AI-generated illustration; not a photograph of the reported event.
- calendar_today October 30, 2026
Party Boat Incident Involving North Vancouver Students
An investigation has found that tampering was the reason a party boat carrying approximately 150 North Vancouver high school students and chaperoning parents ran aground on October 23. The incident left passengers stranded for hours and prompted a large-scale student evacuation from the vessel.
Details of the Accident and Evacuation
The affected vessel, the Pride of Vancouver catamaran, which is operated by Spirit Cruises, was chartered for a private event. According to Cady Nelson-Quine, student body president, it was not until midnight that all Sutherland Secondary School students were fully evacuated. No injuries were reported as a result of the accident.
After the vessel ran aground, passengers were removed from the boat in two separate rescue trips using a hovercraft. The boat became stuck on the Maplewood mudflats, close to the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge.
Tampering with Emergency Engine Shutoff Discovered
Vanessa Garrett, representing Spirit Cruises, stated that an internal investigation was conducted in cooperation with Transport Canada, the Transport Safety Board, and the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority. The findings revealed that someone had removed the protective cage from the boat's emergency engine shutoff and activated the shutoff mechanism. This action caused the boat's engine to stop functioning.
Garrett further explained, "We do not know exactly who tampered with it, what we do know is it was someone aboard since the protective cage covering the shut-off had to be removed to pull the shut-off." She also clarified that the incident was not due to mechanical failure, as the vessel's engine equipment had been fully rebuilt in April 2026 during a comprehensive refit at dry dock.
Consequences and Company Response
Spirit Cruises expressed disappointment over the event, emphasizing the preventable nature of the incident and the respect the company has for its passengers and crew. Garrett commented, "We are very disappointed, as we have a great deal of respect for all of our passengers and crew, and something so preventable is not something we ever thought we would have to deal with." After the engine was shut off, a strong current pushed the vessel off course, causing its starboard propeller to hit a sand bar and leaving it stranded.
Event Organization and School District Statement
The North Vancouver School District clarified that the outing was not a school-sanctioned event and had been organized privately by a group of parents. While authorities and Spirit Cruises continue to investigate, there has been no confirmation regarding the identity of the person responsible for tampering with the emergency controls.
Investigation with Authorities Continues
Multiple agencies, including the Transport Safety Board and the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, were involved in reviewing the circumstances surrounding the party boat accident. The incident has prompted concerns about tampering and safety during private charters in the region. No charges or official findings on responsibility had been announced by authorities at the time of reporting.
Source: cbc.ca.
