Two ferry sailings were cancelled and one sailing delayed over an hour on the Horseshoe Bay - Langdale route Wednesday morning while B.C. Ferries engineers investigated a possible engine oil leak.
After inspections, the crew determined an oil slick it saw in the water in Horseshoe Bay did not come from the Queen of Coquitlam ferry.
B.C. Ferries spokeswoman Deborah Marshall said it is better to be safe than sorry with environmental issues so they had to check to make sure everything was running smoothly.
While the scheduled 7:20 a.m. ferry was docked in Horseshoe Bay, the crew noticed an oil sheen in the water and launched a rescue boat to investigate, Marshall said. The crew thought the oil leak was coming from one of the engines, so it shut one engine down and sailed back to Langdale running on the other engine, leaving at 8:42.
After arriving in Langdale, the crew continued its inspection, during which time the 8:20 sailing from Langdale and 9:20 sailing from Horseshoe Bay were cancelled. The crew determined the engines were not leaking oil. The 10:20 sailing then left Langdale on time, with overloads left behind at the terminal.
Crews also inspected the Queen of Capilano, which was clear of leaks. B.C. Ferries continued to investigate the source of the oil slick in Horseshoe Bay Wednesday.
Wednesday was the final day B.C. Ferries was docking the Coquitlam in berth two at Langdale while berth one underwent hydraulic repairs. Marshall expected the ferry would switch back to berth one at the end of the day Wednesday. She said the hydraulic repairs went fine, there were no problems and they are right on track.
The delays, cancellations and overloads had impacts on both sides of the water Wednesday morning. The visiting provincial court judge was on the scheduled 7:20 sailing, so Sechelt provincial court proceedings were delayed as a result of the ferry delay. Proceedings began approximately half an hour to an hour late, according to the court registry.
Ferry traveller Peter Gorman, a Powell River resident, was one of the overload vehicles left behind at the Langdale terminal after the 10:20 sailing left, although he had arrived over half an hour before the sailing. He was travelling to the Lower Mainland to pick up a Powell River friend who was receiving cancer treatment. He eventually managed to get a phone message to the Park Royal cafeteria where she was to meet him, to notify of the delay.
"I don't mind the wait myself but it's just inconveniencing the person who is sick and wants to get home," Gorman said.
He was surprised when he pulled into the terminal to see all the cars waiting, similar to summer ferry terminal traffic. While he waited, he noticed some cars turning around and leaving the terminal. But he understood why there were so many cars once he learned the ferry had possible engine issues.
"This is an unusual circumstance," he said.- With files from Ian Jacques
