1 injured after Harbour Cruises vessel runs aground off Lighthouse Park in West Vancouver
Company says flagship vessel suffered only minor damage and is out of service for inspection
Harbour Cruises says one passenger was injured after its "flagship" vessel ran aground near Lighthouse Park in West Vancouver late Sunday morning.
In a statement Monday, the company said 41 passengers were on board MV Harbour Princess at the time. The vessel did not take on water or sustain structural damage, but is being taken out of service "out of an abundance of caution."
The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre says it received a mayday call around 11:30 a.m. and a Canadian Coast Guard aircraft and three coast guard boats were dispatched to the scene, along with the Vancouver Police Department's marine unit and many civilian boats that answered the mayday call.
B.C. Emergency Health Services confirmed one patient was taken to hospital in stable condition.
According to the cruise operator, the sightseeing vessel was able to return to Coal Harbour on its own, but was escorted by search-and-rescue boats.
The company says Harbour Princess, which was built in 1994, is one of Vancouver's largest private charter vessels with a listed capacity of 275 passengers.
It says the Transportation Safety Board will investigate and the vessel is expected to be back in the water in seven to 10 days.
Passengers on the affected sailing have been refunded and the company says future bookings will be fulfilled using its other two vessels.
Company owner Graham Clarke says he extends his sympathies to affected passengers and thanked responders for their help.
With files from Shaurya Kshatri and The Canadian Press