Marine investigation M12N0017

Striking, Beaumont Hamel ferry

The occurrence

On 30 May 2012, at 1000L, the passenger commuter ferry, MV Beaumont Hamel, struck the Portugal Cove wharf in Newfoundland when the main propulsion was lost following a black-out. The bow door visor was punctured, resulting in a 1.5 m crack along the centreline. There were minor injuries but no pollution. The vessel was returned to the Bell Island service on 20 July 2012, following an electrical overhaul in St. John's.

Investigator-in-Charge

Captain Wendy Jolliffe has been a senior marine investigator at the Transportation Safety Board since 2008. Previously, she held various positions in the Canadian Coast Guard, including work as a navigation officer in the high Arctic, on buoy tenders, on fisheries enforcement vessels, and during search and rescue operations. Captain Jolliffe is a Canadian Coast Guard College graduate and a Master Mariner.

Transportation Safety Board investigation process

There are 3 phases to a TSB investigation:

1. Field phase: a team of investigators examines the occurrence site and wreckage, interviews witnesses and collects pertinent information.
2. Examination and analysis phase: the TSB reviews pertinent records, tests components of the wreckage in the lab, determines the sequence of events and identifies safety deficiencies. When safety deficiencies are suspected or confirmed, the TSB advises the appropriate authority without waiting until publication of the final report.
3. Report phase: a confidential draft report is approved by the Board and sent to persons and corporations who are directly concerned by the report. They then have the opportunity to dispute or correct information they believe to be incorrect. The Board considers all representations before approving the final report, which is subsequently released to the public.

For more information, see our Investigation process page.