The Coastal Celebration, which provides ferry service between Swartz Bay and Tsawwassen, was pulled from service again on Tuesday morning due to continuing problems with its propulsion system.
Its 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. sailings were cancelled, but Transport Canada cleared the ferry for its 10 a.m. and noon, and 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. round trips on Tuesday, said B.C. Ferries spokesperson Karen Johnston, adding the situation will be “closely monitored” throughout the day.
On Monday, propulsion-system problems led to two sailing cancellations for the ferry before it returned to service in the early afternoon.
Divers were called in for a Monday-evening inspection of the ferry after oil was found leaking from the vessel’s propeller hub.
Sailings on the Coastal Celebration were cancelled on the Canada Day weekend because its refit took longer than expected. Fewer sailings led to an extra-busy weekend for the ferry system.
The Coastal Celebration was built in 2008. It is 525 feet (160 metres) long and can carry 310 cars and up to 1,604 passengers and crew.
