A bear-watching vessel belonging to a Tofino adventure company ran aground Saturday, prompting the rescue of 28 people. All were reported to be safe.
The vessel is owned by the same company that owned a whale-watching vessel involved in a fatal accident last year almost one year ago.
The Stellar Star was on its last bear-watching tour of the day when it ran aground with 26 passengers and two crew members on board, Jamie’s Whaling Station said in a statement Sunday.
The incident occurred at about 5:45 p.m. The vessel had been travelling at a slow speed on the inside, sheltered waters in Clayoquot Sound, the statement said.
“Because the vessel could not continue its voyage, all passengers were transferred onto other company vessels that were in the vicinity and safely returned to Tofino. Refunds were provided to all passengers and some passengers were booked onto other tours that day,” it said.
The company disputed a Canadian Coast Guard report that the vessel partially sank.
“The vessel was grounded and unable to move, but the vessel was not in danger of sinking, and none of the passengers or crew requested medical attention as a result of the incident,” it said.
The Canadian Coast Guard was notified of the incident late Saturday night. In a statement on Sunday, it said the vessel struck bottom and partially sank near Warn Bay.
Crew from the Tofino Coast Guard Station boomed the vessel and plugged its fuel vents.
“There are no reports of pollution this morning,” the Coast Guard said in a statement.
The Transportation Safety Board was notified by the Coast Guard about the incident around 10 p.m. It is still collecting information and has not determined if an investigation is warranted, spokeswoman Genevieve Corbin said.
The Transportation Safety Board investigates incidents with the purpose of advancing transportation safety. It is not a function of the board to assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability, its website says.
Emergency Management B.C. was also alerted, in case an environmental spill response was required. Spokeswoman Jules McCaffrey said there is no indication of a spill.
The Stellar Sea is identified on Jamie’s Whaling Station’s website as a 40-foot vessel with capacity for 40 passengers that is typically used for bear watching and private inlet charters.
Jamie’s Whaling Station owned the Leviathan II, which capsized on Oct. 25, 2015. Six people died as a result of the incident, which is still under investigation by the Transportation Safety Board.
In 1998, one operator and one passenger died after a Jamie’s Whaling Station boat as swamped and broached by a large swell.
