Passenger hospitalized after tour boat runs aground in West Vancouver

The Canadian Coast Guard hovercraft CCGS Moytel off Spanish Banks in Vancouver's outer harbour, Vancouver, B.C., February 7, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS IMAGES/Bayne Stanley

One passenger was injured after a sightseeing boat run by Harbour Cruises ran aground in West Vancouver Sunday morning.

The Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Victoria confirmed to CTV News it was notified around 11:30 a.m. that the vessel, named the Harbour Princess, hit land east of Point Atkinson.

It sent a hovercraft from the Canadian Coast Guard Station Kitsilano 1, CCG Ship Laredo Sound, and two auxiliary boats to the scene.

The JRCC said the Vancouver Police Department’s boat Larry Young was also dispatched, along with “many civilian boats that answered the mayday.”

In a statement Monday, the owner of Harbour Cruises and several B.C. marinas, Graham Clarke Group, said the 90-foot ship was minorly damaged but did not take on water or and does not have any structural issues.

However, the boat will undergo a third-party inspection before returning to service. The Transportation Safety Board of Canda is also investigating the incident.

One passenger was transported to paramedics via hovercraft.

BC Emergency Health Services told CTV News it got a call about “an incident involving a boat” at 11:43 a.m. and sent four ambulances to West Spanish Banks where they met the JRCC.

“One patient was transported to hospital in stable condition,” a BCEHS spokesperson wrote.

In its statement, the operator said the passenger—one of 41 on board at the time—sustained a minor injury.

The Coast Guard escorted the Harbour Princess back to dock in Coal Harbour under its own power.

“I’d like to extend my sympathies to our passengers who had their cruise affected by this unfortunate situation,” owner Graham Clarke said, in the statement.

“We pride ourselves on an excellent safety record that goes back nearly 120 years. Thankfully, just one passenger experienced an injury. I’d also like to thank our crew for their quick response as well as the Canadian Coast Guard, Vancouver Police Department marine squad and Joint Rescue Coordination Centre for their assistance.”

Harbour Cruises said it refunded the passengers aboard the Harbour Princess, and anyone booked to sail on that vessel over the next seven to 10 days will go on its other boats, the Constitution and the Britannia, while it is out of service.