Here is a chronology of the events before and after the Queen of the North sank on March 22, 2006. The events are outlined in the Transportation Safety Board report released Wednesday:
March 21, 2006. 8 p.m.: The Queen of the North departs Prince Rupert southbound for Port Hardy on Vancouver Island carrying 101 passengers and crew.
12:02 a.m.: Fourth Officer Karl Lilgert reports the ferry is approaching Sainty Point to ship traffic controllers in Prince Rupert. At Sainty Point, the ship was supposed to make a course correction. Lilgert resumes a "personal conversation'' with Quartermaster Karen Bricker.
12:07 a.m.: The Queen of the North sails past Sainty Point and into Wright Sound. No course correction has been made.
12:20 a.m.: The vessel is now 13 minutes past the course correction point. Lilgert orders a 109-degree course change. Bricker questions it but when she stands to make the change, she looks up and sees trees. Lilgert orders her to switch from autopilot to handsteering, but Bricker says she doesn't know how.
12:21 a.m.: Queen of the North strikes Gil Island. Water quickly pours into the hull. Evacuation of passenger and crew begins.
12:26 a.m.: Queen of the North advises Prince Rupert Traffic that the vessel is aground and immediate help is needed.
12:27 a.m.: Mayday call is made.
1:40 a.m.: Queen of the North slips under water.
March 24: BC Ferries institutes tug-and-barge service from Prince Rupert to the Queen Charlotte Islands.
March 26-28: BC Ferries contracts manned submersible which locates the wreck resting upright on its keel in 425 metres of water. The video turned is over to the TSB. There is no sign of missing passengers.
May 11: Possible human error and training concerns cited by the TSB in connection with the Queen of the North sinking.
June 19 to 25: TSB conducts remote dive on the wreck, successfully recovering electronic chart system
August 10: TSB sends Transport Canada a Marine Safety Advisory regarding guidelines for creating ferry passenger manifests;
March 26, 2007: - BC Ferries releases findings of it's own investigation, concluding "human errors were primary cause of the sinking.''
April 23, 2007: - BC Ferries provides the TSB with copies of statutory declarations from two BC Ferries employees indicating the quartermaster had been overheard saying she was alone on the bridge. The TSB re-interviews key witnesses.
April 24, 2007: - BC Ferries sends formal termination letters to three bridge crew.
Oct. 17, 2007: TSB issues safety concern notice regarding use of marijuana by crew on Queen of the North.
Feb. 6, 2008: BC Ferries initiates drug and alcohol policy, including mandatory drug and alcohol testing as part of an investigation into a major incident.
March 12, 2008: - Final TSB report released.
