BC Ferries Still Working Out Schedule After Vessel Loses Propeller

BC Ferries continues to work out the full impact on the sailing schedule after one of its vessels lost a propeller last week.

"This situation highlights the clear need for resiliency in our fleet to meet customer expectations and it’s why we will be seeking approval from the Ferry Commissioner to build and add a net new vessel to our major routes,” said Nicolas Jimenez, President and CEO of BC Ferries.

“If we had a backup vessel available, this incident would have had minimal impact on service. It underscores the importance of our fleet renewal strategy to ensure we have the capacity and resilience to manage unexpected issues and vessel repairs.”

All sailings of the Queen of New Westminster have been canceled through September 30th, for now, but that will be extended.

The required repairs are anticipated to be significant and include work on both the port and starboard propeller systems before the vessel can be returned to service.

Its annual refit will also be conducted during this time.

BC Ferries says the return to service timing will depend heavily on global parts availability and manufacturing timelines.

The company is reviewing options for where it may be able to add sailings on the route with other vessels, as well as other potential adjustments to the refit schedule.

President and CEO Nicolas Jimenez says the situation highlights the need for resiliency, and the company will be seeking approval from the Ferry Commissioner to build and add a net new vessel to their major routes.

He says having a backup vessel would have meant minimal impact on service.

The propeller, which weighs approximately 10,000 pounds, was found half-submerged in the seabed and took two days to recover, as the operation could only be conducted at night when other vessels were not traveling the route to ensure crew safety and maintain service continuity.

BC Ferries will continue to provide updates on the repair process, scheduling changes, and customer impacts as more information becomes available.

For more information, visit BC Ferries.