B.C. Ferries is offering free reservations on the Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay route for people travelling to Mayne Island in the next few days after hundreds of weekend travellers were caught in a massive traffic jam as they tried to leave the island on Sunday.
All sailings of Queen of Nanaimo between the Lower Mainland and the Gulf Islands were cancelled on Friday due to propeller problems. The Queen of Nanaimo, which has room for 160 cars and 900 passengers, is still out of service and won’t be operating until at least Thursday.
The smaller Salish Eagle, which holds 140 cars and 600 passengers, is running between Tsawwassen and Vancouver Island. B.C. Ferries is adding 12 sailing for the smaller ferry. The sailings will be on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
B.C. Ferries is working on getting Queen of Nanaimo back into service on Friday, in time for the long weekend, said corporation spokesman Darin Guenette.
If Queen of Nanaimo does not return to service, B.C. Ferries will put another ship on the route, if possible, he said.
The corporation is encouraging Lower Mainland customers to travel through Swartz Bay to the southern Gulf Islands. People interested in travelling through Swartz Bay to the southern Gulf Islands can contact the customer care centre at 1-888-223-3779.
