The Saaremaa I ferry accident on Wednesday is due to a human error, a communication problem between an officer and the captain, said Thursday the Minister of Transport, François Bonnardel.
The ship, which connects Matane, Baie-Comeau and Godbout, collided with the loading ramp at the Godbout wharf on the North Shore.
The ferry did not break. However, hydraulic cylinders on the embarkation ramp were damaged, resulting in a spill of oil and forced the Société des traversiers du Québec to set in motion its recovery protocol.
Users who go to Godbout will be temporarily diverted to Baie-Comeau, while the necessary repairs are made.
"I will know this afternoon the scope of damages and repair costs in the future," said François Bonnardel Thursday.