the anniversary of this accident. It's quite a remarkable spot with fast flowing tidal currents! Due to the fact that the pass just happens to be at the halfway mark on the ferry trip from Tsawassen Terminal on the mainland to Swartz Bay Terminal on the island and that the route is usually serviced by two vessels, when they're both running on-time they meet and pass each-other in Active Pass and blow their horns as they pass by making the spot even more enjoyable. Great video and thanks for your good work!
Now they use Vancouver Traffic marine channel VHF Ch 11 for that area, freighters don't transit that pass too often. Smaller ones at times but never large ships. I use to live right at Active pass as a teen, see all kinds of different ships and boats.
What penalties did the Pilot/Pilot company have? The Pilot is why the ship was there and traveling at speed? The pilot is incharge, it is not like the ship/company had a choice?
This is reminiscent of the Princess Alice disaster, when she collided with the collier Baywell Castle in the River Thames. The Queen being so much more strongly built thankfully prevented the collison being equally catastrophic in terms of fatalities.
I remember seeing this on the news when I was a teenager. That was a pretty major collision. The Russian ship if I remember correctly had a reinforced bow for ice duty which protected the Russian ship from damage. It was pretty incredible that the ferry did not sink from below waterline damage and flooding.
Phil Spaulding, the Naval Architect who designed most of B.C. Ferries early new-builds, actually designed his ships with double hulls, and were well compartmentized. Even with the lengthening, it was still a strong and sturdy vessel. It's design progenitor- the M.V. Coho, still sails today, but the Queen of Victoria, was scrapped at Alang, in 2006.
@@nikolausbautista8925 I have ridden on the MV Coho. As far as passenger amenities, she is about as bare bones as it gets. The one interesting accessory I remember clearly is the inclinometer mounted on an upper bulkhead in the passenger cabin. The only interesting thing to see on the whole ship. Every thing else is bare bones painted steel. And yes, she is still in service and as far as I know, she is quite well maintained. But I would not call her comfortable. There is nothing flashy about her color scheme.
@@americanrambler4972 never said she was "flashy", as she was built as a working ship, but BCF, and Alaska Marine Highway System found her bones and features grand enough to embellish on. Philip F. Spaulding designed some of the safest and comfortable ships the Western-half of North America has ever seen.
So happy the V-Class and later C-class ferries were so well designed. Too fast for Active Pass and its tidal currents! Too much vodka-powered seamanship and complete lack of knowledge on the Soviet ship though ⛵️
To dispel doubts as to the guilt or innocence of the PILOT…. Maritime Code. Maritime Code Section VII. pilot services Art. 220. The concept of a pilot service The pilotage service consists in providing the captain with information and advice in the management of the vessel due to the navigational conditions of the waters where the service is provided. Art. 221. Duties of the master while piloting the vessel § 1. The pilot remains under the direction of the captain of the piloted vessel during pilotage. § 2. The captain of the ship is obliged to provide the pilot with all information regarding the navigational properties of the ship. § 3. Using the services of a pilot does not release the master from responsibility for the management of the ship.
I don't understand why the Russians had to pay damages when the Pilot, required by Canadian law to, um, PILOT the ship safely, is a Federal employee. What am I missing??
@General_Crock the russian ship was on Canadian territory so he needed to follow Canadian laws not the russian laws, when the Ferry captain asked the russian ship to let them come thru the russian ship said get out of our way. Maybe russian ships should get out of Canadian territory and follow the laws where they come. If I'll come over into russia and won't follow their laws I'll get arrested and thrown into prison
@@Givemeafinname Well for a start he should have try to contact the soviet ship. And then to wait. After he was responsible for the people that were on board. A cargo full of goods can be replaced,but the human life is priceless.
@@n.b.2385 The video said that contact was attempted but the freighter was on the wrong channel, the freighter did not have clearance to enter the pass. The ferry announced it's entrance to the pass. To this day this is the route these ferries take. Freighter pilot was at fault.
I was on this ferry when this happened, I was headed back from work at a logging camp and was upstairs in the lounge at the front talking with my buddy when this happened, a whole lot of chaos, I could tell a long story here, I was 22yrs old at the time. it's not an experience I'll forget. it was a very long night
I was on a following ferry and saw the carnage as it was towed back to the dock. I was also on the next Ferry when the Queen of Alberni went up on the rocks right there in 1979.
It's been said that the Queen of Victoria was cursed
I can't imagine what that would have been like - chaos sounds like an understatement. Sometimes it's great to be a witness to history, other times not so much.
So your like 74 now
@@24KGOLDENXEssj I'm 76 years old on May 12...... my age matters, why?
If it had been any other Naval Architect who designed the Queen of Victoria, there would have been more deaths. Philip F. Spaulding was one heck of a good ship designer. That well compartmentized double hull, and attention to detail, was what made the difference against that Soviet Freighter.
I was employed as a Bus boy, and lived in Beach Grove BC, Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal. the chief steward was gay, so i quit .the job.
@@Ray-h9l Why did that make you quit?
The fact that the soviet ship did not hear the ferry announcement is not an explanation. The international rule of the road applies clearly in this case and the vessels are in view of each other; no communication should be necessary to avoid a collision. As far as it is possible to tell from these clips the soviet ship is the give-way vessel and should have turned to starboard to pass behind the ferry, or reduced speed enough for the ferry to pass safely in front. The problem was probably a misjudgement of the very strong current by the pilot on the soviet vessel which resulted in her turn being too wide.
That Ship seemed to be traveling at a speed very unsafe for that narrow passageway also.
ive been taking the ferries since i was a baby and i’m 18 now and feel like ive been living under a rock cus i had no idea about this lol
I'm from Vancouver Island and have traveled through active pass many times. I was even born on the anniversary of this accident. It's quite a remarkable spot with fast flowing tidal currents! Due to the fact that the pass just happens to be at the halfway mark on the ferry trip from Tsawassen Terminal on the mainland to Swartz Bay Terminal on the island and that the route is usually serviced by two vessels, when they're both running on-time they meet and pass each-other in Active Pass and blow their horns as they pass by making the spot even more enjoyable. Great video and thanks for your good work!
Active pass was named after the USCS Active. The first steam boat to transit the pass.
What the hell do you mean? "Great video". There's nothing great about watching an idiot who calls himself a pilot cause three deaths.
In those days ferries ran every hour. Passengers are no longer allowed to stay in their cars during the voyage.
Russian's no suprises there ⛳
Now they use Vancouver Traffic marine channel VHF Ch 11 for that area, freighters don't transit that pass too often. Smaller ones at times but never large ships. I use to live right at Active pass as a teen, see all kinds of different ships and boats.
What penalties did the Pilot/Pilot company have? The Pilot is why the ship was there and traveling at speed? The pilot is incharge, it is not like the ship/company had a choice?
How is this the first time I’m seeing this?
This is reminiscent of the Princess Alice disaster, when she collided with the collier Baywell Castle in the River Thames. The Queen being so much more strongly built thankfully prevented the collison being equally catastrophic in terms of fatalities.
I remember seeing this on the news when I was a teenager. That was a pretty major collision. The Russian ship if I remember correctly had a reinforced bow for ice duty which protected the Russian ship from damage. It was pretty incredible that the ferry did not sink from below waterline damage and flooding.
Phil Spaulding, the Naval Architect who designed most of B.C. Ferries early new-builds, actually designed his ships with double hulls, and were well compartmentized. Even with the lengthening, it was still a strong and sturdy vessel. It's design progenitor- the M.V. Coho, still sails today, but the Queen of Victoria, was scrapped at Alang, in 2006.
@@nikolausbautista8925 I have ridden on the MV Coho. As far as passenger amenities, she is about as bare bones as it gets. The one interesting accessory I remember clearly is the inclinometer mounted on an upper bulkhead in the passenger cabin. The only interesting thing to see on the whole ship. Every thing else is bare bones painted steel. And yes, she is still in service and as far as I know, she is quite well maintained. But I would not call her comfortable. There is nothing flashy about her color scheme.
@@americanrambler4972 never said she was "flashy", as she was built as a working ship, but BCF, and Alaska Marine Highway System found her bones and features grand enough to embellish on. Philip F. Spaulding designed some of the safest and comfortable ships the Western-half of North America has ever seen.
Wow!!! Could they not see each other, it did not seem to be foggy. Did they not have radar?
Shoved the ferry a distance, wow!
No doubt, the Soviet ship captain DEMANDED that the ferry get out of his way.
Vodka will do things like that.
Like a Dull Butter knife through butter.....
So happy the V-Class and later C-class ferries were so well designed. Too fast for Active Pass and its tidal currents! Too much vodka-powered seamanship and complete lack of knowledge on the Soviet ship though ⛵️
Drunk driving. Drunk Russian driving.
So blame Trudeau right?
Russians just drink too much vodka while in command of their ships!
To dispel doubts as to the guilt or innocence of the PILOT…. Maritime Code. Maritime Code
Section VII. pilot services
Art. 220. The concept of a pilot service
The pilotage service consists in providing the captain with information and advice in the management of the vessel due to the navigational conditions of the waters where the service is provided.
Art. 221. Duties of the master while piloting the vessel
§ 1. The pilot remains under the direction of the captain of the piloted vessel during pilotage.
§ 2. The captain of the ship is obliged to provide the pilot with all information regarding the navigational properties of the ship.
§ 3. Using the services of a pilot does not release the master from responsibility for the management of the ship.
I don't understand why the Russians had to pay damages when the Pilot, required by Canadian law to, um, PILOT the ship safely, is a Federal employee. What am I missing??
Right there: 2:07 the pilot is there to advise, not command.
Additionally, they may be required by federal law, but that does not necessarily mean that they are federal government employees, which they are not.
@darb4091 They are crown corporation employees, are they not?
@General_Crock the russian ship was on Canadian territory so he needed to follow Canadian laws not the russian laws, when the Ferry captain asked the russian ship to let them come thru the russian ship said get out of our way. Maybe russian ships should get out of Canadian territory and follow the laws where they come. If I'll come over into russia and won't follow their laws I'll get arrested and thrown into prison
@@fasthighwaydriver59732 But the guy in command of the Russian ship at the time was the Canadian Harbour Pilot, was he not?
Was there nobody on watch on the Russian ship?
This happened 60 years ago.
Hola
Soviet ships are great!
They yield lots of mild steel when you break them up.
Russians always have the right of way
That was a ramming situation.
Pollack should have been fired.
Pollack did nothing wrong.
What is your reasoning? Please be specific.
@@Givemeafinname Well for a start he should have try to contact the soviet ship. And then to wait. After he was responsible for the people that were on board. A cargo full of goods can be replaced,but the human life is priceless.
@@n.b.2385 The video said that contact was attempted but the freighter was on the wrong channel, the freighter did not have clearance to enter the pass. The ferry announced it's entrance to the pass. To this day this is the route these ferries take.
Freighter pilot was at fault.
That's like saying the subway train that goes by every five minutes has to give way to the lunatic running around on the tracks.