On March 23, 2023, at the Chantier maritime des Méchins, a member of the crew of the Atlantic Vision was struck and seriously injured. If the man had not worn a helmet, the impact he received on the head could have been fatal, reveals the report from the Transportation Safety Board (TSB) of Canada published Tuesday, which reviews the events.
We saw the state of the helmet and if this worker had not had a helmet, we would not be having the same discussion today.
Everything happened quickly, says Amélie Boutour, regional nautical investigator for the central region at BST. Three or four minutes separated a mechanical problem and the moment when the employee was hit, she continues.
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The protective helmet absorbed the majority of the shock, reports Amélie Boutour, the head of the investigation at the TSB.
Photo: Transportation Safety Board of Canada
Communication problems
The Atlantic Vision, the ferry that connects Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, stayed at the Groupe Océan shipyard located in Méchins last year for dry dock work.
During undocking procedures, a break in radio communications turned everything upside down.
An unusual tension was created in the boat’s front mooring line, and the crew who were there were unaware of the warnings issued to prevent it.
The workers never knew that the mooring line had been cast off. The message was a little thrown in the air
through one of the two radio channels, contrary to Industry Canada recommendations, and got lost
supports Amélie Boutour.
And that’s kind of what we brought up. That it is important during radio communications, even if it is sometimes informal communications, to always use the recipient. To address to whom the radio message will be
recalls the head of the investigation.
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During dry docking, the crew of the incoming vessel is on board and mixes with the Chantier maritime des Méchins staff.
Photo: Marine Atlantic
She explains that during operations like this, everyone is busy at the task and does not necessarily pay attention to communications without being clearly addressed.
The Ocean Group, like the operator of the boat, Marine Atlantique SCC, did not wait for the conclusions of the BST to carry out an internal investigation and make improvements, reports Philippe Filion, senior director of public and government relations for Groupe Océan. Training on docking processes was provided to staff for this purpose.
The company will still take note of the conclusions of the investigation, to avoid this type of accident.
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« [Le] BST was very focused on all aspects of communication that took place between our client and us, in particular that we were on two communication channels in two different languages. This point was addressed in the weeks following the event,” assures Mr. Filion.
Photo: Courtesy of Groupe Océan
The investigator spoke with the injured individual and confirmed that he was doing better. The Océan Group has also taken steps to psychologically support its employees.
Between 2013 and 2023 in Canada, 20 people suffered serious or even fatal injuries related to docking operations on Canadian and foreign vessels.
The first officer of the Islands ferry, the Madeleine II, notably lost his life in a mooring accident in 2022.
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