BC Ferries has cancelled all sailings between Nanaimo (Departure Bay) and Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) Monday, saying adverse weather conditions are to blame.
At 4 a.m., Environment and Climate Change Canada issued a strong wind warning for the Strait of Georgia both north and south of Nanaimo, saying winds of 20 to 33 knots are occurring or expected in the marine area Monday into Tuesday.
Following Environment Canada’s warning, BC Ferries issued a pair of service notices advising of cancellations on the Queen of Oak Bay and Queen of Cowichan — two vessels that sail between Nanaimo and the Mainland.
All Queen of Oak Bay and Queen of Cowichan sailings between Horseshoe Bay and Departure Bay have been cancelled Monday, while all Queen of Cowichan sailings between the Sunshine Coast (Langdale) and Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) are also cancelled, according to the transportation company.
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TRAVEL ALERT – All ferries between #Nanaimo and Horseshoe Bay #Vancouver have been cancelled today. Possibly some tomorrow as well. Tsawsassen-Duke Point still running. @CHEK_News #BCStorm pic.twitter.com/daCT18Kqjo
— Dean Stoltz (@deanstoltzchek) November 7, 2022
Echoing EC’s warning and noting high winds and the current sea state, a BC Ferries spokesperson told CHEK News that all other routes connecting Vancouver Island with the Mainland are sailing as scheduled.
“We are monitoring the weather conditions and ask customers to check the current conditions section of our website and service notices at bcferries.com for the latest sailing information,” the spokesperson said.
“The safety of our passengers and crew is of primary importance to us, and we will resume sailing that route when weather conditions improve.”
Around 1 p.m., BC Ferries issued another notice saying the Queen of Oak Bay’s 6:15 a.m. and 10:40 a.m. sailings departing Horseshoe Bay Tuesday, along with the 8:25 p.m. and 1 p.m. sailings leaving Departure Bay that day, are at risk of cancellation due to weather.
Similarly, some Queen of Cowichan sailings, including the 6:15 a.m. and 10:40 a.m. sailings leaving Departure Bay and the 8:25 a.m. and 1 p.m. sailings leaving Horseshoe Bay, are also at risk of cancellation Tuesday.
People can find the complete list of BC Ferries service notices online here.
#ServiceNotice #HorseshoeBay #DepartureBay #QueenofOakBay has cancelled all sailings for the remainder of the day.
6:15am/10:40am/3:45pm out of Horseshoe Bay
8:25am/1pm/5:55pm out of Departure BayFull notice here: https://t.co/xVbsHCG7iU ^cm
— BC Ferries (@BCFerries) November 7, 2022
#ServiceNotice #HorseshoeBay #DepartureBay #QofCowchan Due to adverse weather conditions all sailings for the day have been cancelled.
6:15am/10:40am/3:20pm ex Departure Bay
8:25am/1pm/5:30pm/7:50pm/10:10pm ex Horseshoe Bay
6:40pm/8:55pm ex Langdale
Info: https://t.co/bUhN1IMrU0— BC Ferries (@BCFerries) November 7, 2022
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Ethan Morneau
