BC Ferries’ passengers were stranded near Tsawwassen on a sailing from Nanaimo’s Duke Point Tuesday afternoon.
The corporation says sailings on the Queen of Alberni between Tsawwassen and Duke Point are cancelled due to a mechanical failure.
“The vessel is experiencing an issue with the #2 Gear Box,” BC Ferries said on its service notice page.
“So the crew did the prudent thing and aborted the landing. And they’ve been waiting off of Tsawwassen for a tug to come and assist them docking,” Deborah Marshall of BC Ferries said in a statement.
There were no injuries in the incident.
Around 5:40 p.m., one passenger said they had been stranded on a BC Ferries’ vessel for three hours.
Well here we are stranded on the BC Ferries for the past 3 hours! Supppsedly there is only one tug on the whole westcoast that can move a ferry! What s Mickey Mouse operation!
— REALITY (@BGB555) October 28, 2020
But the passenger did say a tug was on its way to bring the ferry to the Tsawwassen docks.
But in the end the tug has arrived and delivering us to shore. Just in time for the rush hour! Well done BC Ferry’s! https://t.co/HS2Bw9Sgl3
— REALITY (@BGB555) October 28, 2020
The 5:45 p.m and 10:45 p.m. departures from Duke Point and the 3:15 p.m. and 8:15 sailings from Tsawwassen Tuesday night have been cancelled.
The first round trip for the vessel Wednesday has also been cancelled, and BC Ferries says the Coastal Celebration will provide service for the rest of the day.
#ServiceNotice #Tsawwassen – #DukePoint #QueenofAlberni has cancelled its first round trip tomorrow, October 28, due to a mechanical issue. The #CoastalCelebration will provide service for the remainder of the day. More details here: https://t.co/ilbUv4uvyf ^ta
— BC Ferries | Travel safe. Wear a mask. (@BCFerries) October 28, 2020
The same vessel was removed from service earlier this month because of mechanical difficulties.
Marshall says if the vessel isn’t able to go back in service tomorrow, a replacement vessel may be brought on that route.
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