BC Ferries has cancelled four Tuesday morning sailings between Victoria (Swartz Bay) and Vancouver (Tsawwassen) due to severe weather forecast.
The ferry company in a notice says several Jan. 9 sailings, including the 7 a.m. departing Tsawwassen, 7 a.m. departing Swartz Bay, 9 a.m. departing Tsawwassen and 9 a.m. departing Swartz Bay, are cancelled as a result of “severe weather forecast for high winds and predicted wave height in the Strait of Georgia.”
Environment Canada issued a special weather statement for the area Monday, saying elevated ocean water levels and significant waves are expected.
“Large waves due to gale-force southwest winds, storm surge and seasonably high tides have the potential to produce high water levels for Tuesday,” it said in the statement.
This means the Spirit of Vancouver Island, which has a capacity for 2,100 passengers and crew, and the Coastal Inspiration, which can fit up to 1,604 people, will be docked until the weather conditions improve.
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#ServiceNotice In order to ensure the safety of our passengers and crew, the following sailings between #Tsawwassen and #SwartzBay are cancelled tomorrow, Tuesday, January 9, 2024.
7am & 9am departures cancelled from both terminals.
More info here: https://t.co/s0flZZdsLX ^bt
— BC Ferries (@BCFerries) January 9, 2024
BC Ferries says it will contact customers with bookings on cancelled sailings to let them know if space is available on an alternate sailing later in the day or if their booking must be cancelled.
“In the case of a cancellation, we will refund fees and/or fares,” it said.
The company says it’s keeping safety its top priority, adding in a statement to customers, “We know you have important places to be. The vessels will monitor the weather conditions with the goal of getting you underway as soon as it’s safe to do so.”
It says if weather conditions do not improve, more sailings may be cancelled, “and we will let you know if that happens.” Up-to-date sailing and departure information is posted on BC Ferries’ website and X (formerly Twitter) account.
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Ethan Morneau
