Ferry passengers travelling between Nanaimo and Vancouver have set sail again after being delayed this morning.
According to a press release, the Queen of Oak Bay was held in dock at Departure Bay due to a staffing issue. The 8:45 a.m. sailing was affected, said Tessa Humphries, B.C. Ferries spokeswoman, and it is operating 70 minutes behind schedule.
“We had a crew member fall ill and they required immediate attention, so our crew and team worked really hard to source a replacement crew member,” Humphries told the News Bulletin. The ferry was loaded and departed “pretty quickly” given the circumstances, she said.
Humphries apologized for any inconvenience to passengers and said that B.C. Ferries must adhere to Transport Canada regulations, which require a specific number of crew aboard a vessel to ensure passenger safety.
“At this point in time, we’re doing our best to maintain schedule and clear traffic,” said Humphries.
reporter@nanaimobulletin.com
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