"There was a yacht race taking place," says Tony McGinnis, chief executive officer of the APA, "and there was fog as well."
Language problems played a significant role in the near-misses, says McGinnis. "Orders [from harbour authorities] were mis-understood." Only after the Fulmar passed McNabs Island was a pilot put on board.
McGinnis says the Fulmar captain has given a written apology, and "everyone feels terrible" about the incident. The APA is still investigating and is considering its options, which could include a $5,000 fine, although McGinnis says a fine is unlikely.
In 1917, the French ship Mont-Blanc hit the Norwegian Imo in Halifax Harbour, with disastrous results.