Marine Atlantic hit with bomb threat

Things returned to normal for Marine Atlantic late last week after a bomb threat delayed sailings and closed the terminal for several hours on Wednesday.

An employee discovered the written threat left in a male washroom aboard the Atlantic Vision just before 10 a.m. The vessel was docked in Port aux Basques preparing to depart for Nova Scotia at 11:30 a.m. Some traffic had already been loaded aboard the vessel.

The threat indicated the bomb would explode at 3 p.m.

All passengers and crew were evacuated from the Vision and the entire service was put on hold, including the Smallwood docked in North Sydney and the Leif Ericson anchored awaiting clearance to resume its course to Newfoundland.

The company's information line recording told callers departures were delayed due to "a security issue."

Passengers could be seen freely walking about the yard and terminal building throughout the morning. However, truckers waiting to drop off or pick up trailers from the terminal yard were turned away.

Several trucks lined up near the Port aux Basques turnoff from the Trans-Canada Highway and nearby parking lots. Drivers told The Gulf News they were simply turned away from the terminal yard but were not given any details about the problem.

Member of the RCMP were called in to investigate, including the forensic identification team out of Corner Brook that searched the scene for physical evidence. Members of the Port aux Basques Volunteer Fire Department also responded.

Just before 3 p.m., vehicles could be seen leaving the terminal grounds. Members of the fire department were rerouting traffic away from the ferry. Drivers attempting to reach downtown Port aux Basques via High Street and Caribou Road were being turned back near the terminal turn off and told to take Hardy's Arterial instead.

A thorough search of the vessel turned up no proof the threat held any merit.

Based upon the assessment of the incident, and in consultation with the RCMP, Marine Atlantic resumed operations at 4 p.m.

The threat unfounded, the Smallwood departed North Sydney and the Atlantic Vision began loading at approximately 4:30 p.m. and departed Port aux Basques about two hours later.

The RCMP investigation continues, with police urging the public to come forward with any assistance they can provide.

"It is an indictable offence to utter a threat in any way, including written," Sgt. Wayne Newell of the RCMP.

"It causes great concern for everybody involved, in this case Marine Atlantic and the passengers and crew.

"It causes grief and a lot of extra trouble for everybody when they have to evacuate the vessel, because they don't know if the threat is serious and somebody intends to actually blow it up."

With files from The Western Star

editor@gulfnews.ca