A modified schedule is now in effect until Thursday, Aug. 28 on the Langdale-Horseshoe Bay run after the Queen of Surrey was removed from service Tuesday morning.
A total of five sailings were cancelled on the route Sunday afternoon after engineers discovered a broken clutch on the vessel. The Surrey was pulled from the route after docking in Horseshoe Bay following the 10:50 a.m. sailing on Aug. 24. The Surrey returned to its route running on only three clutches for a 6 p.m. sailing.
BC Ferries spokesperson Deborah Marshall said Monday morning that they did not anticipate removing the Surrey until after the long weekend, but made the decision to pull the vessel and get the full repairs done as quickly as possible.
Modified schedule in effect Tues., Aug. 26 through Thurs., Aug 28
The second vessel servicing the route, the Queen of Coquitlam, will continue to provide service on a modified schedule.
The following schedule will be in place from today (Aug. 26) through Thursday, Aug. 28:
Sailings depart Langdale at 6:20 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 10:50 a.m., 1:05 p.m., 3:25 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 7:35 p.m. and 9:40 p.m.; sailings departing Horseshoe Bay at 7:25 a.m., 9:40 a.m., noon, 2:15 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 6:35 p.m., 8:40 p.m. and 10:35 p.m.
“The same number of round trips will be provided as usual, however some sailing times will be later in the day,” said a media release from BC Ferries. “On Thursday, two fewer round trips will be provided than originally planned, and BC Ferries predicts heavier traffic than usual mid to late afternoon.”
Based on historical traffic patterns and traffic modelling, BC Ferries expects to carry all the traffic to Langdale by the end of the operational day on Thursday. In the unlikely event that there is traffic left at Horseshoe Bay after the last scheduled sailing, an extra sailing will be provided to ensure all customers get to their destination.
In addition, an extra round trip will be provided on the Earls Cove – Saltery Bay route on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, departing Saltery Bay at 10:25 p.m. and departing Earls Cove at 11:25 p.m.
Subject to the clutch replacement, the Queen of Surrey is expected to return to service in the afternoon of Friday, Aug. 29.
More information will be provided later this week.
Horseshoe Bay terminal is expected to be congested at the beginning of the Labour Day long weekend. A traffic control plan will be in place at this location. Motorists are asked to obey instructions from traffic controllers and pay attention to highway signage.
“BC Ferries apologies for any inconvenience this temporary service interruption may cause and its engineers will work around the clock to effect mechanical repairs as quickly and safely as possible to return of the Queen of Surrey back to service,” concluded the release.”
