The Queen of Alberni was diverted outside of Tsawwassen on its way to Duke Point after a 60-foot sailboat issued a mayday call Sunday afternoon.
A crack in the hull of the Amazing Grace sailboat prompted the call for help, said Lieut. Navy Tony Wright, spokesman for the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Victoria.
Two people were on the sailboat, which was at Sands Head near the mouth of the Fraser River, he said.
The V2V ferry Empress was also called, along with a Canadian Coast Guard vessel from the Kitsilano base and the Coast Guard hovercraft, a Canadian Search and Rescue craft from Steveston, and a Fraser River Port Authority vessel.
First on the scene was the port authority boat.
Crews on one of the responding vessels provided a pump to the sailboat and efforts were being made in early evening to stabilize the vessel.
Queen of Alberni was able to resume on its route and the Tsawwassen-Duke Point service is running on time, with no waits.
However, there was a one sailing wait at Swartz Bay for Tsawwassen in late afternoon. Motorists faced a two-sailing wait at Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay, B.C. Ferries web site stated shortly before 5 p.m.
