BC Ferries cancels sailings due to vessel generator problem

The BC Ferries vessel Spirit of Vancouver Island leaves Tsawwassen, B.C., bound for Swartz Bay, on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

VICTORIA — Passengers on a BC Ferries sailing from Metro Vancouver to Vancouver Island had to unload from a vessel Tuesday after a “mechanical difficulty” with the ship’s generator.

BC Ferries says multiple sailings on the Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay route — one of its busiest — were cancelled for the day due to the breakdown on the Spirit of Vancouver Island, starting with the 9 a.m. sailing.

The operator says crews identified the problem after the vessel was already loaded, and its inability to sail forced the unloading, with videos on social media showing vehicles having to reverse in the process of getting off the ferry.

Cancellations on the route on Tuesday were later extended to sailings at 1 p.m., 5 p.m. and 9 p.m., as well as their corresponding return sailings from Vancouver Island.

BC Ferries has confirmed that the ship was out of service last week due to a problem with the same generator, and the ferry was just put back into service after repairs were completed on Saturday.

Supplemental sailings from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay at 4 p.m. and 10 p.m., as well as return sailings at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., have been added, while BC Ferries says they are assessing the extent of the mechanical issue.

“Our focus is on keeping people moving and minimizing disruption, especially as we head into a busy Easter long weekend,” says spokeswoman Ritinder Matthew.

“Customers impacted by cancellations are being contacted directly with rebooking options or refunds.”

The Spirit of Vancouver Island was built in 1994 and has a capacity of 358 vehicles as well as 2,100 people. The vessel was converted to use liquefied natural gas in 2018.

Matthew says the disruption highlights the need for an additional relief vessel in BC Ferries’ fleet, after the company requested last year to build five new vessels.

The independent British Columbia Ferries Commissioner announced in March 2025 that spending was only approved for four of the vessels, with the first expected to enter service in 2029.

“Decisions on fleet expansion aren’t within our control, but we’ll continue to advocate for it,” Matthew says. “Without that extra vessel, there’s limited ability to absorb disruptions like this.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 31, 2026.