BC Ferries pulls vessel from service due to mechanical issue

BC Ferries has been forced to cancel several sailings between Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay on Tuesday due to a mechanical issue on one of its major vessels.

The Queen of New Westminster is having difficulty with its main engine, BC Ferries shared. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO 1130 NEWSRADIO VANCOUVER LIVE!

Four sailings departing Swartz Bay and three sailings from Tsawwassen have been cancelled. Sailings on the route via other vessels are expected to sail as planned.

“If you have a booking on one of these cancelled sailings, you will hear from our Customer Service Centre who will let you know if we can fit you on an alternate sailing later today, or if your booking must be cancelled. In the case of a cancellation, we will refund your fees and/or fares,” BC Ferries said on its website.

“We appreciate your patience and apologize for any inconvenience you may experience as a result of these cancellations.”

The affected sailings are:

8:00 a.m. departing Swartz Bay
10:00 a.m. departing Tsawwassen
12:00 p.m. departing Swartz Bay
2:00 p.m. departing Tsawwassen
4:00 p.m. departing Swartz Bay
6:00 p.m. departing Tsawwassen
8:00 p.m. departing Swartz Bay 

BC Ferries Senior Communications Director Liza Yuzda tells 1130 NewsRadio the vessel at issue Tuesday is the Queen of New Westminster — “one of our 60-year-old queens” — which had an issue with its propulsion system.

Yuzda says all other ships on the route are unaffected and sailing on time. She says crews are loading those other sailings “as full as possible” to keep the line moving.

“We’ve also added an extra 6 p.m. sailing out of Swartz Bay and 8 p.m. out of Tsawwassen both Tuesday and Wednesday to help balance out the cancellations,” said Yuzda.

Other sailings for the same vessel are cancelled Wednesday as well, she says, and BC Ferries is working to rebook those with reservations.

“And when we can’t, we are offering them full refunds,” said Yuzda.

Yuzda could not confirm whether the mechanical issue Tuesday was related to a mechanical failure on the same ship earlier this year. In February, the Queen of New Westminster was pulled after experiencing issues with its rudder.

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