There are several issues aboard BC Ferries vessels heading into the busy Easter weekend.
The Spirit of Vancouver Island is still out of commission due to a generator problem that happened on Tuesday. It had only returned to service on Sunday after a separate breakdown during spring break.
The Queen of Surrey has yet to return from its annual refit.
“The past few days have been difficult, and we know this is not the level of service people expect from us, especially heading into a busy travel period like Easter,” Nicholas Jimenez, BC Ferries CEO, said on Thursday.
“We hear that frustration and we take it seriously.”
Typically, there are about 400,000 passengers and 160,000 vehicles that travel on BC ferries over the Easter long weekend.
Between the Tsawwassen (Vancouver) and Duke Point (Nanaimo) route on Thursday and Friday, several sailings have been cancelled due to a vessel’s delayed return to service following refit.
Cancelled sailings, April 2:
- 9 a.m. departing Duke Point
- 11:30 a.m. departing Tsawwassen
- 2 p.m. departing Duke Point
- 4:30 p.m. departing Tsawwassen
Cancelled sailings, April 3:
- 9 a.m. departing Duke Point
- 11:30 a.m. departing Tsawwassen
BC Ferries says that additional sailings have been added.
Potable water aboard the Salish Heron, sailing between Tsawwawwen and the Southern Gulf Islands, will not be available for drinking or food preparation on Thursday.
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BC Ferries says that customers will be informed through onboard and terminal announcements and posted signage.
Bottled water will be available on board, and full food service will be offered with adjustments in place to ensure food is prepared safely. Ferry service will continue as scheduled.
In addition, a mechanical issue caused by a large tire in the ocean becoming lodged around the vessel’s propeller has affected the route between Chemainus, Penelakut Island and Thetis Island.
On Thursday, all sailings until 6:50 p.m. are cancelled, with the following sailings at risk of cancellation on April 2:
- 7:30 p.m. departing Chemainus
- 8:05 p.m. departing Preedy Harbour
- 8:25 p.m. departing Telegraph Harbour
- 9:40 p.m. departing Chemainus
- 10:15 p.m. departing Telegraph Harbour
- 10:35 p.m. departing Preedy Harbour
- 11:20 p.m. departing Chemainus
- 11:55 p.m. departing Telegraph Harbour
Harbour Air is taking advantage of the delays by offering passengers a discount if they can’t get on a BC Ferry.
Starting on Thursday, Harbour Air is offering 50 per cent off scheduled flights between Vancouver and Victoria and Vancouver and Nanaimo.
Travellers can book using promo code EASTER2026 from April 2 at 11 a.m. to April 3 at 11:59 p.m., for travel from April 3 to April 6 on select routes, the company said.
Travellers must show proof of a BC Ferries reservation at check-in.
Meanwhile, BC Ferries says it is investigating a near-miss incident that occurred last month on its northern route between McLoughlin Bay, Bella Bella and Ocean Falls.
On March 8, the Northern Adventure briefly deviated from its planned course to allow crew to take necessary measures to secure the vessel in heavy weather, BC Ferries said in a statement.
As they did this, the ferry went into shallow water, which was only nine metres deep at its shallowest point.
The crew was then able to correct the vessel and return to the planned track.
BC Ferries said it reported the incident to Transport Canada and has launched an internal review.
The organization said there were no injuries and no environmental impacts from the incident.
“Incidents of this nature are rare, and when they happen, we take them seriously,” Jiminez said.
“Following standard protocol, we submitted a preliminary report to Transport Canada immediately after the incident, and this morning have now submitted a more detailed report to the Transportation Safety Board.”
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