BC Ferries

[Express691]

Apparently a service to Galiano Island had to U-Turn back to Tsawwassen this evening because the crew forgot to load the foot passengers

 

[Articulated]

The Powell River Queen retired this afternoon; it had a mechanical problem in the afternoon and cancelled all its sailings from 4-7pm. Island K'ulut'a came out around 7pm (as was scheduled) in relief.

Starting tomorrow, the Campbell River to Quadra Island route will operate with 2 Island class vessels (Island K'ulut'a and Island Nagalis) during peak times. The Nanaimo Harbour to Gabriola Island route made a similar switch last year.

Mayne Queen is now the lass vessel from the class that is still "active", and will supposedly receive a refit to continue as a spare vessel in the fleet. That class seems more flexible in deployment than the current minor-class spare vessels, Quinitsa and Quadra Queen II.

[Express691]

Special sighting scheduled for select days in December until the 12th resulting in a refit of the Queen of New Westminster:

Salish Heron to operate the Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay route

https://www.bcferries.com/travel-advisories/8799599243043

[Articulated]

The BC Ferries Commissioner has officially approved the purchase of 4 new major vessels. These will replace Queen of Alberni, Queen of Coquitlam, Queen of Cowichan, and Queen of New Westminster. BC Ferries has already completed the design of the new ferries, procurement for their construction is expected to be awarded this summer, and the vessels are expected to enter service between 2029 and 2031.

The remaining two C-class vessels (Queen of Oak Bay and Queen of Surrey, both built in 1981) will receive additional refurbishments and life extensions to remain in the fleet for longer.

The result is a little disappointing, given that BC Ferries was lobbying for a 5th major vessel to be included in this contract award. This 5th major vessel would have allowed for badly-needed extra capacity during the summer months (likely on route 1 Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay) or at a minimum provide a spare vessel in the peak periods for when something breaks down. Right now there are zero spare major vessels during the summer period, so any breakdowns means routes operate without. Even during the off-peak period, only one spare vessel is available so the refit period is a tangled mess. As was shown with the extended outage of Queen of New Westminster last fall through this winter, the inappropriately-sized Salish Heron needed to be drafted in for most of the time to provide extra capacity on route 1 to compensate for the loss of QoNW.

BC Ferries page on the new major vessels: https://www.bcferries.com/in-the-community/projects/new-major-vessels

Ferry Commissioner's decision: http://www.bcferrycommission.ca/commissioner-releases-order-25-01-and-reasons-for-the-new-major-vessels-project/

[Articulated]

The former Queen of Sidney, which was decommissioned and has been moored/abandoned on the Fraser River ever since, caught fire last night.

https://www.langleyadvancetimes.com/news/derelict-queen-of-sidney-ferry-goes-up-in-flames-on-fraser-river-in-mission-7985261