A video of a small boat wake jumping behind a BC Ferries vessel last week prompts warnings from search and rescue volunteers.
A video of a motorboat using a ferry’s wake for jumps has gained traction online, prompting warnings from the BC Ferry & Marine Workers Union and SAR members.
Watch below:
The video, shared on Instagram, shows the motorboat coming close to a BC Ferries vessel, then speeding up to jump off its wake.
“Yes, we’ve seen the video and are taking it seriously,” BC Ferries said in a statement to CHEK News on June 4.
“Regardless of the vessel involved, operating a personal watercraft that close to a ferry is extremely dangerous and puts both the watercraft operator and others at serious risk.”
Chris Klassen, president of the Ships’ Officers’ Component of the union, said that there was “serious danger” when the boat got close.
“They’ll disappear from the radar because they get so close to the proximity, and when they disappear from the radar, you wonder where they went, right?”
“There’s a serious danger to the people on the boat, and there’s a risk to our crews on the ferry as well.”
BC Ferries notes that the behaviour in the video is illegal under federal marine safety regulations.
“Safety on and around our vessels is a top priority and we urge all watercraft users to keep a safe distance and follow marine navigation rules at all times,” BC Ferries said in the statement.
The corporation said there were no updates to the file when asked on June 7.
“We’ve seen people have heart attacks,” said Jonathan Cobham, Station 33 Leader for the Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue.
“Aneurysms, any type of incident could occur where that boat loses control.”
Cobham echoed Klassen’s message, adding that boaters should not underestimate large vessels.
“You know, in the ocean, it’s not a question of if things will go wrong but a matter of when most times. That’s the greatest concern as a search and rescue volunteer.”
On one social media, which has garnered tens of thousands of views, a woman claimed she and her father were on the small motor boat.
CHEK News contacted her for a comment, but did not recieve a response by deadline.
Transport Canada says that smaller vessels have to know how to safely share the waterways with larger vessels, which includes staying “a safe distance away from large vessels at all times.”
Transport Canada’s information page on sharing the waterways notes that larger vessels can cause dangerous undercurrents and wake for smaller vessels, and have large blind spots.
“Be predictable. Operate your vessel in a safe manner and signal your intentions to other vessel operators,” Transport Canada says.
With files from CHEK’S Laura Brougham
