BC Ferries vessel out of service due to cold weather

The arctic outflow in coastal B.C. has led to another headache for holiday season travel between Vancouver Island and the mainland.

In addition to icy roads, a BC Ferries vessel has been taken out of service leading to sailing cancellations on Tuesday.

BC Ferries says the Queen of New Westminster is experiencing issues with frozen water pipes, washroom closures, and unsafe conditions on the vehicle deck as a result of freezing weather conditions.

#ServiceNotice #Tsawwassen – #DukePoint #QueenofNewWestminster operating from Duke Point on a cargo and essential service only basis due to freezing temperatures. Engineers are working on a repair plan to address the issues.
Full notice here: https://t.co/IeUWoQvjSk ^ajb

— BC Ferries (@BCFerries) December 28, 2021

The vessel services the Duke Point (Nanaimo)-Tsawwassen route.

As a result of the ferry being taken out of service, the 10:15 a.m. sailing departing Tsawwassen and the 12:45 p.m. leaving Duke Point have been cancelled.

One ferry passenger says she was supposed to be on the 7:45 a.m. sailing from Nanaimo.

“We waited and waited and then finally close to 8 o’clock they finally said there was a problem and just to stay in our vehicles…but they didn’t tell us why,” Elizabeth said.

“Finally when they came around, they said ‘Oh there was something frozen on the boat so the boat went back from Duke Point to Vancouver I guess to get repaired,'” she described, adding they were told, “we would have to wait for the next sailing and possibly get on.”

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Ultimately, she says she and her partner decided to head up to Departure Bay to try their luck on that end.

BC Ferries says reservations for the 10:15 a.m., 12:45 p.m., sailing will be refunded. Customers with flexible travel plans are being asked to consider taking another route.

There is no word when the issues will be resolved, BC ferries urges customers to check the current conditions page or call toll free at 1-888-223-3779.

-With files from Hana Mae Nassar