BC Ferries cancels Northern Sea Wolf sailings after crew falls ill with COVID-19

BC Ferries cancels Northern Sea Wolf sailings after crew falls ill with COVID-19
Allan Gray
File: BC Ferries' Northern Sea Wolf spotted off Quadra Island.

BC Ferries has cancelled sailings on the Northern Sea Wolf after crew members contracted COVID-19.

In a statement, BC Ferries said sailings on the route were cancelled Dec. 24-26, and that regular service is expected to resume Friday, Dec. 31.

In the meantime, the vessel is docked at Bella Coola and is getting deep-cleaned.

“We apologize to our customers for any inconvenience the sailing cancellations may have caused, particularly at this time of year,” the company said in a statement.

The company did not confirm how many staff fell ill with COVID-19, but a source told CHEK News five people had contracted the disease so far.

As a federally regulated employer, BC Ferries workers and contractors who work onboard vessels were required to have a first dose of vaccine by Nov. 15, and their second dose by Jan. 24.

The remaining workers will be required to be fully vaccinated by the end of February 2022.

The Northern Sea Wolf provides sailings along B.C.’s Central Coast with stops at Bella Bella, Shearwater and Ocean Falls.

READ MORE: Vaccination mandate sees worker shortage on Gabriola Island ferry route

Jeff LawrenceJeff Lawrence

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