The Edmonton Riverboat and approximately 200 passengers were stranded on Sunday during a Mother’s Day cruise. The vessel stopped moving at around 4:09 p.m. Near the intersection of Scona Road and 99B Street.
Emergency Response and Evacuation
City of Edmonton staff confirmed in a statement Sunday evening that all passengers were successfully helped off the boat. Following the passenger evacuation, crews worked to remove the remaining staff members.
According to an emailed statement from the city, the EFRS received the call for assistance at 4:09 p.m. The city dispatched two land sector crews and two rescue boats, which began arriving on the scene at 4:22 p.m.
There were no reported injuries resulting from the incident. At this time, the cause of the stoppage remains unclear.
A History of River Stoppages
This is not the first time the Edmonton Riverboat has encountered such difficulties. In a notable 2019 event, the boat became stuck near Accidental Beach on the North Saskatchewan River.
During that incident, the river current became too swift and was running in the opposite direction of the boat. This environmental factor prevented the vessel from docking and led to the overnight stranding of hundreds of passengers.
Potential Next Steps
Because the cause of Sunday’s stoppage is not yet clear, the city or boat operators may conduct a technical review of the vessel. Depending on the findings, there could be changes to safety protocols or maintenance schedules to prevent future occurrences.
Further investigation into the river’s conditions at Scona Road and 99B Street is also a possible step to determine if environmental factors played a role similar to those seen in 2019.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many passengers were on the boat during the Mother’s Day cruise?
There were around 200 passengers on board when the boat stopped moving.
Were there any injuries reported during the Sunday incident?
No injuries were reported.
What caused the boat to get stuck during the 2019 incident?
The boat was near Accidental Beach and the current became too swift and was running in the opposite direction of the boat, preventing it from docking.
Do you think recurring incidents like these should lead to stricter operational requirements for river excursions?
