BC Ferries cancels sailings on major routes due to mechanical issues, weather

Mechanical issues and a windy weather forecast brought more cancellations on BC Ferries, capping off a frustrating Easter long weekend.

Several BC Ferries sailings between Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island were cancelled Monday due to a mechanical issue, and others were called off or at risk due to weather.

The ferry operator cancelled six sailings on the Tsawwassen-Nanaimo (Duke Point) route due to vessel trouble, starting with the 9 a.m. departure from Duke Point.

Meanwhile, two additional sailings on the route could be affected Monday evening due to high winds.

BC Ferries says the 8:15 p.m. departure from Tsawwassen and the 10:45 p.m. out of Duke Point are at risk.

On another major route, the 8 p.m. sailing out of Swartz Bay and the 10 p.m. departure from Tsawwassen were cancelled due to a combination of weather and the “operating limits” of the Spirit of Vancouver Island. The company said some Tuesday morning sailings are also at risk of being cancelled.

• BC Ferries says wider ‘challenges’ at play amid Easter cancellations

Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for the South Coast, warning that wind gusts could reach up to 70 km/h.

The statement covers Metro Vancouver, Greater Victoria and eastern Vancouver Island, as well as the southern Gulf Islands.

Monday’s cancellations followed a chaotic weekend for the ferry service, with multiple sailings cancelled over the busy Easter holiday.

The Queen of Surrey vessel was due to return to service between Horseshoe Bay and the Sunshine Coast following a refit Sunday morning but faced a problem with its steering system almost immediately.

BC Ferries said the recent cancellations “underscore the challenges of operating an aging fleet under sustained and growing demand that exceeds what the system was originally designed to accommodate.”