BC Ferries passengers left confused after cancellations were cancelled

More staffing woes led to a yoyo effect for BC Ferries passengers Friday morning, after multiple sailings were cancelled and then uncancelled along a busy route.

A staffing shortage on the Queen of Surrey led to four cancellations for the Horseshoe Bay to Langdale route this morning, announced by BC Ferries on Thursday night.

But by 6:30 a.m., BC Ferries updated passengers via social media that they were able to get the necessary crew to reinstate the sailings.

Frustrations were fierce at the West Vancouver terminal as a result of the back and forth, especially as some passengers had already made alternative plans. Plus, those who had reservations for the sailings would no longer get priority boarding.

BC Ferries tweeted, “Once resos are cancelled, due to tech limitations we aren’t able to reinstate them” to one passenger.

The vessel, which serves the popular Sunshine Coast route did not have the Transport Canada required a number of crew members in order to sail, which BC Ferries says was the reason behind the previous cancellations.

That has become a constant issue facing the company in recent months, blamed on the pandemic as well as a global mariner shortage.

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While passengers can still get on a ferry between Swartz Bay and Tsawwassen Friday morning, they may be facing the inconvenience of having nowhere to store their bags.

“Swartz Bay has suspended baggage service beginning with the 7:00 am sailing to Tsawwassen until further notice due to a staffing shortage. We apologize for any inconvenience you may experience as a result of this,” BC Ferries said.

Plus, passengers leaving Friday afternoon from the mainland will have one fewer sailing to choose from, as the 4:00 p.m. has been cancelled, as has the 6:00 p.m. sailing leaving from Swartz Bay.

BC Ferries has also issued three days’ notice that there won’t be enough staff again on Sunday, impacting four sailings on the route. Passengers can try the Tsawwassen to Duke Point and Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay routes instead.