More sailings are being cancelled as a vessel on the Duke Point-Tsawwassen ferry run is docked due to mechanical issues.
In a service notice, B.C. Ferries said the Queen of Alberni has been removed from service for the rest of the week due to a gearbox issue, with an engineering team working to rectify the problem.
Due to the issue, Tsawwassen-Duke Point sailings at 5:15 a.m. and 8:15 p.m. from today, Nov. 3 to Friday, Nov. 6, will be cancelled, as will 7:45 a.m. sailings from Duke Point to Tsawwassen.
A 10:45 p.m. sailing from Duke Point to Tsawwassen, from Nov. 3-5, will be a “cargo-only” sailing with passengers limited to 84 and priority for commercial vehicles and essential service workers, B.C. Ferries said.
On Saturday, Nov. 7 and Sunday, Nov. 8, the 5:15 a.m., 10:15 a.m., 3:15 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. sailings from Tsawwassen to Duke Point will be cancelled, as will 7:45 a.m., 12:45 p.m., 5:45 p.m. and 10:45 p.m. sailings from Duke Point to Tsawwassen.
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B.C. Ferries apologized for the inconvenience to passengers and said it was working to resolve the issue.
Gearbox issues with the Queen of Alberni last Tuesday saw close to 200 passengers stranded for hours after it broke down and a breakdown Oct. 18, due to an issue with the controllable pitch propeller, also resulted in sailing cancellations.
For up-to-date information, see @BCFerries on Twitter, view the ‘current conditions’ tab on www.bcferries.com or call 1-888-223-3779.
reporter@nanaimobulletin.com
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