The ship's captain, Colin Henthorne, was off watch and asleep in his bunk at the time of the accident. The second mate, Keven Hilton was on break, leaving the fourth mate, Karl Lilgert, in command. Quartermaster Karen Briker was piloting the ship. Local weather reports indicated winds gusting to in the vicinity of Wright Sound. According to Kevin Falcon, the BC Minister of Transportation, the autopilot equipment had been certified by Transport Canada as recently as March 2 of that year.