NANAIMO — Local ferry crossings just got a whole lot busier and the long weekend hasn’t even officially started.
Ongoing engine issues with the Queen of Alberni has forced BC Ferries to announce a slate of cancellations between Nanaimo’s Departure Bay and Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver for Thursday, June 30 and Friday, July 1.
The 7:40 a.m. departure from Nanaimo did not sail, while the 12:25 p.m., 5 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. will also not operate Thursday. BC Ferries have also cancelled the 7:40 a.m., 12:25 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Friday.
“Though the repairs to the Queen of Alberni are significant, with a number of tests and trials remaining to ensure it is ready to sail, we anticipate it will resume service for its 7:40 am sailing from Departure Bay on [Saturday], July 2,” a service notice from BC Ferries read.
The company is advising those with plans to travel on one of the affected sailings to make alternate plans through the Duke Point to Tsawwassen route.
“Our Customer Service Centre will contact customers with bookings on the cancelled sailings to let them know if we have space available to accommodate them on the next available sailing or if their booking must be cancelled,” the service notice added.
While the cancellations impact thousands of travellers, as of Thursday morning roughly 35 per cent deck space is available on the remaining sailings out of Nanaimo for the rest of the day.
Issues first arose on Tuesday, June 28 which saw one round trip cancelled, with work extending into Wednesday.
Other crossings scheduled on the Departure Bay-Horseshoe Bay route are proceeding as scheduled using both the Queen of Cowichan and Oak Bay vessels.
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