BC Ferries sailings hampered by forecasted high winds and vessel problems

VICTORIA — British Columbia’s ferry operator has been plagued by a combination of vessel troubles and expected winds that have led to cancelled sailings on some routes.

BC Ferries has issued a notice alerting passengers to several confirmed and potential cancellations on the Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay run late Monday and Tuesday morning due to strong winds in the forecast in the Strait of Georgia.

It says there were also “precautionary operating limits” on the Spirit of Vancouver Island, a ship used on the same route that returned to service on the Easter long weekend after a generator problem put it out of commission last week.

A subsequent notice from the ferry operator says two sailings between Tsawwassen and Nanaimo’s Duke Point were at risk of cancellation Monday night due to forecasted winds and the “unfavourable sea state” in the region.

BC Ferries had struggled with another vessel breakdown over the weekend on the run between Metro Vancouver and the Sunshine Coast, with the Queen of Surrey sidelined by a mechanical issue.

The vessel was put back into service Sunday after a refit, then pulled again, leading to the cancellation of several sailings between Horseshoe Bay and Langdale.

Another ferry was later diverted and water taxis were brought in to take foot passengers for “complimentary service until full service has resumed,” BC Ferries said.

It did not provide a timeline on when the Queen of Surrey might return to service.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 6, 2026.