They call it crossing the tickle, but there’s nothing funny in this tickle regarding the Bell Island Ferry service for the many who take the boats back and forth to the island, according to the Facebook site Bell Island Ferry Users.
From a relatively new rule to all passengers having to vacate their vehicles during the 20-minute crossing, to people being stuck in an elevator for 10 minutes onboard the MV Beaumont Hamel, there’s a continuing unrest with the service.
The site notes that on June 24 when the MV Legionnaire was heading toward Bell Island from Portugal Cove, and about midway in the tickle, a number of passengers were noticed by members of the crew returning to the vehicle deck of the ferry.
“The vessel was stopped until all passengers vacated the vehicle deck,” the Facebook post noted. “Despite an announcement on the PA, they did not leave until each person was informed by crew that the vessel would not proceed until all had left (the vehicle deck). After they did so the vessel proceeded to Bell Island.”
A statement from the Department of Transportation and Works confirmed the incident saying the vessel was delayed on that trip by 20 minutes.
“When the crew informed those passengers that the vessel would not proceed until all had returned safely to the passenger deck, the passengers did so and the vessel proceeded to Bell Island,” the statement read.
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For years ferry users on the Bell Island ferry service could remain in their vehicles during crossings but that changed last summer when the new Legionnaire came into service, and a new policy was implemented.
The department notes that an independent risk assessment conducted by Lloyds Registry recommended the department continue to require ferry passengers to vacate their vehicles while travelling on the ferries. The assessment concluded there are safety risks associated with passengers staying in their vehicles during trips, such as scenarios involving vehicle fires, power failures, and emergencies requiring passengers to evacuate the vessel.
Ferry users, however, especially the elderly and those with disabilities and medical conditions, have fought the policy saying they are in more danger of injury and discomfort by having to make their way to passenger decks for a short ferry run.
In the past week or so, issues with the elevator being out of service on the Beaumont Hamel ferry also caused concern.
And prior to one crossing last week, there were seven people stuck in the elevator for 10 minutes before crew finally got them out and the elevator was repaired.
The department notes the elevators on the vessels are serviced for preventative maintenance quarterly by qualified technicians to minimize any down time and catch possible problems before they arise.
However, in this case, the elevator stuck while in use and caused the vessel to be delayed.
“The elevator (on the Beaumont Hamel) is relatively new and has only been briefly out of service three times in the past two years,” the statement said. “During times when the elevator is out of service, residents making the trips between Bell Island and Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s are encouraged to travel on the MV Legionnaire.”