Maritime Safety Queensland investigates the grounding of the passenger ferry
Maritime Safety Queensland is investigating the grounding of a passenger ferry in Redland Bay off Brisbane.
Bay Islands Transit System says no-one was hurt when the ferry Jumpipin hit a sand bar near Garden Island at about 7:30am (AEST).
The company’s area manager Debbie Wilson says it took about two hours to transfer all 98 people on board to another ferry to continue their journey onto the Redland Bay mainland.
“It was quite a smooth operation – life jackets were available and it was very shallow water.” she said.
She says the experienced captain and the crew will be interviewed to determine what went wrong.
Ms Wilson says the Jumpinpin should be refloated around 3:00pm (AEST) prior to the high tide at about 5:00pm (AEST).
“There will be no interruption to service,” Ms Wilson said.
“We have spare ferries.”
Police Inspector Peter Harding says it is unusual for a ferry to run aground before low tide.
“At the moment the conditions are very calm but there is a falling tide,” he said.
“The ferry is expected to remain stranded for some time.”
Source: ABC News
