BC Ferries is reviewing its safety procedures after two recent incidents involving aggressive behaviour toward crew members on sailings to Swartz Bay.
The latest event occurred on the night of July 1, when a passenger aboard the 11:00 p.m. Queen of Cumberland sailing from the Southern Gulf Islands was seen driving erratically and acting aggressively toward staff. The individual was taken into custody by Sidney/North Saanich RCMP upon the vessel’s arrival at the terminal.
This follows a separate incident on Saturday, where a different customer allegedly assaulted crew members after refusing to leave the lower vehicle deck. That individual was also arrested when the vessel docked at Swartz Bay.
While no injuries were reported in either case, BC Ferries says the events are troubling and a reminder of the challenges frontline staff can face while keeping passengers safe and services running.
The company says it is supporting the affected employees and conducting an internal review to determine what happened and whether further safety measures may be necessary.
