Two injured, investigation after Russell Island night ferry hits pylon at new Karragarra jetty

A Moreton Bay passenger ferry has slammed into a wharf pylon so hard it ripped anchored seats up from the floor and left a number of passengers injured, during a night-time crash that has triggered calls for better safety measures.

SeaLink’s Jumpinpin is out of action while it is repaired. Picture: File photo

Bay island residents are asking for explanations and calling for stricter safety measures after a passenger ferry slammed into a wharf pylon injuring at least two during a night-time crash.

A full investigation is under way into how the SeaLink ferry, running from Russell Island to Redland Bay on Monday night, rammed into a pylon on Karragarra Island just after 7.30pm.

Passengers on-board reported the impact was so great chairs were ripped out of the ferry floor and passengers thrown into metal bars at the backs of seating.

Island resident Chris Sargeant called for better safety features to be included in the boat designs after he was treated the next day for throat injuries when he hit a metal bar at the back of a seat.

Mr Sargeant said paramedics wanted to take him to Redland hospital, but he was worried about being sent home in the middle of the night and having to walk back to the marina to sleep until the first boat.

Seats were ripped from the boat’s floor and passengers thrown about when the ferry slammed into a pylon at Karragarra Island. Picture: Contributed.

“The captain thought he would miss the pylon, but didn’t,” he said.

“Everybody was helping each other until the ambos arrived.

“It was just a freak accident.

“The design of the boats has to be changed. I hit the bar over the seat in front with my throat. “Other seats were ripped clear from the floor.

“It was only lucky there were not more serious injuries.”

More than 70 passengers were left waiting at island ferry terminals on Monday night after the ferry crash. File Picture: Courier-Mail

Residents called for better night-time reflective marking and lights to be put on the black pylon.

Questions were also raised about improving the ferry’s radar and GPS navigation system so that the pylon’s location would show up on the boat’s navigation screens.

A SeaLink spokesman said all passengers and the skipper were quickly helped by crew and assessed by paramedics.

“All relevant authorities have been notified and a full investigation is under way,” SeaLink said.

“Minor vessel repairs have been organised and are expected to take one week.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey at the opening of the new jetty at Macleay Island last month.

“All timetabled services to the bay islands ran to schedule on Tuesday.”

The damaged ferry, Jumpinpin, was taken out of action on Tuesday and sent for work to repair a gouge on the front right hand side.

It was likely that Kalamaru, another SeaLink ferry, will take its place temporarily.

The crash came less than a week after Transport Minister Mark Bailey opened a new Macleay Island jetty.

SeaLink was also forced to report a 2021 crash which occurred when a passenger ferry slammed into the rock wall at the Redland Bay terminal.