The Atlantic Pilotage Authority confirms there was an incident (first reported at shipfax.blogspot.com) on Halifax Harbour on Saturday, July 10. The French naval research ship Fulmar, which is based out of Saint Pierre, left port without a legally required pilot, and without anyone on the bridge who could speak fluent English. On its way through the crowded harbour the Fulmar had a came frightening close to the in-coming Essen Express, a German cargo ship, then nearly hit the Ambassador, a boat heading to the National Gypsum terminal in Dartmouth.
“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.
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This article appears in Jul 22-28, 2010.
The port authority ought to have had bilingual staff on hand.
Bilingual staff at the port authority would hardly prevent a collision between two vessels… its the vessels that have to speak to one another to prevent the collision (its different than air traffic control’- which in fact all done in English worldwide). Had the FULMAR embarked a harbour pilot as required by law, there would be no need for English to be spoken by anyone in her crew as the pilot would speak to the other ships pilot to arrange passing – and the pilot would know the safe routes to take to enter/depart the harbour. It’s why they are required! Bilingualism is not a solution here (besides, what if the FULMAR were Spanish, or Italian, or Chinese, or Iranian, …)
icfy – nice rebuttal to dumbo aka calvin.
Arrogant frenchies are the problem. APA should nail them with the $5,000 fine to ram home the message.