B.C. Ferries pulls vessel from service for weeks for repairs

B.C. Ferries says it's taking a vessel on the busy Swartz Bay-Tsawwassen route out of service until the end of the month after it lost a propeller.

Earlier in the week, the operator cancelled 35 sailings of the Queen of New Westminster through Sunday due to mechanical issues.

Spokesperson Jeff Groot told CBC News Thursday that divers who inspected it found out that one of the propellers was "sheared off" from the shaft.

As a result, the 60-year-old vessel — which can carry more than 1,300 people and just over 250 vehicles — needs to go through repairs and all sailings have been cancelled through Sept. 30.

Groot assured that the operator can still accommodate travellers.

"It's never great, but actually we did get a little bit lucky that it happened after the unofficial end of our peak season," he said. "So impacts like this, while they're never desired, have less of an impact on our customers than it would otherwise."

The situation also caused a leak of 800 litres of fuel, Groot said.

He said the leak consisted of light hydraulic oil that usually evaporates quickly from the water surface. He added that other vessels that sail on the same route haven't been able to detect any kind of leftover oil sheen, and the operator is also working closely with the Coast Guard. 

"We're feeling pretty good that there's been really minimal impact," he said. "But our commitment to … protecting the environment in which we operate is really important to us, and it's never an ideal situation."

The Canadian Coast Guard told CBC News Friday that B.C. Ferries notified it about the leak Tuesday morning. 

It said crews that assessed the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal Tuesday saw "some non-recoverable sheen." It added that an overflight was conducted in the area between Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal on Wednesday, but there was no observation of visible pollution. 

The Coast Guard said Friday that it has ended its response efforts because the situation remains stable, and there have been no reports of oil. 

The Queen of New Westminster is one of a number of vessels that are set to be retired in the next few years, the operator said in a news release Thursday. It said the other ships — the Queen of Alberni, Queen of Coquitlam and Queen of Cowichan, all of which are almost 50 years old — are slated to be going through their regular refit process in October and November. 

In addition, B.C. Ferries said it will soon post a request for proposals for new vessels that will allow it to expand its fleet and increase capacity on its busiest routes. Last fall, the operator issued a request for expressions of interest to build up to seven new vessels. 

"We're looking at the future of the ferry system with a lens of how do we best serve the public," Groot said.

"We can't just let them age out without replacing them, and we need to increase the size of our fleet because we know more people are moving to the region and it's really our responsibility to deliver that for our customers."