The investigation into the sinking of a B.C. ferry last March has found that some of the crew members on board were not properly trained on the ship's new steering and navigation system, states a document obtained by CTV Vancouver.

"It says the crew didn't know how to steer and they may have been using an important piece of navigational equipment improperly," CTV's Jim Beatty said Monday of the letter that was sent in May to BC Ferries President David Hahn.

Beatty received the information in a letter from BC Ferries, but it was written by marine investigator Marcel Ayeko of the Transportation Safety Board, which is investigating the sinking.

Eric Asselin, a senior investigator with TSB told CTV Newsnet the preliminary findings are worrisome.

"It certainly is a safety deficiency and it is something that we need to address and the Board is very concerned about this," he said.

The Queen of the North crashed into Gill Island on March 22 and sank about 135 kilometres south of Prince Rupert, B.C. with 101 people on board.

Ninety-nine other passengers were rescued and two people since presumed dead.

Gerald Foisy, 46, and Shirley Rosette, 42, are believed to have drowned.

The letter is the first document to offer any clues into what led to the sinking.

The letter lists several damaging conclusions:

• Not all crew members appear to have been adequately briefed
• Some bridge team members were not familiar with all of the bridge equipment and controls
• Additionally, not all of the bridge team members were aware of the various settings available for the display of the electronic chart system or ECS.
• The screen from the ECS produced too much ambient light, so the crew would often turn it off at night, Ayeko wrote. The monitor would be turned on momentarily only when it was required.

Ayeko stopped short of pinpointing these as factors in the sinking, but cautioned, "It is essential that crew members be thoroughly prepared in advance so that they are able to operate the vessel safely from the outset."

Hahn responded to the letter on Monday, saying he was skeptical about interviews from crews who were likely traumatized.

"I think we have to be a little careful that this was right after an accident, they're talking to people that are pretty shook up," Hahn said. "You always wonder is it an emotional response, a defensive response?"

Regardless, Hahn said BC Ferries is changing how it trains its employees.

"We're going to make sure that ... everybody verifies to us that they're familiar with the equipment and that they understand what's going on."

The crew members are not facing any consequences from the TSB as the investigation is only looking to determine the cause of the accident and not individual blame.

On the advice of their lawyers, four of the crew members are not co-operating with a BC Ferries' internal investigation. While they are currently getting paid, they face unpaid suspension or even dismissal if they continue to not co-operate.

A final report into the Queen of the North crash and sinking isn't expected for several months.

With a report from CTV Vancouver's Jim Beatty