Poor communication led to collision at B.C. coal terminal: safety report

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VANCOUVER – The Transportation Safety Board says poor communication contributed to an accident that saw a coal carrier crash at a terminal near Vancouver.

The Cape Apricot bulk coal carrier collided with a conveyor trestle at Westshore Terminals, south of Vancouver at Roberts Bank, in December 2012.

The collision caused extensive damage to the terminal and sent 30 tonnes of coal into the water, though there were no injuries.

The Transportation Safety Board has released a report that says the ship approached Roberts Bank on a course that required a tight turn, which the vessel’s pilot initiated too late.

The report says there was poor communication between the ship’s captain and pilot, which meant they each failed to identify the risk as the vessel approached the terminal.

The safety board also says neither the Pacific Pilotage Authority nor B.C. Coast Pilots Ltd., which together are responsible for pilot services on the West Coast, have formal processes to assess risks or review accidents.

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