Fluid leak closes Duke Point terminal

B.C. Ferries has closed its Duke Point terminal south of Nanaimo due to a hydraulic fluid spill from the Coastal Inspiration. Frank Camaraire, director of fleet engineering for B.C. Ferries, said about 120 litres of hydraulic fluid leaked into the water. “A hydraulic system opens and closes the bow doors at the end of the vessel,” said Camaraire. “There was a failure on that system.” The leak occurred at 9:30 a.m. Camaraire says the cleanup was completed by early afternoon. “I do know we were very quick at stopping the leak and capturing as much of it as possible,” he said. “Hydraulic fluid is much lighter than other kinds out there.” At least one sailing scheduled to depart from Duke Point to Tsawwassen was redirected to Departure Bay Terminal in Nanaimo. Foot passengers were provided transportation to Departure Bay. Passengers scheduled to travel on the Tsawwassen-Duke Point route are advised to check the B.C. Ferries website for updates. The Coastal Inspiration was relocated to Departure Bay for inspection. Built in 2008, the Inspiration, a 160-metre vessel, was taken out of service earlier this year as it had repairs to its propeller hub. In 2011, the Super C-class ferry slammed into the dock at Duke Point causing significant damage to the ship and the terminal. The crash put the ferry out of service for 23 days, while the Duke Point dock was closed for three months for repairs. The Transportation Safety Board later concluded the crew was partly to blame for the accident.