What we know about damage to the new Wolfe Island ferry, and fears it's a 'fair-weather boat'

The Wolfe Islander IV (WI4) was off its regular course when it's believed to have struck bottom, tearing a roughly 30-centimetre gash in its hull and causing the ferry to take on water, according to documents obtained by CBC.

The collision happened just before noon on Dec. 4, when the long-awaited boat had only been carrying passengers for about three months.

Now, after limping to dry dock in Hamilton with the help of tugboats, the ferry been out of commission for the same length of time. Ontario's Ministry of Transportation (MTO) has yet to provide any information about what caused the vessel to leave its standard route, or what's being done to prevent a repeat.

While she waits and wonders when the WI4 will return to service, one Wolfe Islander who was aboard the ferry the day of the incident said the experience has left her with safety concerns, and she doesn't want to use it again — especially in bad weather.

"The new boat, it just doesn't seem to me that it was built for Lake Ontario," said Jean Cruickshank, who's lived on the island for nearly 25 years.

She's crossed the channel in heavy wind and waves, but has never had any worries — until now.

"If it rips open just on the bottom, what's going to happen when it hits some ice?" Cruickshank asked. "I think it's a fair-weather boat."

MTO notes details of damage

CBC obtained four internal notes about the damage through a freedom of information request. Three include sections assessing the incident and possible mitigation, but in each case the MTO has largely redacted details, arguing they constitute advice to government.

The first note was issued the same day the ferry was damaged, stating the WI4 "hit ground" around 11:50 a.m. after leaving the dock in Marysville, suffering an "8-12 inch gash" in the hull that caused one of its sealed compartments to take on water.

No passengers were injured, and the boat completed its trip to Kingston where an investigation began.

The next update came over a week later and describes the cause of the damage as "suspected contact with the ground."

An "experienced captain and mate" were onboard during the incident, according to the note dated Dec. 13, which outlines the impact.

It describes a 30-centimetre by two-centimetre tear in the hull, a large scrape on the port side below the waterline and dents in the hull, along with damage to two propellers.

"We are expecting permanent repairs to be required for the side shell and hull structure on the port side," the document reads. It provides an estimate of $1 million to $2 million for the repairs, though it notes that figure could change.

The document also warns staff to "anticipate delays" when it comes to securing materials, noting the metal needed is unavailable in the required thickness in Canada.

Not clear why ferry was off course

A map of the regular routes the ferry follows was attached to the note. It shows the course the vessel took on Dec. 4 swings outside of the typical path after leaving Wolfe Island, highlighting the suspected area of impact in red and an area where the ferry slowed down in purple.

Historical weather data from Environment Canada shows winds of 40-45 km/h in Kingston at 11 a.m. on Dec. 4 and noon, but it's not clear from the documents CBC viewed if the weather was a factor in the collision. MTO did not respond to a question asking whether crew training or wind played a role.

As part of the new ferry project, significant dredging was completed to deepen and widen the channel between the two docks.

The notes mention working with an engineering firm to carry out a new marine survey of the channel as soon as possible.

Captains told to stay in dredged channel

The other two documents obtained by CBC cover much of the same material, but include one significant piece of new information.

They describe the need to develop "training enhancements" to avoid similar incidents, before offering the following instruction for ferry crews in the meantime: "Marine Services managers have also advised Captains to ensure diligence in staying within the dredged channel while operating Wolfe Islander III."

Crews would have steered the ferry along that same route dozens of times a day, but familiarity alone doesn't prevent problems, according to John Dalziel, a ship designer by training and an adjunct professor of industrial engineering at Dalhousie University.

"It is a famous case of driving to the corner store to buy a jug of milk, and you don't bother to put on your seat belt, and of course you get into a big accident," he said.

Based on his review of the MTO notes, Dalziel said it's possible more training could have made a difference.

"Maybe there was some lack of familiarity with how that vessel handled, and perhaps a gust of wind took them quickly across to the side," he said.

Even with the dredging, there wasn't much room for error, he said.

"They didn't have to go very far off the route to get themselves in trouble."

MTO provides no information about cause

The ministry declined two requests for an interview and did not directly answer a list of detailed questions sent by CBC, including what caused the ferry to leave its regular course, how much repairs are expected to cost, and when the WI4 will return to service.

Half of the four-sentence statement sent by spokesperson Tanya Blazina repeated the same basic information shared immediately after the incident, namely the date when the ferry hit an "obstruction" and the fact the WI3 has been operating since.

"Work to repair the Wolfe Islander IV is a priority for the ministry and will be completed as quickly as possible," she wrote "We thank everyone for their patience and understanding."

The Transportation Safety Board did not send investigators after the WI4 was damaged and limited its involvement to collecting basic data about the incident.

Dalziel said he believes an investigation is necessary — not to cast blame, but to find out what happened and ways to prevent it in future. When it comes to ferries, "dependability is very important," he said.

New boat is 'a different beast'

Cruickshank can still remember the "terrific crash" on Dec. 4. At the time, she assumed the boat had banged into some ice, but when she looked out the window she didn't see any.

"And then dead silence, because ... what have we hit?" she recalled.

She was among those who spent the night stranded in Kingston, and said the lack of information from MTO that day and over the months that followed has been frustrating.

"It's long after you've had that ride that you realize that maybe it was a bit concerning, because what if the boat had taken on more water?" she said.

Those worries have since grown into fear about the WI4.

"[I've] always felt very safe in the old boat. It would be in huge waves and winds, but never once did I think, you know, it would go down," she said.

"I'm not sure that I'd feel that way on the new boat. I think it's a different beast altogether."