BC Ferries is ending the weekend by cancelling a pair of sailings between Vancouver Island and B.C.’s Mainland, saying a crew shortage is to blame.
The Coastal Celebration’s 8 p.m. sailing departing Swartz Bay (Victoria) and 10 p.m. sailing leaving Tsawwassen (Vancouver) are cancelled for Sunday, March 5, according to a service notice from the company.
The notice says a specific number of crew members are required on board vessels to ensure passengers’ safety and to comply with Transport Canada regulations.
“The decision to cancel a sailing in these circumstances is made when we have exhausted all options to find replacement crew. That said, if circumstances change and replacement crew become available, we will notify customers immediately,” explained BC Ferries.
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The company says the 4 p.m. sailing departing Swartz Bay and the 6 p.m. leaving Tsawwassen are no longer at risk of cancellation, despite a previous service notice. It adds that all other sailings on the route are expected to proceed as scheduled, with alternative service also available via the Duke Point-Tsawwassen route.
The Coastal Celebration, a Coastal-class ship, first entered service in 2008. BC Ferries is apologizing for any inconvenience that arises due to the cancellations and says impacted customers will be refunded or, if space is available, put on an alternate sailing.
#ServiceNotice We have been unsuccessful in securing the required number of crew on the #CoastalCelebration, the below sailings today have been cancelled:
8:00 pm ex. #SwartzBay
10:00pm ex. #TsawwassenFull notice here: https://t.co/D4C0HXOUQ5^sn
— BC Ferries (@BCFerries) March 5, 2023
#ServiceNotice Our crewing teams have sourced replacements for the below sailings that are now no longer at risk of cancellation:
4:00 pm ex. #SwartzBay
6:00 pm ex. #TsawwassenFull notice here: https://t.co/2gFBoe0rEM^sn
— BC Ferries (@BCFerries) March 5, 2023
Sailings on other routes were also at risk of cancellation Sunday due to a crew shortage, but BC Ferries says it has since retained more workers:
#ServiceNotice #SwartzBay #SouthernGulfIslands The earlier staffing shortage that BC Ferries experienced on the #SalishHeron has been resolved. The vessel is expected to sail as scheduled for the remainder of the day.
More here: https://t.co/vaE6He3LGk ^ts
— BC Ferries (@BCFerries) March 5, 2023
#ServiceNotice #SouthernGulfIslands
The earlier staffing shortage that we experienced on the #SalishEagle has been resolved. The sailings previously at risk for today on this vessel will sail as scheduled.Full notice here: https://t.co/HP87B2DbO3^sn
— BC Ferries (@BCFerries) March 5, 2023
Ferrygoers can check BC Ferries’ website or Twitter for up-to-date sailing information.
Ethan Morneau
