The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has issued three recommendations to Transport Canada following its investigation into a 2022 ferry collision at Toronto’s Jack Layton Ferry Terminal that left several passengers injured.
On August 20, 2022, the passenger ferry Sam McBride was en route from Centre Island to the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal with approximately 910 passengers on board when it struck the dock while berthing. The collision occurred shortly after 5:00 PM, injuring about 20 passengers, most of whom were standing on or above the stairs and lost their footing due to the impact.
The TSB’s investigation revealed that the vessel approached the dock faster than it had on earlier trips that day, and that only one of its two propellers was functioning as it neared the dock. This, coupled with the vessel’s speed and distance from the dock, made it impossible to stop the ferry with just one propeller. Despite the incident, both engines and their control systems were found to be in good working order with no signs of malfunction.
The investigation also highlighted safety deficiencies related to the City of Toronto’s management of ferry operations. Specifically, the TSB found that the city lacked written procedures for critical operational aspects, such as the safe approach speed for docking. As a result, ferry masters were left to determine appropriate operations on their own, which may have led to decisions influenced by the pressures of maintaining schedules.
Based on these findings, the TSB issued three recommendations aimed at enhancing passenger safety on Canadian ferries:
- Training for Crew Members: The TSB recommended that Transport Canada require all crew members of passenger vessels, including those on sheltered waters voyages, to undergo training in passenger safety management. The investigation noted that the crew of the Sam McBride had not received such training, which could have been critical in managing an emergency away from shore (Recommendation M24-01).
- Validation of Evacuation Procedures: The TSB found that the Sam McBride’s evacuation procedures were unrealistic, with only six crew members responsible for managing over 900 passengers during an emergency. Consequently, the TSB recommended that Transport Canada implement a formal validation and approval process for passenger vessel evacuation procedures to ensure their practicality and effectiveness (Recommendation M24-02).
- Accurate Passenger Counts: On short voyages like the one the Sam McBride was on, there is no requirement to separately count children, infants, or passengers who may require additional assistance. The TSB recommended that Transport Canada establish a process to ensure passenger vessels maintain an accurate count of all passengers, including a separate tally of children and infants, to improve safety during emergencies (Recommendation M24-03).
In response to the incident, the City of Toronto has already taken steps to address some of the identified safety concerns. The Sam McBride’s crew size has been increased to 13, and additional measures have been implemented, including updated safety briefings, enhanced signage, and warnings against standing on stairs while the ferry is in motion.
The TSB’s recommendations are now with Transport Canada, which will determine the next steps in addressing the identified safety gaps.
