The Sinking of MV Queen of the North

Welcome to Shipwreck Sunday! My name is Elinor, and I LOVE ships and all things that float! I upload weekly content every Sunday night at 4PM Pacific Standard Time! Subscribe today and join the Shipwrecker Crew!

In today's video... we dive head first into the sex, scandals, and controversy swirling around Canadian RORO ferry MV Queen of the North! We'll cover her story from her time in Sweden all the way up until her tragic sinking in 2006.

CHAPTERS:
Intro and Disclaimer: 00:00 - 00:59
The History of MV Queen of the North: 01:00 - 06:57
The Sinking of MV Queen of the North: 06:57 - 15:52
Scandals: 15:52 - 24:40
Outro: 24:40 - 25:46

RESOURCES:

Music:
"On the Beautiful Blue Danube"
"Poolside Radio" by Dyalla

#MVQueenoftheNorth #StenaDanica #StenaLine #BCFerries #ROROferry #Education #MaritimeEducation #ShipEducation #History #MaritimeHistory #ShipHistory #Shipstory #Ships #Ferries #Boats #Sinkings #ShipSinkings #ShippingDisasters #ShipDisasters #Disasters #DisastersAtSea #MVHeraldofFreeEnterprise #MVEstonia #MSEstonia #CostaConcordia #MVAchilleLauro #MSAchilleLauro #TheBlueLady #Canada #Scandals #Controversies #Vancouver #BritishColumbia #BC #PrinceRupert

[OptimusShepherd]

I always hypothesized that the missing couple were outside during the impact and fell overboard. It's hard to imagine getting lost on a boat that size.

[evanputterill]

Some RoRo ferries may be inherently unstable; the Queen of the North was not. She often sailed the Prince Rupert to Skidegate route across the Hecate and I was on in a few sailings in over 5m seas. She could handle it, and was fairly comfortable in seas up to 3m. No problem handling rough weather.

[zombieshoot]

Knowing the layout is good. Also have a small pocket flashlight.

[OceanChannelProductions]

amazing work! I have researched this for a long time and i think this is the best video on the topic so far. i find it interesting how the crew also failed to give there position 3 times, and how lilgert reported he saw a ship that wasn't reported on the radar, he was looking for it then crashed. also 3:44 this is the other queen of surrey, she still exists today.

[edwinacaparelli]

I research in the Queen of the North incident and the autopilot would not change the maneuvers it would just keep the ship in a steady course in one line they would have to turn it off for the next turn

[michaeltutty]

A very interesting video indeed. She was a truly beautiful ship. As an aside, Sir Wilfred Laurier was a Canadian Prime Minister. Being of French Canadian lineage, his name is pronounced Lor-Ee-ay.

[notoriouzb.i.g]

ahh I spy a new video glad to sey u guys again tho I sadly don't watch the videos as much I've just been going thru stuff and just relaxing atm

[OldShippinglines]

Dear Miss Elinor,

Once again, I must express my admiration for your latest video. It was truly terrifying to see the ship sinking stern-first. Additionally, I greatly appreciate how comprehensively you covered the aftermath of the sinking. Your work is truly remarkable, Miss. Thank you.

[murraystewartj]

A friend of mine worked aboard vessels for BC Ferries and took his duties seriously. Not so much many of his crew mates, the union or the company. It wasn't unusual to have crew members who were supposed to be doing car deck patrols (looking for things like fuel leaks) away from their posts in the crew lounge or even having sex on the clock. Friend reported this through the chain of command and nothing was done. Well, two things were done - he had a crew member butt a cigarette out on his chest and two others told him he "could go overboard" right quick if he didn't keep his mouth shut. Friend had a wife and kids so transfered to shore duty to save his life. This was through the "Wrath of Hahn" era and there's little evidence things have improved since. And it's a travesty that the new vessel on that route wasn't named Queen or Spirit of Hartley Bay as a tribute to a small indigenous community that saved and supported so many.

[davidjackson]

Having had some involvement in the investigation this is not a bad video, There are a few minor errors and interesting ways to pronounce names. What was not mentioned is why the bridge crew failed to ensure that the correct turn was made and then for the subsequent 14 minutes until grounding did not monitor the ship's position. It also fails to explain why only 2 people on the bridge in bad weather at night when in constricted waters requiring critical changes of course.

[glenistergrotj]

I’m curious what state the wreck is in now, after more than 15 years underwater. It would be interesting to do a detailed expedition to go to the wreck again and explore the interior.

[EchiLoki]

Great story. I grew up taking that ferry from Prince Rupert to Haida Gwaii. I was off at college in the interior when it sank. Couldn't believe it. Although, to be honest, that ferry fell off as soon as they took away the mortal kombat arcade! Oh, only thing that pulled me out of it was the pronunciation of Hecate Strait. "Heck-et" Or if you say it casual enough, it's just "heck-it". Minor nitpick though. Great research!

[thereissomecoolstuff]

You can tell when you are really enthralled with a story. Familiar with the story. Forgot it was 2006. 17 years ago and it seems like yesterday. What strikes me is why they didn’t run the ship aground saving everything. The actions by the captain after impact and finally how deep the water is relatively close to shore. 1400’ or 426 meters is quite a depth so close. The peaks you see in the picture go straight down. That’s also why ships can’t anchor there.

[Vet-]

Very good presentation Elinor, Another disaster i didn't know about !

[nathanielpatterson-rcdq]

Even as someone who's had a lifelong fascination for shipwreck stories, I never knew about this disaster until now.

[RoentX]

Any loss of life in a ship sinking, let alone at all, is tragic but fact only two died, is “low” with all things considered. I noticed you were thinking of covering the MV Sewol; that is definitely going to be a rough one to cover

[Trump]

As a merchant mariner I don’t believe either explanation. This sounds like a clear cut example of falling asleep on watch. Chances are there was only one person on the bridge who it was we will never know. They fell asleep and missed the turn. Chances are one of them was dealing with a problem somewhere else on the vessel or possibly in the head and or galley for an extended time, and the other fell asleep in the chair. Now this is just my opinion but it has been know to happen. I always stand my watch because it’s pretty damn hard to fall asleep when standing! I don’t see having sex or a fight causing this situation, and unless a greenhorn deckhand was left at the helm the didn’t know how to disconnect the auto pilot, let alone simply use the autopilot to turn the vessel story is bullshit. This is in my opinion a clear cut example of falling asleep on watch if I’ve heard one.

[dianab]

They call them Roll on Roll over for a reason. 😢

[joerivanlier]

I am pretty sure the ECDIS would have been blaring at them, off track and on a grounding vector.. Unless they toned the volume down because they were busy with "other" things of(f) course

[BMTEnjoyer]

Time to see this disturbing story SS Artic was worse