2 BC Ferries vessels out of service ahead of Easter weekend

People travelling between Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland this Easter long weekend can expect to face ferry delays and cancellations.

BC Ferries is making service adjustments on routes connecting the Lower Mainland to Vancouver Island ahead of the Easter long weekend, as two vessels have been sidelined.

A mechanical issue on the Spirit of Vancouver Island is impacting the Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay route and a delay returning from an annual refit means the Queen of Surrey won’t be sailing between Tsawwassen and Duke Point.

“Safety is the priority in both cases, and the vessels will only return to service once all work is complete,” a statement from BC Ferries said.

“Customers may experience schedule changes and reduced capacity on these routes, even as additional sailings are added where possible to help keep customers moving.”

Would-be travellers are urged to check the latest service notices for updates on which sailings have been cancelled. Those whose reservations are impacted will be contacted by the company and rebooked or refunded.

The company acknowledged the changes will likely be frustrating, but also said issues with the aging fleet will continue to create challenges until new vessels arrive and are put into service—which is still several years away for the major routes.

“While these new vessels will add important capacity, timelines for delivery mean additional relief capacity is not immediate,” a statement from the company said.

“BC Ferries has also previously explored other options, including purchasing used vessels, but was unable to find a supply of ships that would meet the specific requirements of its routes and terminals without significant investment.”

BC Ferries vice-president of engineering also said five new vessels are needed to give the system “the resilience it needs” but noted only four were approved. “Those decisions sit outside of BC Ferries, but we’ll keep making the case and advocating on behalf of our customers,” Stephen Jones said, in a statement.

“Having another major vessel available to step in during situations like this would make a real difference.”