The deaths of six people on a whale-watching cruise could help save other lives, now that another inquiry has recommended safety changes.
An unexpected wave rolled the Leviathan II and capsized it near Tofino on Oct. 25, 2015, sending all 27 people aboard into the water. None of those fighting for their lives in the frigid water had been wearing life-jackets. Six of the passengers drowned.
This week, the B.C. Coroners Service made recommendations to Transport Canada, similar to recommendations made by the Transportation Safety Board after its investigation.
The coroners service said passengers should wear life-jackets when they are on the outer decks of vessels that are greater than 15 gross tons and are carrying more than 12 passengers. The service also urged a review to determine whether to expand the class of vessels that have to carry emergency position-indicating radio beacons. Jamie鈥檚 Whaling Station, the Leviathan鈥檚 owner, has already made changes to improve safety. Its boats check in by radio every 30 minutes, adults wear inflatable life-jackets at all times, children and youth wear foam life-jackets, and all its vessels carry emergency positioning beacons.
Changes in regulations are the province of Transport Canada, which has studied the reports, and could have new rules in the fall. It did clarify that ferry passengers won鈥檛 have to wear life-jackets.
The wheels at the federal ministry appear to grind slowly through the inevitable consultations with 鈥渟takeholders,鈥� but there is hope that better safety regulations are on the way.
