Mechanical issue cancels Thursday, Friday sailings on Horseshoe Bay-Departure Bay route: BC Ferries

Several BC Ferries sailings have been cancelled Thursday and Friday between Horseshoe Bay and Nanaimo due to a mechanical issue with the Queen of Alberni.

BC Ferries said it was cancelling the following Thursday sailings on the route:

From Departure Bay

• 7:40 a.m.
• 12:25 p.m.
• 5:00 p.m.
• 9:30 p.m.

From Horseshoe Bay

• 10 a.m.
• 2:45 p.m.
• 7:20 p.m.
• 11:40 p.m.

BC Ferries later provided an update saying the Queen of Alberni would be out of commission on Canada Day Friday as well. Those cancellations include:

From Horseshoe Bay

• 10 a.m.
• 2:45 p.m.
• 7:20 p.m.

From Departure Bay

• 7:40 a.m.
• 12:25 p.m.
• 5 p.m.

The cancellations are due to an additional issue that will require “critical machining” to fix on the Queen of Alberni’s piston assembly.

“In order to complete these and the earlier repairs to its main engine cylinder head and liner, the Queen of Alberni will remain out of service for Thursday, June 30th. Our engineering team continues to work diligently to resolve the issue,” BC Ferries said.

Other sailings on the route will proceed as scheduled.

For those whose reservations are cancelled, BC Ferries said it would not only provide a refund but also a voucher for a free sailing in the future.

Anyone without a reservation for the route Thursday or Friday is urged to make alternative travel plans on a different route or travel as a foot passenger.

Nanaimo’s mayor says cancelled sailings scare some tourists from coming to Vancouver Island and make life difficult for Islanders with medical appointments on the mainland.

“The government needs to recognize we see BC Ferries as our highway system to Vancouver Island and it needs to have the capital investment to ensure that the ferries don’t break down. We need first-class boats,” said Leonard Krog.

But BC Ferries CEO says they’re doing the best they’re able.

“It’s an unforeseen mechanical problem and these things happen from time to time. We apologize to our customers,” said Mark Collins.

Other major routes including Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay and Tsawwassen-Duke Point were running on schedule Thursday, though ferries were fully booked into the evening.

BC Ferries routes have seen a higher than normal number of sailing cancellations in recent months, primarily due to crewing issues. It has led the company to announce a hiring push and say that it wants unvaccinated workers to return after the federal government suspended its COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

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