Critics say a $1-million report from the Transportation Safety Board has failed to answer a key question in the Queen of the North disaster: what happened on the bridge in the minutes before the vessel struck Gil Island off the northern B.C. coast?

Using simulated video and actual recorded emergency calls from crew members onboard the ship, officials demonstrated how the ship steamed straight through a scheduled turning point and continued for 14 minutes before slamming into the island, about 175 kilometres from Prince Rupert, B.C.

Capt. Pierre Murray, the TSB's senior marine investigator, said a personal conversation between Fourth Officer Karl Lilgert and Quartermaster Karen Briker on the bridge, an ongoing squall, and the failure of a radar alarm all contributed to the failure to correct the course.

He also said there should have been a third crew member on the bridge, he said.

But the report failed to explain exactly what happened in the 14 minutes before the crash.

Lilgert and Briker have refused to divulge what happened in those crucial minutes, and both have been fired by BC Ferries, along with the ship's second officer.

Though 99 passengers and crew survived the wreck, a B.C. couple, Gerald Foisy and Shirley Rosette, are presumed to have gone down with the ferry.

Dwight Melnyk, the brother-in-law of Gerald Foisy, told CTV Edmonton that his family is still devastated by the loss.

"From what we see and what's in this report, it all points to human error," he said.

Lawyer Peter Ritchie, who represents Foisy's two daughters, said a public inquiry may be needed to discover exactly what Lilgert and Briker did in the 14 minutes.

"I would hope the provincial government or the federal government would do something sensible like order an inquiry immediately, so we can get these people on oath in a courtroom and cross examine them," he said. "That's the only way we're going to find out."

"They won't talk to the police obviously," he added. "They don't seem to be talking to BC Ferries very openly."

Three key recommendations

During a news conference in Vancouver, senior members of the TSB revealed details from their extensive probe that involved two dives on the wreck, hundreds of interviews and analysis of a "mountain of information," according to chairperson Wendy Tadros.

"Our report is thorough and exhaustive. We followed the evidence as it led us to what happened and why," Tadros said.

The TSB makes three key recommendations in the report, including:

  • Mandatory data recorders in large vessels in Canada
  • Better procedures to track passengers in the event of an emergency
  • Policies to monitor drug use among crew

Without the vital data that would have been collected by a 'black box' device, speculation abounded about what took place during the minutes before the collision.

"If BC Ferries had fitted the Queen of the North with a (voyage data recorder), there would be no talk about what the crew were doing during those 14 minutes," Tadros said.

"No matter where an accident happens in the air, on land or sea, crucial data should be available to investigators."

Lilgert issued a public apology Wednesday to everyone affected by the incident, including the families of the two people presumed dead, and called it a "tragic accident."

"I continue to grieve for the missing persons and would with all my heart exchange my life for theirs," he said. "I am sorry for the children of the missing persons and their families."

Lilgert went on to say, "Words are inadequate for the sorrow and grief I feel. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about everyone that was impacted by this tragic accident. For all of this I am deeply sorry."

The union representing Lilgert and Briker has confirmed they had recently ended a close personal relationship on the night of the crash, but has denied anything inappropriate was taking place on the night.

The report does spell out that the ill-fated voyage was the first time Lilgert and Briker had been on watch together since their relationship ended.

A third crew member, the ship's Second Officer, was on a break at the time of the collision and wasn't on the bridge.

No 'black box'

The investigation also found that the ship's lack of a data recorder or "black box" made the probe more difficult than it had to be. Without that information, the TSB was forced to speculate about what happened, Tadros said.

"We were faced with a number of possible scenarios and public speculation ran rampant," Tadros said.

"I want to ensure you that rumour and innuendo do not impact the work of the Transportation Safety Board."

The ferry went down just after midnight on March 22, 2006, after the ship slammed into Gil Island about 175 kilometers south of Prince Rupert, B.C.

Prince Rupert's acting mayor was among those hoping the report will contain new information that will help people move on.

"If there's one thing I would hope it's that we bring some closure to the families with respect to this issue," said Tony Briglio.

"I'm sure they're as anxious as anyone to find out what the cause was and put measures in place that safeguard against those kinds of things in the future."

The children of Foisy and Rosette are suing BC Ferries. In addition, a class action lawsuit has been launched by a group of passengers who were on the ship.

With reports from CTV British Columbia and CTV Edmonton and files from The Canadian Press