A ferry driver temporarily blinded by spotlights shone from the shore believes fast ferries are being deliberately targeted by residents angry about wake produced by the boats.

Giovanni Burrows was piloting the Tempest during the most recent incident.

He said he believes the lights came from a home owned by someone who has made several complaints about the wake the ferries produce.

Contacted Monday, the property owner would only say: "I think [the light has originated] from several places."

He insisted, however, that fast ferries are breaking the no-wake rule and posed a hazard.

Police issued a report last week urging whoever was shining the lights, to stop.

"The Marine Police are investigating a complaint of several bright spot lights being shone at the wheel house of the fast ferry Tempest as it entered the area of Two Rock Passage approximately 10 p.m. on Monday, July 27, as the ferry completed its Dockyard run to Hamilton with 176 passengers on-board," said a spokesperson.

"Marine Police would like to advise the public such behaviour is extremely dangerous and could have tragic results."

Mr. Burrows said the lights temporarily blinded him, causing him to briefly lose control. Despite the incident, he was able to safely reach Hamilton.

"This isn't the first time they've done this. They've done this to a few other ferry drivers," he said. "They're doing it because they're trying to get the ferries to slow down, but they've already done it. We already slow down so the wake doesn't affect them.

"I'm not intimidated. My passengers and crew, along with my vessel, are my number one priority."

However the property owner maintained that some fast ferries were still producing wake as they sailed past.

"Most of the ferry boat drivers are doing what's reasonable, but some of them are still doing their own thing," the owner said. "There's been shore damage as far in as the [Hamilton] Princess.

"It's not the speed, it's the wake. It's caused damage to the docks, to the shoreline, to boats. We had someone fall between the boat and the dock, and that's when the Police said we needed to write a letter."

Mr. Burrows said the fast ferries have been obeying the no-wake rules, saying: "We are all on computer. We have a tracking system."

The property owner said that he, and others in the community, had been working with the Police for a peaceful resolution.

"We don't want an escalation," said the property owner. "I want to see a friendly end to all of this."