On 8/11/1996 , the vessel STATENDAM (Official Number 70658) was involved in a risk of striking (near allision) - risk of allision with a fixed object (striking - includes vessels) in DISCOVERY PASSAGE, B.C.,.

The vessel, with 6 persons on board, experienced the incident while engaged in regular operations. Fortunately, the ship was able to continue its voyage. No injuries or fatalities were reported, and there was none pollution.

This incident was officially recorded by Transport Canada on 4/10/1997 . Weather at the time was reported as fog with winds from the N at 2.00 knots.

On the evening of 11 August 1996, the cruise ship "STATENDAM", on passage from Sitka, Alaska, to Vancouver, British Columbia, made a wide turn around Chatham Point and passed close ahead of the northbound tug/barge unit "BELLEISLE SOUND"/"RADIUM 622" which was laden mostly with dangerous cargo. The cruise ship incurred minor damage to fittings in public areas when the vessel heeled over to port during a subsequent emergency manoeuvre. A number of passengers and crew sustained minor injuries. The tug/barge unit was undamaged.

The Board determined that the near-collision between the "STATENDAM" and the "BELLEISLE SOUND"/"RADIUM 622" occurred because the slow rate of turn of the "STATENDAM" placed the vessel on the east side of Discovery Passage in the path of the oncoming tug/barge unit. Contributing to the incident were: the reduced visibility in fog and darkness; the pilot's lack of familiarity with the navigational systems of the "STATENDAM"; and the non-application of bridge resource management principles, especially with regard to the logical division of the workload according to the area of expertise of each member of the bridge team.