Ferry-refit delay puts off summer schedule
B.C. Ferries will delay the full launch of its summer schedule as a refit of the Coastal Inspiration is taking longer than expected.
Because repairs to a propeller hub have delayed its relaunch, B.C. Ferries has announced it will add only a portion of the additional sailings originally planned for the first week of the summer schedule on the Horseshoe Bayto-Departure Bay and Horseshoe Bay-to-Langdale routes.
“We wanted to start the peak summer service earlier than previous years given that traffic volumes are up, and have been looking forward to offering customers on these routes more sailings, earlier in the summer season,” said B.C. Ferries president Mark Collins.
“We recognize the timing isn’t good, and that our customers could be inconvenienced this weekend by possible sailing waits,” he said. “I want to assure our customers that we will carry all traffic on both routes each service day.”
With the Coastal Inspiration unavailable, the Queen of Coquitlam will be providing a reduced number of extra sailings on the two routes.
B.C. Ferries expects full summer service will be available on all routes in time for the Canada Day long weekend.
There will be additional sailings on most routes, including the busiest, Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay, which will be serviced by four vessels providing up to 32 sailings per day, including 6 a.m. departures Monday to Thursday and Saturdays.
The Horseshoe Bay-to-Departure Bay route will be serviced by three ships that will deliver up to 22 sailings per day, and Tsawwassen to Duke Point will use two vessels offering 16 sailings per day.