Passengers stranded for hours after B.C. ferry breaks down near Swartz Bay
Credit to Author: The Canadian Press| Date: Thu, 07 Nov 2019 23:22:44 +0000
A mechanical problem on a B.C. Ferries vessel Thursday turned a 40-minute sailing into a four-hour marathon for passengers travelling though in southern Gulf Islands.
Ferries spokeswoman Deborah Marshall says the Salish Raven had a problem with one of its two thrusters while making the short trip from Pender Island to Swartz Bay, just north of Victoria.
The ferry set out at 9:10 a.m. and was due to dock just before 10 a.m., but Marshall says it idled off Swartz Bay until nearly 1:30 p.m., when a tug was able to assist it with docking.
She says all 85 passengers safely left the ship and technicians are now checking the troubled bow thruster to determine what caused the malfunction.
The malfunction led to the cancellation of at least three morning sailings.
The Salish Raven has been in service for just 30 months and Marshall says it can manoeuvre with a single thruster, but safety procedures require a tug to assist with docking if two functioning thrusters are not available.
BC Ferries replaced the Salish Raven with another vessel. B.C. Ferries says the MV Mayne Queen will provide extra service with an additional round trip between Swartz Bay and Otter Bay on Pender Island.
B.C. Ferries spokeswoman Deborah Marshall says the passengers are being provided free food and beverages.
The Salish Raven was one of three Polish-built ferries brought into service in 2017 by B.C. Ferries.