BC Ferries says some sailings are cancelled and others are at risk of cancellation between Nanaimo and Vancouver Monday due to mechanical difficulties.
The ferry company in a notice says the 3:15 p.m. departing Duke Point (Nanaimo) and the 5:45 p.m. leaving Tsawwassen (Vancouver) are cancelled Monday because of an issue with the Coastal Celebration’s propulsion system, which is used to generate thrust and move the boat through the water.
The 5:15 and 10:15 a.m. departing Duke Point (Nanaimo) and the 7:45 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. leaving Tsawwassen were cancelled as well, according to BC Ferries.
Meanwhile, as of 1 p.m., a pair of nighttime sailings are at risk of cancellation, including the 8:15 p.m. departing Duke Point and the 10:45 p.m. leaving Tsawwassen.
The company is providing supplementary service, however.
It says it has sourced crew to sail the Queen of New Westminster in an effort to reduce the impacts of cancellations on the Coastal Celebration, including 2 and 7 p.m. departures from Tsawwassen and 4:30 and 9:30 p.m. from Duke Point.
“Customer Care agents will be contacting travellers with bookings on the cancelled sailings to let them know if we have space available to fit them on an alternate sailing. Customers that cannot be accommodated will be fully refunded,” it added.
BC Ferries says it’s working to resolve the issue with its engineering teams conducting further inspections.
At a press conference Monday, B.C. Premier David Eby said the province was “pressing” BC Ferries.
“They’re in the process of preparing a significant call for additional ships to modernize the fleet, and I look forward to that as do all British Columbians,” he said.
The ferry company is expected to post another update to its website around 4 p.m. Monday.
This is not the first time the Coastal Celebration has been pulled due to mechanical issues. Several sailings were cancelled in November, and in July, it was pulled from service for more than a week due to an issue with the rudder.
For up-to-date sailing and departure information, BC Ferries encourages people to check its website or follow the company on X (formerly Twitter).
#ServiceNotice (2/2) In an effort to reduce the impacts of these cancellations, we have sourced crew to sail the #QueenofNewWestminster and will be providing supplementary service with reduced catering services.
View supplementary sailings here: https://t.co/yvr1P1J0KJ ^ed
— BC Ferries (@BCFerries) January 15, 2024
#ServiceNotice The following sailings are at risk of cancellation today due to a mechanical difficulty on board the #CoastalCelebration :
3:15 pm/8:15 pm ex. #DukePoint
5:45 pm/10:45 pm ex. #TsawwassenMore info here: https://t.co/JibLwXxhZI ^vl
— BC Ferries (@BCFerries) January 15, 2024
Ethan Morneau
