Photo: The Canadian Press
A man aboard a Toronto ferry that crashed over the weekend says passengers on the steps waiting to disembark fell like a “deck of cards” when the ship hit the pier.
Mandeep Mashiana, who was nearby on the ferry, said the impact was enough to knock everyone off the stairs.
“Everyone who was standing on the stairs or in front of me was all on the floor,” Mashiana, 35, recalled Monday.
“The force was so great that all the people on the stairs fell like a fight … they were all gone. They were downstairs.”
Police say the accident happened around 5pm on Saturday as the ship approached the terminal with more than 900 people on board.
Twelve people suffered minor injuries and five were taken to hospital for treatment, although none of the injuries were considered serious.
Mashiana, who was not injured, said she went down to help those who had fallen.
“I tried to get a girl out of the way. And at that point, there was a lot of screaming,” he said. Some people were trying to comfort their children, he added.
Shortly after, ferry staff asked everyone to stay put, saying they would get everyone off and get treatment for the injured, he said.
The ferry docked a few minutes later as emergency crews arrived at the terminal, he said. Staff directed the injured where to go, he said.
The City of Toronto Parks Department said ferry service on Toronto Island will be reduced for the rest of the summer as a result of the accident.
The city said one ferry has been out of service and other vessels will operate at reduced capacity in the future.
“Until further notice, there will be only three ferries operating between the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal and Toronto Island: two passenger-only vessels and one vehicle/passenger vessel,” the city said in a statement. “Unnecessary vehicle passage is discouraged.”
Those looking to cross to the island are being warned to brace themselves for longer than usual wait times for the remainder of the summer.
The city said safety is its top priority and has made sure the ferry boats meet Transport Canada safety standards and have the required certificates. Those include an annual Transport Canada safety and security certificate, which was issued on June 21, and an engine and transmission inspection, most recently issued on Aug. 10, he said.
An inspector will have to sign off on the proper safety procedures and measures before full operations can resume, the city said.
Wayne Smith, a professor at Toronto’s Ted Rogers School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, said the crash and reduced service will likely have minimal impact on tourism in Toronto and its islands, mainly because the peak summer season running out.
“I think that’s going to be something that they can work around, especially when school starts back up … because you’re not going to have the same demand,” he said.
The city needs to communicate clearly with those who use the ferry service about wait times, so people know what to expect, Smith said.
“I think if people can pre-book tickets, and they know what, or how long or what time it’s going to be, I think that’s something they can work around,” he said.
“Really communicating to people — what time does the ferry leave, what’s going on, that kind of thing. That’s the big key,” he said. “People don’t mind waiting… as long as they know.”
The cause of the accident has not yet been determined. Police are investigating and the Transportation Safety Board of Canada said it is also sending a team to investigate the incident.