VICTORIA, B.C. – The British Columbia ferry Queen of Prince Rupert planned to observe a moment of silence today when it passes the watery grave of its sister ship.
The Prince Rupert returns to the northern run four weeks after the sinking of the Queen of the North.
“We will be doing a moment of silence on board,” said Deborah Marshall, a spokeswoman for B.C. Ferries. “This is the first time a B.C. ferry will pass by the site of the sinking of the Queen of the North and our crew certainly want to recognize that.”
The Queen of the North, with 101 people aboard, plowed into Gil Island, about 80 miles south of Prince Rupert, early on March 22 in relatively good weather conditions. In less than an hour, the 37-year-old vessel had sunk, eventually coming to rest in about 1,400 feet of water.
Ninety-nine of the passengers and crew were saved, aided in large part by the people of Hartley Bay, an isolated village near the accident site. However, passengers Shirley Rosette and Gerald Foisy of 100 Mile House are missing and presumed drowned. A Royal Canadian Mounted Police investigation continues in their case.
“They are presumed drowned, but we are still trying to determine why they were not with the rest of the people who were rescued,” said Constable Alain Bealieu of the Prince Rupert RCMP.
The accident severed two vital marine lifelines: the ferry route from Port Hardy at the northern tip of Vancouver Island to Prince Rupert on the central coast and the route between Prince Rupert and the Queen Charlotte Islands.
The Queen of Prince Rupert, a second, smaller ferry used during the heavy traffic summer months, was undergoing a refit at the time of the sinking.
The Queen of Prince Rupert was put back into service Wednesday, the first ship on the route in nearly a month.
Several investigations into the sinking continue, Marshall said.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Transportation Safety Board of Canada said the analysis phase of his agency’s investigation is just beginning.
John Cottreau said from Gatineau, Quebec, that investigators will take the time they need to ensure a thorough examination.
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