UPDATE: BC Ferries has resumed service on its Swartz Bay – Tsawwassen route.
As of 5:30 p.m., BC Ferries was expecting to run sailings at 6, 7 and 9 p.m. from Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen with 7 and 9 p.m. sailings from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay.
#BCFHeadsUp As the situation evolves across the fleet we are working hard to keep all travellers informed. Please monitor our Twitter feed, & website: https://t.co/kdT80Y8SiD as we continue to make updates ASAP. ^et
— BC Ferries (@BCFerries) December 21, 2018
Around 80 sailings have been cancelled across 12 BC Ferries routes as Thursday morning’s storm along the B.C. coast raged.
BC Ferries made the announcement on their active Twitter page starting at 4:30 a.m., listing service notifications affecting popular routes between Tsawwassen and Duke Point, Swartz Bay, Horseshoe Bay, Departure Bay, Comox, Powell River and the Southern Gulf Islands.
“We haven’t seen a storm affecting this many sailings for about seven or eight years,” director of public affairs Deborah Marshall told Black Press this afternoon.
“The safety of our passengers and crew is of primary importance to us. We don’t take the decision to cancel sailings lightly, as we know customers rely on us to get to their destinations. We will resume service as soon as it is safe to do so.”
Marshall added that BC Ferries hopes the weather will subside later on Thursday as predicted by Environment Canada. No storms are predicted for tomorrow, Dec. 21, and sailings should continue as scheduled.
“We expect it will be busy as there will be extra demand from customers who were not able to travel today. We do have extra sailings scheduled for tomorrow (and the rest of the holidays through Jan 2),” she said in an email.
#ServiceNotice #Tsawwassen #SwartzBay #CoastalRenaissance has cancelled sailings due to adverse weather: https://t.co/SeEGc5KCdq ^jp
— BC Ferries (@BCFerries) December 20, 2018
Sailings at 3 p.m., 4 p.m., 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. have been cancelled for both Swartz Bay and Tsawwassen terminals.
Cortes Island (Whaletown) – Quadra Island (Heriot Bay) Update as of 1:20 pm:
Please be advised that the MV Tachek has cancelled the following sailings due to adverse weather conditions – high winds:
- 1:05 pm departing Quadra Island (Heriot Bay)
- 1:50 pm departing Cortes Island (Whaletown)
Vancouver (Tsawwassen) – Nanaimo (Duke Point) – Update as of 4:25 am:
Please be advised that the Queen of Alberni has cancelled the following sailings due to adverse weather conditions – high winds:
- 5:15 am departing Vancouver (Tsawwassen)
- 7:45 am departing Nanaimo (Duke Point)
- 10:15 am departing Vancouver(Tsawwassen)
- 12:45 pm departing Nanaimo (Duke Point)
Vancouver (Tsawwassen) – Victoria (Swartz Bay) – Update as of 5:30 pm:
Please be advised that BC Ferries has cancelled the following sailings due to adverse weather conditions – high winds:
- 7:00 am
- 9:00 am
- 10:00 am
- 11:00 am
- 12:00 pm
- 1:00 pm
- 2:00 pm
- 3:00 pm
- 5:00 pm
- 6:00 pm
Victoria (Swartz Bay) – Vancouver (Tsawwassen) – Update as of 3:00 pm:
Please be advised that BC Ferries has cancelled the following sailings due to adverse weather conditions – high winds:
- 7:00 am
- 8:00 am
- 9:00 am
- 11:00 am
- 12:00 pm
- 1:00 pm
- 2:00 pm
- 3:00 pm
- 5:00 pm
Nanaimo (Duke Point) – Vancouver (Tsawwassen) – Update as of 3:00 pm:
Please be advised that BC Ferries has cancelled the following sailings due to adverse weather conditions – high winds:
- 5:15 am
- 7:45 am
- 10:15 am
- 12:45 pm
Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) – Nanaimo (Departure Bay) – Update as of 5:37 am:
Please be advised that the Queen of Coquitlam has cancelled the following sailings due to adverse weather conditions – high winds:
- 6:15 am departing Nanaimo (Departure Bay)
- 8:25 am departing Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay)
Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) – Nanaimo (Departure Bay) – Update as of 5:39 am:
Please be advised that the Queen of Oak Bay has cancelled the following sailings due to adverse weather conditions – high winds:
- 6:15 am departing Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay)
- 8:25 am departing Nanaimo (Departure Bay)
Comox (Little River) – Powell River (Westview) – Update as of 5:41 am:
Please be advised that the Salish Raven has cancelled the following sailings due to adverse weather conditions – high winds:
- 6:15 am departing Little River
- 8:05 am departing Powell River
Vancouver (Tsawwassen) – Southern Gulf Islands – Update as of 5:51 am:
Please be advised that the Salish Eagle has cancelled the following sailings due to adverse weather conditions – high winds:
- 6:20 am departing Long Harbour
- 7:10 am departing Otter Bay
- 7:45 am departing Village Bay
- 8:20 am departing Sturdies Bay
- 9:55 am departing Tsawwassen
- 11:00 am departing Sturdies Bay
- 11:35 am departing Village Bay
- 12:10 pm departing Otter Bay
For up to date information on sailings and departure information, travellers are asked to follow @BCFerries on Twitter and visit the current conditions page on their website.
