Gary Coons - Ferry Critic

[yvr]

The NDP MLA for Prince Rupert is Gary Coons, he is also the ferry critic for the opposition party. I've emailed Gary a couple of times asking him to not only join the board, but also to talk to some of our more experienced members. Gary's latest email advises me that he monitors the board 2-3 times a week. He also sent me a couple of his press releases regarding BCF.

I would like to know from the members of this board - Do you think Gary Coons should post his ferry critic bulletins on this site? Personally I believe they would be to the betterment of not only the Board, but BCF!

[kylefossett]

sure anything to help pass on info

[Retrovision]

yvr said:

The NDP MLA for Prince Rupert is Gary Coons, he is also the ferry critic for the opposition party. I've emailed Gary a couple of times asking him to not only join the board, but also to talk to some of our more experienced members. Gary's latest email advises me that he monitors the board 2-3 times a week. He also sent me a couple of his press releases regarding BCF.

I would like to know from the members of this board - Do you think Gary Coons should post his ferry critic bulletins on this site? Personally I believe they would be to the betterment of not only the Board, but BCF!

Here he is speaking at the October 6th Annual General Meeting of BCFS


And here is David Hahn's response

[Low Light Mike]

re the posting of Mr. Coons' bulletins:

If the bulletins are ok for public release, then I think it would be appropriate to post them here. Obviously, Mr. Coons would be the person to make the judgement on that, as any release on this forum of confidential info from him would come back to impact his credibility.

I would want to avoid a situation where Mr. Coons' might be encouraged by us to post a confidential release, using an anonymous "guest" post.....ie. leaking an item to this board. I think that this forum encourages posters to use their names and to stand behind what they post.

That being said, I'd love to see Mr. Coons' participate on this board....he is very welcome here. Just keep the rhetoric in check, and use specific info/suggestions, rather than general Campbell bashing....as we have enough of that already sometimes. (no offense intended to Mr. Coons' re this, as I've never met him, so I've no idea on his balance of rhetoric-vs-substance).

So, If we see a new member called "Coastal Coons", we'll know who it is .....and his avatar might look like this:



------------------

Just make sure Mr. Coons is aware of the diversity of interests and viewpoints and ages on this board's membership. However, since he's from P.Rupert, he likley has an interest in ferries and coastal-life that reaches beyond the politics & the business.

[Mike C]

I encourage Mr. Coons to come forward and express what he thinks about BC Ferries and the press releases.

I'm sure as a resident of PR (not Powell River, Curtis, but Prince Rupert) that he has much to say about our ferry system and this "Life on the Coast" I keep hearing about.

Welcome Gary.

[Dane]

cascade said:

Therefore we better get out facts and debates correct - so this forum has a bit of bite - in a non-political way if possible.

Heaven forbid we get a bad grade LOL

[Scott]

I also invited him once a month or so ago. Good to hear he knows about us:)

[yvr]

In the thread "BCF takes possession of MV Sonia", Cascade has found another example of no accountability of tax payers money at BC Ferries. A simple $51 million dollar ferry now costs $103 million. Unfortunately here in B.C. we've come to accept this nonsense. That is why I'm strongly urging Gary Coons the Ferry Critic for the provincial NDP to contact our members, post information he has, and please - please make BC Ferries accountable for my tax dollar.

[Coastal Coons]

Thanks for the place to post...sorry it took so long!
2 current releases..one today...Gary

Jan. 10, 2007 ...Coons calls on B.C. Ferries to release safety audit
Jan. 15, 2007...B.C. Ferries ignored key safety risks after 2002 incident- Warning indicator could prevent further accidents -


Jan. 10, 2007

Coons calls on B.C. Ferries to release safety audit

VICTORIA -- Gary Coons called on B.C. Ferries to immediately release the findings of a safety audit conducted by George Morfitt.

And Coons, the New Democrat Critic for Ferries and Ports, said Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon should provide some assurances that any recommendations coming out of the audit will be acted on immediately.

Morfitt was commissioned to do a safety audit on B.C. Ferries. The report is complete and apparently sitting on the desk of Ferries CEO David Hahn.

“If B.C. Ferries has recommendations that would improve safety, the best course of action would be to make those recommendations public and act on them immediately,” said Coons, the MLA for North Coast.

“There have been several high-profile incidents that could shake the faith of ferry users in the safety of their travels. Holding back this report does nothing to allay those concerns.”

The report was commissioned in the summer. Hahn promised to release the report in early January.

“We’ve seen that B.C. Ferries places a high priority on public relations,” Coons said. “Safety, and the appearance of safety, needs to be a higher priority.

“But this is what happens when you remove public accountability from a public asset,” said Coons. “It’s time for the Transportation Minister to admit this privatization was a mistake and restore full accountability, as the acting Auditor General’s report recommended in December.”




MEDIA RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan. 15, 2007

B.C. Ferries ignored key safety risks after 2002 incident
- Warning indicator could prevent further accidents -

VANCOUVER – Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon must explain why B.C. Ferries ignored key risks identified by the Transportation Safety Board (TSB) in its report examining a 2002 incident involving the Bowen Queen, NDP Ferries Critic Gary Coons said today.

The April, 2002 incident was similar to what occurred in Nanaimo last week when a pickup plunged into the water after the Quinsam suddenly lurched away from the dock.

In its 2002 report into the incident on the Bowen Queen, the TSB found that two of the four right-angled drive (RAD) units on the Bowen Queen suddenly - and on their own - changed direction, pushing the ferry away from the dock at Gabriola Island.

In its assessment of risks, the TSB report noted that there is no audio-visual warning to tell the bridge crew that one or more of the RAD units has changed direction. Nine vessels in the B.C. Ferries fleet – including the Quinsam – are equipped with right-angle drives. And none of those vessels have had an audio-visual warning installed as suggested by the TSB report.

“A warning indicator could give the bridge crew time to correct the problem or to shut down a drive that was malfunctioning,” said Coons, the New Democrat MLA for North Coast. “It's been more than four years since this report was issued by TSB, but nothing has been done to fix this problem.

“It's interesting to note that, at the time the TSB came forward with their report of the incident aboard the Bowen Queen, the Campbell government was preparing to introduce their so-called privatized model for B.C. Ferries. Were they just too distracted to make safety a priority on our marine highway system? Or is this a case of pinching pennies - making the bottom line a priority over safety?”

The TSB also noted that the RADs have a history “of occasional erratic behaviour.” It said “spontaneous rotation of either the forward or after pair of right-angled drive (RAD) units” caused the vessel to back off from the dock. A definite cause of the RAD malfunction was never determined, but the report speculated the problem was a defective circuit board.

“Minister Falcon needs to explain why these risks were never addressed,” Coons said.

“This is just another example of why the privatization of B.C. Ferries is a failed experiment. It’s long past time that some accountability and transparency was restored to our marine highway system.”



Backgrounder : TSB Marine Investigation Report M02W0061. See Page 10 for “Findings as to Risks”

[Low Light Mike]

Thanks for posting those items, Mr. Coons.....and thanks for writing them too!

I take interest in reading the Hansard transcripts of yester-year, of the Legislature debates concerning ferries. I do find it sad that there is no longer the potential for debate in Legislature on ferry matters, even though the debate sometimes got too much into micro-management.

So I share your lament at the loss of transparancy.

Thank you for your voice in the Legislature regarding our favourite topic of interest: Ferries.....no matter how tough it must be now to shadow a "hidden" system under this new structure. Your work as an MLA is appreciated.

[Political Incorrectness]

Thanks Mr. Coons for your contributions. I appreciate your writing and your view.

[coastal Coons]

hi... thank you for letting me participate. I have been a fan of this site for over a year and am impressed with discussion, pictures and knowledge.
I do have to watch my p's and q's and act in a manner that will not put too many people at risk!
Mr. Hahn is coming to my home port (Rupert) tomorrow as the guest speaker for the Chamber luncheon...it's sold out and should be interesting.

fyi

www.bcferries.com/news/files/07-005tsbadvisoryalarms.pdf


Chilliwack Press
Alarms recommended for ferries

Jan 16 2007
BC Ferries might have been able to avoid letting a pickup truck fall in the water last week if it had heeded recommendations from a 2002 investigation, NDP transportation critic Gary Coons says.

The pickup’s driver was able to escape unhurt as the ferry Quinsam pulled away from the dock during vehicle loading at Nanaimo. Coons said a similar incident happened to the Bowen Queen at the Gabriola Island dock four years ago. The federal Transportation Safety Board (TSB) found that two of the right-angle drive units on that ferry suddenly changed direction on their own and pushed the Bowen Queen away from the dock.

Nine vessels in the BC Ferries fleet use right-angle drives, including the Quinsam. The TSB said the drives have a history of “occasional erratic behaviour” that may be caused by defective electronics, and recommended audio-visual alarm systems be installed.

[NMcKay]

that problem has never arisen at Albion, but we have had Control Units Fail, where the vessel then loses control of steering and Propulsion. but never a random pull away

[coastal coons]

FYI
In the Nov 15/06 TSB Queen of Surrey Fire Report, the TSB 2002 Bowen Queen report was SPECIFICALLY mentioned in connection with the concerns of BC Ferries SMS!!!!

From TSB Queen of Surrey report …“However, an investigation conducted by the TSB into an occurrence on board the ferry Bowen Queen (TSB report M02W0061) noted shortcomings in documenting repairs to critical equipment, which forms part of the company SMS. The Board is, therefore, concerned that the weaknesses and shortcomings on board the Queen of Surrey may not be confined only to this BCFC vessel.”




Queen of Surrey Fire TSB Report
4.3.2 Adequacy of British Columbia Ferry Corporation's Safety Management System



The objectives of the International Management Code for the Safe Operation of Ships and for Pollution Prevention (ISM Code) are to ensure safety at sea, the prevention of human injury or loss of life, and the avoidance of damage to the marine environment and property. The ISM Code requires not only the functional appointment of a designated person (DP), but also clearly specified management and line responsibilities, authorities and methods of communication. A company developing a Safety Management System (SMS), pursuant to the ISM Code, must ensure that actions taken to ensure that conditions, activities and tasks that will affect the safety of life, property and the environment are properly planned, executed and supervised. Internal and external audits carried out against defined criteria should ensure that deficiencies or non-conformities are identified and effectively dealt with.


Although the requirements of the ISM Code may be applied to all vessels, Canadian domestic trade vessels, such as the BCFC ferries, are not required to comply. However, recognizing the safety benefits to be derived from implementing an SMS, BCFC voluntarily put into place in 1995 an SMS for the Queen of Surrey that complies with the requirements of the ISM Code.

The Board recognizes the initiative taken by BCFC to further promote the safety of its operations, yet TSB's investigation into this occurrence revealed several deficiencies in the Queen of Surrey's SMS with respect to

§ Internal Communications - The daily defect sheet and the watch log page were not controlled documents, and their design did not call for the inclusion of detailed information or its preservation and feedback to the originator.

§ Maintenance and Repair - There was lack of detail in specifying repairs required and done.

§ Shipboard Inspection Practices - Vessel inspection routines and associated job aids, as well as procedural requirements for the proper verification of work done by contractors and ship staff, were not specified.

§ Emergency Preparedness - No guidelines or procedures had been established for the safe evacuation of passengers while the ferry was alongside.

§ Analysis of Accidents, Tracking and Closing of Recommendations - While the SMS requires the DP to participate in the analysis of accidents and make, monitor and close out corrective action requests, in reality, the DP is not part of the process and, consequently, does not raise corrective action requests on identified deficiencies.

§ Audit Programs - The system of audits was not effective in identifying deficiencies and procedural discrepancies between actual and designed practice within the company's upper level of management. Procedures for incorporating TC's Ship Safety Bulletins into the SMS had not been developed either.

Taken individually, these SMS deficiencies may not present a serious safety risk. However, when combined, as in the case of the Queen of Surrey, they resulted in a marked reduction in the effectiveness of administrative defences with respect to the initiation of the engine room fire, the failure of the CO2 manifold and the evacuation of the passengers.

The investigation into this accident did not include an examination of the SMS on board other BCFC ferries. However, an investigation conducted by the TSB into an occurrence on board the ferry Bowen Queen (TSB report M02W0061) noted shortcomings in documenting repairs to critical equipment, which forms part of the company SMS. The Board is, therefore, concerned that the weaknesses and shortcomings on board the Queen of Surrey may not be confined only to this BCFC vessel.

The Board will monitor the situation.

This report concludes the Transportation Safety Board's investigation into this occurrence. Consequently, the Board authorized the release of this report on 15 November 2005.

[Low Light Mike]

The Board is, therefore, concerned that the weaknesses and shortcomings on board the Queen of Surrey may not be confined only to this BCFC vessel.

That's a scary quote. And I suppose we can make the jump to the recent Quinsam incident, and see these all as related somehow.

That type of language from the Transportation Safety Board (an organisation that is likely free from rhetoric and drama) is pretty eye-opening.

Thanks for posting this, Coastal-Coons.

[Political Incorrectness]

Now that is a very serious statement. I read in the safety report today that "security" and not "safety" is the number one priority of BC Ferries. Now is that me misinterpret security in general or do they mean as the top priority within the category of safety?

[coastal coons]

FYI

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan. 22, 2007

Coons calls on B.C. Ferries to adopt recommendations on Safety Management System

VICTORIA – B.C. Ferries should follow George Morfitt’s recommendation to pay greater attention to its Safety Management System, NDP Ferries Critic Gary Coons said.

Morfitt’s recommendation is at least the third time B.C. Ferries was warned that its SMS was inadequately followed. Last summer Coons, the MLA for North Coast, called on B.C. Ferries to put greater emphasis on its SMS. Coons’ call echoed a similar recommendation from former Ferries safety director Darin Bowland. Morfitt, in his review of operational safety at the corporation, said that “not all senior operating staff have ‘bought into’ the SMS.”

In a marine environment, having an effective SMS means that everyone who works on a vessel has a basic understanding of how the vessel operates.

“I’m glad that B.C. Ferries has accepted the recommendations of the report, but it’s a concern that it’s taken so long for the company to agree this is a problem,” said Coons. “When your own director of safety raises the issue, it should be time to take action. It shouldn’t take three tries before the company recognizes a serious problem.”

Coons said the status of the Deas Dock shipyards is a further problem. The shipyards, which do a significant portion of refit and repair work on B.C. Ferries vessels, are working on a contract basis. Coons said if Deas Dock were back as part of B.C. Ferries, the company could ensure that Deas Dock was in compliance with SMS.

“The Queen of Oak Bay crashed into pleasure craft at Horseshoe Bay partly because someone at Deas Dock didn’t fully understand how the anchor winch worked,” Coons said. “With an effective SMS, that kind of basic understanding would be ingrained in everyone who works on the ships. The question I have is what influence will B.C. Ferries have with Deas Dock? Can they ensure Deas Dock will be in compliance with B.C. Ferries SMS?”

Coons said the report calls on the corporation to find common ground with its workers to reduce tension between the company and the union.

“The report indicates that some near-misses were not reported for fear of discipline,” Coons said. “That’s not acceptable; workers shouldn’t be afraid for their jobs when they make safety a priority.”

-------[--
NDP Critic happy with Ferries' reaction to Morfitt Report
Jan, 23 2007 - 12:50 AM

VICTORIA/CKNW(AM980) - The NDP Ferries Critic says he's glad BC Ferries has accepted the recommendations of the Safety Review, but is concerned it took them so long to agree safety is a problem.
Gary Coons says one of the key recommendations that spoke to him was a reinforcement that operational safety should be the Company's number one priority, "And that's a concern that I think British Columbians have when you privatize a public resource like BC Ferries and we go to a profit over service type of model."

Coons says the value of the Review is also illustrated in raising a concern that was previously off the political radar.

Morfitt has recommended an assessment be undertaken of the degree of risk in having two vessels transit narrow Active Pass at the same time, which is current practice.

[Low Light Mike]

Thanks for posting your latest press release here for us, once again.

Just curious about you, and wondering if you've travelled on the Queen of Prince Rupert and/or Queen of the North, over the years.....seeing as you are from "North Coast".

If so, what are some of your favourite memories of those ships on the inside-passage route? Do you have any "rough weather" stories?

Is it a safe assumption to make that most long-time residents of Prince Rupert or Kitimat (and area) have travelled down the inside-passage ferry at some point?

[Retrovision]

Mr. Coons,

I was quite happy to hear you on CBC Radio One's afternoon show "On The Coast" the day after the Quinsam incident. Your analysis of why and how we need to hold BCFS to account was both concise and seemingly easy for the average British Columbian to fathom; thank you. I was reminded of your noting in that interview the unkept assurances of the timing and delays of the realease of the Morfitt Report yesterday when the powers that be repugnantly chose to throw their weight around by burying the release of the safety audit in what was probably the most sensationalist news day for all of BC, let alone the country, when local broadcasts devoted upto the first 15 minutes of their local news hours to a particular trial that need not be named. I don't think I'm alone in saying that we can't thank you enough for your unwavering diligence with your complex and elusive critic's portfolio.

Sincerely,
Graham Johnson

[coastal coons]

Story time!
I've been on the north coast(Pr Rupert) for 30 yrs , from Ontario, taught high school math and sp. ed. until a year and a half ago.
My spouse is from the okanagan and we would always do the circle route..most on the coast have ...drive to the interior,visit and come home via Vancouver/Pt Hardy. Occasionally in the olden days there would be that staright trip to vancouver that seemed like Heaven! Now I love the north island trip and prefer it.
I never had a rough trip on the inside passage...it was those trips to the majestic Haida Gwaii that turned one's stomach inside out. But they were well worth it.
After awhile we stopped doing the circle trip due to time and cost.
Our kids were older and we had to spend less time on the road.
I do have an interesting story about the first time we went on the Queen of the North after the May 2005 election, and after I was given the Ferry portfolio. We had our first meeting in Victoria and it was summer , my spouse also a teacher, was coming with me ....so we took the ferry.
On the books where I made the reservation was that MLAs travelled free! So.....I paused and said are you sure, and got my passage, berth and vehicle at no charge. Did I put 2 and 2 together to realize that the 'new' corporation model made this past regulation void? I got to Victoria and questioned this and got the "ARE YOU KIDDING"...the last thing I/we need is that the ferry "critic" (advocate) is travelling on the corporation's dime.
Hmmm....got home,paid back the fares and suggested they remove this clause in the books.

[Low Light Mike]

Good story, Mr. Coons. That transition of BC Ferries in 2003 likely caused lots of similar "Are you sure about that?..." scenarios, for how Governnment/Opposition were used to dealing with BC Ferries.

Is it still difficult to get used to the new quasi-private setup of the ferry system? I would guess that you are still discovering instances where "common-sense accountability" is overridden by the new-reality of an "arms length company". But I digress, as I suppose that's what the Ferry-Commissioner, the Act, and the Coastal Ferry Services Agreement is for. (But the old days of legislature-assembley debate about the food in the ferry cafeteria and the scandalous news-stand items did make for some good comedy....)

------------------------
You have my envy, re your experience of the Tsawwassen to Prince Rupert route......that must have been quite the ride.

[Political Incorrectness]

Right now fluge, I can see you are playing the devil's advocate of "getting used to things". The one thing I will strike it down with this is that the system is broken and needs fixing cause of these recent incidents questioning the safety of BCFS. Lowering the captain standard is another eye-brow rasier and BCFS needs to be held accountable for their actions. Playing the "blame" game is playing politics, that doesn't create progress.

[Low Light Mike]

ferrymaniac101 said:

Right now fluge, I can see you are playing the devil's advocate of "getting used to things". .

No devil's advocate playing on my part....just read what I said at face-value.

My point: I miss the legislature-assembley accountability that our old system had. However, I realise that the new system is supposed to have accountability built into it, re the Act, Commissioner, Contract, etc. But I do miss the personal drama of "Question Period" in the Legislature re ferry issues, even if they sometimes got too deep into micro-management. At least there was some Q&A happening, back in those days....

[D'Elete BC in NJ]

flugelhorn said:

But I do miss the personal drama of "Question Period" in the Legislature re ferry issues, even if they sometimes got too deep into micro-management. At least there was some Q&A happening, back in those days....

Very true. There are advisory groups out there today which are designed to give BC Ferries a heads up about how the community would like to see service provided, but its not quite the same as having your laundry aired by a local MLA for all the public to see.