If You Support Island Airport You Have To Take The Hit

on this comedy of errors. If nothing else it brings Adam Vaughan back into the spotlight.

Bumpy debut for ferry
Vessel drifts, then smacks Island shore
90-second trip becomes 20-minute debacle
Oct. 12, 2006. 05:58 AM
DAVID BRUSER
TRANSPORTATION REPORTER

Wearing a white stole embroidered with gold anchor, Father David Mulholland flicked his wand, casting holy water on the carpet of the new terminal building.

Next, he was to bless the boat.

Behind him, a view across the channel of the island airport and the new Porter Airlines hangars, and a look at the brand new, double-decker TCCA1 ferry, glistening in the rain.

"Blessings don't guarantee success," said Mulholland, 68, of The Mission to Seafarers. "But it's a good and proper thing to say a prayer for a ship."

Mulholland said that as far as he knows, never has a boat crashed after his blessing.

Then Mulholland, wearing a navy wool cap, got ready to board what would have to be one of the strangest maiden voyages he's ever taken, one on which the captain would need medical attention and a four-piece old-time band would play a few bars from the Titanic movie theme song, "My Heart Will Go On." For the oft-criticized Toronto Port Authority, and captain of the ship, it would not be the festive day that all had expected. And island airport critics would be crowing by day's end.

The boat set out, drifted west, taking it out of line with the dock on the airport side, then, seemingly misdirected, headed back toward the foot of Bathurst St.

CLANK.

A small group of people standing only a few metres away on the north shore, presumably anti-island airport protestors, started jeering and clapping.

The ship that will soon take cars and passengers to the island airport had struck land near the Bathurst St. dock.

A Port Authority official said the captain was not in position to approach the slip at the south dock, tried to reposition the boat and that's when he "bumped the dock wall" on the north side. At about 90 seconds, it was supposed to be one of the shortest maiden voyages ever. It took the TCCA1 more than 20 minutes to reach the other side.

No injuries were reported.

"I survived," quipped Toronto historian Mike Kiley after he got off the boat. "It was a thump. People saw it coming and they steadied themselves."

Port Authority president and CEO Lisa Raitt said afterward that when she walked into the wheelhouse after the "bump," she decided to call the police marine unit to come take a look at the captain.

"We've had approximately three weeks of training on it," Raitt said. "Today's a high pressure day. Unfortunately we ended up with a medical problem in the wheelhouse. The captain is being looked at now."

But when asked what caused the ship to hit land, Raitt said, "That would be the manoeuvring of the vessel by the captain."

The Port Authority said the ferry waited mid-channel for some time after the incident because it was unclear whether the arriving medics wanted to board the boat or tend to the captain on land. Raitt added that the mate, or second-in-command, took over and helped guide the ship to shore.

Dirt and other scrapings hung off a front corner of the scuffed ship, which cost $4.5 million to build. The damage appeared to be superficial.

Fireworks, as planned, hissed into the air and popped to mark the arrival. But the explosions seemed incongruous as media clamoured around disembarking Port Authority officials to find out what happened.

The man believed to be the captain, whom the Port Authority would not name, looked despondent as he walked with rescue workers to a police boat.

But Raitt stressed all is under control and on schedule for the launch of Porter Airlines Oct. 23. "This is a solid ferry. It's going to be a solid airline. It's going to be a great asset to the city of Toronto. I'm not disappointed by today, at all. We opened up the infrastructure on time, on budget."

The boat is being touted as an important component of the Port Authority's airport access improvements, and will share the heavy load of expectation surrounding the much-publicized arrival of Robert Deluce's Porter Airlines.

Running for city council in Ward 20, Trinity-Spadina, Adam Vaughan stood on the mainland and criticized the airport, the ferry and the how the Port Authority, he says, moved too quickly to make the airport improvements.

"We saw today what happens when you cut corners," he said. "To take a half-hour to get (the boat) under control, that's ridiculous."

A Port Authority spokesperson said the captain, who's driven boats for the TPA for more than 25 years, was home last night and "fine," but there was no word on what caused his "medical situation."

"I have utmost respect and I have utmost confidence in his abilities," Raitt said.

Built in Wheatley on Lake Erie, the boat can accommodate 15 carsand the upper passenger area can hold nearly 100 people.