Identification & Site Information

  • Name: Simcoe Islander
  • Type: Cable Ferry
  • Flag: Canada
  • Year Built: Unknown (locally constructed for municipal Ferry use)
  • Length: Approximately 14.6 metres (48 feet)
  • Beam: Approximately 5.5 metres (18 feet)
  • Propulsion: Cable-driven, shore-winch system
  • Owner/Operator: Corporation of the County of Frontenac
  • Port of Operation: Kingston area – Simcoe Island, Ontario
  • Date of Incident: 12 September 1995
  • Final Disposition: Capsized while docked
  • Location: Simcoe Island Ferry dock, Simcoe Island, Lake Ontario (near Kingston, ON)
  • View Location on Google Maps

Vessel Type

Municipal cable Ferry used for transporting vehicles and passengers between Simcoe Island and the Kingston mainland area.

Description

The Simcoe Islander was a flat-decked, cable-operated Ferry, capable of transporting multiple vehicles and passengers. Its primary use was as a community connector for residents of Simcoe Island. On the date of the incident, the Ferry was docked on the island side, with a loaded dump truck and two cars aboard. There were also four passengers onboard.

History

The Simcoe Islander was serving local transport needs when it experienced a stability failure during routine operations. On 12 September 1995, as the Ferry was preparing to return to the mainland, a fully loaded dump truck was driven onboard. As it moved towards the outboard edge of the platform, the vessel began to heel. The truck’s weight, coupled with the limited stability of the flat-decked Ferry, resulted in the Ferry listing severely and capsizing port side.

The dump truck and one car were lost overboard, and the Ferry came to rest partially submerged, with its side pinned against the dock structure. No fatalities occurred, but the incident highlighted significant safety concerns.

Final Disposition

The Simcoe Islander did not sink completely due to its shallow Draft and partial grounding at the dock. Recovery operations were undertaken and led to safety investigations and changes in local Ferry operations.

Located By & Date Found

Not applicable – the vessel capsized at the dock and was immediately accessible.

NOTMARs & Advisories

  • Stability Risk: Flat-Deck ferries must have load limits enforced and verified.
  • Load Planning: Unequal loading of heavy vehicles is a critical hazard.
  • Training Requirements: The investigation raised concerns over the training and procedural preparedness of Ferry operators.
  • Infrastructure Review: The county reviewed Ferry operations for improvements in stability assessment and load distribution procedures.

Resources & Links

Conclusion

The Simcoe Islander incident underscores the vulnerability of cable ferries to weight distribution and loading practices. Though no lives were lost, the capsizing could have been fatal under slightly different circumstances. The case led to greater attention to Ferry safety in Ontario’s smaller waterborne transport systems, especially regarding vehicle weights and Deck design.

Suggested Keywords, Categories & Glossary Terms

Keywords: Simcoe Islander, cable Ferry accident, Simcoe Island Ferry, Ferry capsizing, Kingston marine incident, Ontario Ferry transport, marine safety, dump truck overboard

Categories: Marine Incidents (Canada), Municipal Ferries, Great Lakes Maritime Safety, Ferry Design & Stability, TSB Marine Reports

Glossary Terms:

  • Cable Ferry: A vessel guided and propelled by cables connected to fixed points on each shore.
  • Heel/List: A vessel tilting to one side due to imbalance or load shift.
  • Freeboard: The height of a vessel’s Deck above the waterline – a crucial stability factor for flat-Deck ferries.
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