Overloads and late sailings continued this week as BC Ferries completes work at the Langdale terminal with the Queen of Coquitlam and MV Island Sky splitting duties on Route 3.
The work to install a $6-million pontoon is the first major project under a master plan to rebuild Langdale that was drafted in 2013. Other parts of the plan include upgrades to the terminal buildings and pedestrian walkway, construction of a foot passenger gangway similar to the ones used in Horseshoe Bay, and a new waiting lounge.
BC Ferries has been hoping for federal infrastructure money for the work at Langdale and other terminals, and there could be confirmation of that funding this week.
West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country MP Pam Goldsmith-Jones, Liberal MLA Jordan Sturdy of West Vancouver-Sea to Sky and incoming BC Ferries president Mark Collins were scheduled to be in Langdale March 31 for “an important infrastructure event.”
During the two months the Langdale-Horseshoe Bay service was running on an hourly schedule with the Queen of Surrey and Queen of Coquitlam taking half-loads, reaction from the community was overwhelmingly positive. Coast Reporter had a steady stream of letters from travellers wanting to see the change made permanent, and at one point in February BC Ferries said the on-time performance was around 99 per cent.
Reaction since March 20 has taken a different tone, with complaints about the unreliable service and frequent overloads.
Two things changed March 20: the MV Island Sky replaced the Queen of Surrey, and the new pontoon structure for Berth 1 arrived. Work to secure the pontoon requires the ships to slow down approaching the terminal, adding to sailing times. And the MV Island Sky carries about 50 fewer vehicles and makes the crossing slower than the larger ferries.
After a problem-plagued start to the week, BC Ferries issued a service notice last Thursday advising “that there may be possible sailing delays on our Horseshoe Bay-Langdale route from [March 23] through Thursday March 30.”
The company followed that up with a more detailed notice explaining that wave action caused minor damage to the partially-installed pontoon, which led BC Ferries to designate a “no wake” zone around the berth at Langdale. That’s added from five to 10 minutes time for each trip.
“To minimize delays, BC Ferries has been making every effort to expedite loading and unloading the vessels during this time. Extra crew has been assigned to the Island Sky to assist with loading operations,” the notice said.
Deborah Marshall of BC Ferries told Coast Reporter this week that there’s been no change to the April 7 date for Berth 1 to reopen and service to return to normal.
