Human error caused collision
The Department of Transportation published the report on the collision between the "Hyak" and a motor yacht in September 2013 in the San Juan Islands, where the "Hyak"’s starboard bow collided with the port quarter of the yacht "Tasya".
The sole occupant of the yacht was rescued by a nearby vessel and taken to Orcas Island. On the day of the incident, WSF convened a board of inquiry to investigate the collision.
The board collected a wide array of data and information and spent more than 30 hours meeting to examine evidence and make its determination.
According to the board of inquiry report, investigators determined the incident was avoidable because the "Hyak" had adequate time, equipment capability and space to avoid the collision.
Weather, visibility, tides and currents were not factors in the incident. The report stated that the root cause was human error due to lack of situational awareness. WSDOT was now shifting the focus to making improvements to prevent future incidents. The DOT says the report has been referred to the director of operations as well as human resources for further review and consideration.
The 382-foot Hyak was en route from San Juan Island to Orcas Island when it collided with the 25-foot motor yacht at the confluence of Harney and Upright channels in the San Juan Islands. The Coast Guard said the boat had a single occupant, who was picked up by another sailboat and there were no other injuries.
The 25-foot boat later sank in 250 feet of water.
Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class David Mosley said the ferry's captain and crew passed sobriety testing administered by the San Juan County Sheriff's Office. But the WSF report released Wednesday determined the incident was avoidable as the Hyak, "had adequate time, equipment capability and 'sea room' to avoid the collision." The report also states weather, visibility, tides and currents were not factors in this incident, and the root cause was instead human error due to "lack of situational awareness."
According to the investigation, Captain Patricia Whaley only relied on radar and didn't monitor the vessels on her route, and when Whaley gave a vague order about port rudder, second mate Kirsten Hervey incorrectly applied the starboard rudder.
"We conducted a thorough and detailed investigation into what happened and why," David Moseley, WSDOT assistant secretary, ferries division, said in a press release announcing the report's decision. "We're now shifting our focus to making improvements to prevent future incidents."
The report gives six recommendations for preventing future issues, including additional training, better defined job responsibilities, and considering placing voyage data recorders on all ferries.
The director of operations and human resource managers have also been given a copy of the report for review, a ferries spokesperson said. Meanwhile, Whaley and Hervey are on administrative leave.
The Department of Transportation published the report on the collision between the "Hyak" and a motor yacht in September 2013 in the San Juan Islands, where the "Hyak"’s starboard bow collided with the port quarter of the yacht "Tasya".
The sole occupant of the yacht was rescued by a nearby vessel and taken to Orcas Island. On the day of the incident, WSF convened a board of inquiry to investigate the collision.
The board collected a wide array of data and information and spent more than 30 hours meeting to examine evidence and make its determination.
According to the board of inquiry report, investigators determined the incident was avoidable because the "Hyak" had adequate time, equipment capability and space to avoid the collision.
Weather, visibility, tides and currents were not factors in the incident. The report stated that the root cause was human error due to lack of situational awareness. WSDOT was now shifting the focus to making improvements to prevent future incidents. The DOT says the report has been referred to the director of operations as well as human resources for further review and consideration.
The 382-foot Hyak was en route from San Juan Island to Orcas Island when it collided with the 25-foot motor yacht at the confluence of Harney and Upright channels in the San Juan Islands. The Coast Guard said the boat had a single occupant, who was picked up by another sailboat and there were no other injuries.
The 25-foot boat later sank in 250 feet of water.
Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class David Mosley said the ferry's captain and crew passed sobriety testing administered by the San Juan County Sheriff's Office. But the WSF report released Wednesday determined the incident was avoidable as the Hyak, "had adequate time, equipment capability and 'sea room' to avoid the collision." The report also states weather, visibility, tides and currents were not factors in this incident, and the root cause was instead human error due to "lack of situational awareness."
According to the investigation, Captain Patricia Whaley only relied on radar and didn't monitor the vessels on her route, and when Whaley gave a vague order about port rudder, second mate Kirsten Hervey incorrectly applied the starboard rudder.
"We conducted a thorough and detailed investigation into what happened and why," David Moseley, WSDOT assistant secretary, ferries division, said in a press release announcing the report's decision. "We're now shifting our focus to making improvements to prevent future incidents."
The report gives six recommendations for preventing future issues, including additional training, better defined job responsibilities, and considering placing voyage data recorders on all ferries.
The director of operations and human resource managers have also been given a copy of the report for review, a ferries spokesperson said. Meanwhile, Whaley and Hervey are on administrative leave.