BC Ferries Sues over missing Cotter Pin

[Curtis]

From MyTelus

B.C. Ferries sues over missing pin that caused vessel to plow into marina


"VANCOUVER (CP) - The absence of a small cotter pin on a B.C. ferry has set off a large lawsuit against two companies that serviced the vessel before it rammed into a Horseshoe Bay marina.
The lawsuit, filed in B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver, claims Vancouver Drydock Co. and Prime Mover Controls Inc. failed to properly re-install engine governors connected to the propulsion system.

Because of the missing split pin on the Queen of Oak Bay, the lawsuit says, the speed controls were disconnected.

In June 2005, the ferry plowed into a marina near the Horseshoe Bay terminal, running over several small boats.

No one was injured, either on the ground or on board the ferry.

The lawsuit claims the accident was the direct result of Prime Mover's failure to detect the missing cotter pin."

[Scott]

Vancouver Drydock Co., in other words, Washington Marine Group. I can't blame BC Ferries for what they're doing, but what does it say for future ferries being built in BC? It could be nothing, I don't know. In the business world, will there be no "hard feelings" about this? Or do you think there will be future ramifications?

[Low Light Mike]

I wonder if BCFS was forced to sue the shipyard, by their insurance company? Sometimes an insurance company will want a claimant to do all that they can to recover costs thru non-insurance means. I don't know if this is the case here, I'm just guessing.

Re the tainting of the relationship between BCFS and WMG: Maybe the deciding factor on their continued relationship is re "how bad does WMG want/need BC Ferries' business?". If BC Ferries wants to play the role of 'difficult customer', then can WMG afford to refuse service to that difficult customer, so to speak?

With regards to "How bad does BC Ferries need the services of WMG", I think BC Ferries has shown that they're not afraid to take their business somewhere else....but surely there must be some services that BC Ferries would prefer to be done here in BC by a WMG yard?

I think that lots of companies put up with testy relationships between themselves and key customers, and simply see such legal suits as part of business.

[Neil]

Kind of bizarre how big events are sometimes occasioned by something so small, like maybe a guy worrying about Todd Bertuzzi when he was supposed to be putting the cotter pin back on. Reminds me about 'War and Peace', where Tolstoy said something about the grand plans of generals being undone by a bit of fog, or what the troops had for breakfast.