RCMP officers patrolling local waters are seeing a spike in small boats darting in front and coming dangerously close to BC Ferries ships off Nanaimo. (Dreamstime)

By Alex Rawnsley

safe at sea

‘People try and beat the ferries:’ irresponsible boat operators causing headaches in Nanaimo waters

Mar 2, 2023 | 10:12 AM

NANAIMO — Local boaters continue to play an increasingly dangerous game of chicken with BC Ferries vessels.

Multiple reports in recent months have surfaced of small pleasure boats attempting to race or dart in front of moving BC Ferries travelling in and around Nanaimo Harbour and Duke Point waters.

Cst. Dave Kokesch from the RCMP West Coast Marine unit told NanaimoNewsNOW a recent incident involving a powerboat approaching a large ferry head-on as it travelled between the Island and Lower Mainland.

“This vessel at the last second decided to cross directly in front of the bow of the vessel, so close that the occupants on the bridge could not see the vessel for some time until it reappeared on the starboard side of the ferry.”

He said it’s becoming increasingly apparent “people try and beat the ferries” which is overwhelmingly dangerous and irresponsible. Even a minor mechanical fault at the wrong time could put a lot of people at risk.

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Boaters, like drivers on the road, must abide by rules and laws such as the Canada Shipping Act.

Fines in the act range between $200 and $500 according to Kokesch, however the risk to life and property is much greater.

“They seem to think they can beat these ferries or get across in front of them, where these ferries are actually going faster than what you think they are and they definitely aren’t able to stop as fast either. If you ever collide, it would not end well, it would be a disaster”

Waters around Nanaimo are particularly difficult with ferries coming and going from Nanaimo, Gabriola Island and Duke Point.

“Plus you have the seaplanes coming in so it’s a very high-traffic area that people have to be very aware of,” Kokesch added.

More information on the Canada Shipping Act is available here.

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alex@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley