A passenger ferry that served Newfoundland and Labrador for nearly 20 years was found to have machinery that wasn't fully operational in an investigation completed by the Transportation Safety Board (TSB).
The TSB was called on to investigate how the MV Apollo collided with the landing dock in Godbout, Quebec Feb. 25 of this year.
Per a report released on Nov 1, investigators discovered anomalies with the vessel’s propulsion and maneuvering systems and concluded the captain needed more experience to acclimate himself to the vessel.
It revealed that the MV Apollo's two main engines had different power outputs and response times.
"The slow response of the starboard engine reduced the counteracting torque required during the approach manoeuvre," the report read.
Meanwhile, the auxiliary engines wasn't operating at more than 50 per cent of their nominal power rating.
"It is important that all machinery designed to assist the master in manoeuvring the vessel by fully operational, and that the master be familiar with the machinery's responses and operational limitations," the report concluded
The TSB is also currently investigating a second crash that occurred at the dock in Matane, Quebec on March 16.
The boat was operated by Labrador Marine (Woodwards Group) from 2001 until January 2019, servicing the St. Barbe, N.L. to Blanc Sablon, Quebec crossing.
Early in 2019 the MV Apollo was sold to the Société des traversiers du Québec (STQ) and started its run between Matane, Baie-Comeau and Godout, Quebec.
The issues with the ferry seemed to precede the STQ’s purchase of the vessel.
In March, Francois Dumont, a TSB investigator, told The Canadian Press in an interview they saw damage that was “clearly not recent,” which raised concerns about its operation as a ferry in Newfoundland and Labrador.
“We’re definitely going to look at the fact that it’s not damage that’s happened recently,” Dumont told CP. “This is long-term deterioration. This boat was clearly unloved, it lacked supervision and maintenance. We are going to dig, over the coming weeks, to find the reason why this boat was sailing between St. Barbe, N.L. and Blanc Sablon in Quebec.”
The Apollo was taken off the Quebec run after incurring the damage. It will be sunk and turned into an artificial reef for scuba-diving enthusiasts in Godbout.
