A passenger went overboard from the Spirit of British Columbia ferry on Thursday evening, September 4th, during the 5 p.m. crossing between Swartz Bay (Victoria) and Tsawwassen (Vancouver).
The incident occurred east of Active Pass, a narrow channel between Mayne and Galiano islands, according to the provincial president of BC Ferry & Marine Workers’ Union, Eric McNeely. It marked the second such occurrence on the same route within two days.
The ship operator BC Ferries confirmed that a rescue boat was launched, which recovered the individual and transferred them to a Canadian Coast Guard vessel.
On Wednesday, another passenger went into the water during the 1 p.m. sailing near the Tsawwassen terminal. McNeely noted that the first case involved a person attempting to retrieve a piece of clothing from the sea.
Company representatives observed that while one such incident is unusual, two in as many days is rare. Both events are under investigation. The ferry service emphasized that entering the water deliberately poses extreme danger, creating a life-threatening emergency for the person involved and additional risk for crew members responding. They cautioned that such actions may carry consequences, including restrictions on travel, fines, or legal proceedings, depending on circumstances.
McNeely added that the episodes underscore the breadth of training undertaken by ferry workers, whose responsibilities extend beyond navigation and operations to ensuring passenger safety during emergencies. He remarked that this aspect of the profession is not always visible to the public.