BC Ferries route change due to mechanical issue

BC Ferries is making some changes that could add a little more time to sailings between Victoria and the mainland over the next several months.

The company says the Coastal Celebration, which operates between Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay, is dealing with a mechanical issue.

“Changes are being made out of an abundance of caution as engineers have identified an issue with one of the drive motors” on the vessel, BC Ferries says.

“As a result, for safety reasons, the ship will not sail through Active Pass.”


Related article: BC Ferries increasing fuel surcharge


BC Ferries says the Coastal Celebration will instead head south of the pass, resulting in about a 15 minute addition to each sailing.

It stresses that the ship is “safe to operate with the mitigation measures the company is taking.”

Over the coming months, BC Ferries estimates about 90 sailings will be affected. It notes customers who have bookings on affected sailings are being contacted.

Other vessels on the route, the Spirit of British Columbia and the Spirit of Vancouver Island, are not affected and are sailing along their usual route. BC Ferries says these sailings take about 1 hour and 35 minutes.

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