The Transportation Safety Board says a BC Ferries crew's failure to follow procedures is to blame for a crash that injured 16 people and caused major damage to the Duke Point ferry terminal.

On Dec. 20, 2011, the Coastal Inspiration was travelling about five knots, when it slammed into the terminal, located south of Nanaimo on Vancouver Island.

"The bow door, the starboard side shell, and the rubbing plate of the Coastal Inspiration were damaged, putting it out of service for 23 days. The terminal sustained damage to the port and starboard berth walls, to pilings and to various electrical fittings, and was out of service for 122 days," the report said.

The TSB found procedures for testing the propulsion control equipment before berthing were not followed, meaning that a malfunction in the controls went undetected until it was too late.

Investigators also concluded that the bridge crew was not familiar with the controls in an emergency.

Since the accident, BC Ferries has made several changes to its propulsion control systems to provide a warning to bridge crews when the system malfunctions. The TSB also noted that BC Ferries has improved its emergency response drills.