BC Ferries is warning of potential cancellations between Greater Victoria and the Southern Gulf Islands due to a lack of crew on the Salish Raven.
The ferry company says several Sunday, July 2 sailings between Swartz Bay, Otter Bay (Pender Island) and Village Bay (Mayne Island) could be cancelled.
This includes the 5:10 p.m. and 7:05 p.m. sailings departing Swartz Bay, the 6:05 p.m., 8 p.m. and 9:20 p.m. sailings departing Otter Bay and the 8:45 p.m. departing Village Bay, according to BC Ferries in a notice.
The company says previous sailings at risk of cancellation, starting with the 2:10 p.m. departure from Swartz Bay, will sail as scheduled.
It says its crewing teams are working hard to source replacement staff, but as of Sunday morning have been unsuccessful in doing so.
READ ALSO: Busy weekend traffic and reduced sailings results in multiple sailings waits on BC Ferries
“We require a specific number of staff members on board the vessel to ensure the safety of our passengers in the unlikely event of an emergency and to comply with Transport Canada regulations,” states the notice.
“Should any sailings be impacted, we will notify customers via Service Notice as soon as the information is confirmed.”
BC Ferries says it apologizes for any inconvenience caused by cancellations. It says it will contact customers if circumstances change and replacement staff become available.
Up-to-date sailing information is online here.
#ServiceNotice As BC Ferries has been unsuccessful in securing the required number of crew to sail the #SalishRaven, there is a potential risk of sailing cancellations for today, July 2, 2023.
See the full list of sailings here: https://t.co/bFcd4Z4LjX ^ml
— BC Ferries (@BCFerries) July 2, 2023
Ethan Morneau
