BC Ferries has pulled the Queen of Coquitlam out of service on the Langdale route due to a mechanical issue with the ferry, which runs in tandem with the Queen of Surrey on the summer schedule between Horseshoe Bay and Langdale.
The problem is a sealing mechanism on the propeller blades, the company said June 26, adding that the ferry would be out of service longer than first anticipated.
As a result, the Queen of Surrey will be the only ship on the run for another week.
“BC Ferries is advising customers that the Horseshoe Bay-Langdale route will be extremely busy June 27 through July 2 for the Canada Day long weekend,” the company said. “Unfortunately due to peak season demand, all other major vessels are serving other communities and can’t be redeployed to sail in [the Queen of Coquitlam’s] place.”
There will be eight round trips a day with the Queen of Surrey on the temporary schedule, and BC Ferries said customers with reservations on the Surrey’s previously scheduled trips will not have to change them.
BC Ferries is adding the following extra sailings:
June 27
• 7:30 p.m. sailing from Horseshoe Bay to Langdale (Queen of Cowichan)
• 8:30 p.m. sailing from Langdale to Horseshoe Bay (Queen of Cowichan)
June 28, 29, July 2
• 4 a.m. sailing from Langdale to Horseshoe Bay (Queen of Surrey)
• 5:10 a.m. sailing from Horseshoe Bay to Langdale (Queen of Surrey)
June 28
• 11:50 p.m. sailing from Horseshoe Bay to Langdale (Queen of Cowichan)
July 2
• 12:30 a.m. sailing from Langdale to Horseshoe Bay (Queen of Surrey)
June 27 – July 1
Up to three 40-person water taxis will follow the original Queen of Coquitlam schedule and provide service between the Horseshoe Bay government dock and Langdale terminal.
June 27, 28
• 9:30 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 2:05 p.m., 4:20 p.m. water taxi sailings from Langdale
• 10:40 a.m., 12:55 p.m., 3:15 p.m., 5:30 p.m. water taxi sailings from Horseshoe Bay
June 29
• 7:05 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11:45 a.m. water taxi sailings from Langdale
• 8:20 a.m., 10:40 a.m., 1:35 p.m. water taxi sailings from Horseshoe Bay
June 30, July 1
• 11:45 a.m., 2:05 p.m., 4:20 p.m. water taxi sailings from Langdale
• 12:55 p.m., 3:15 p.m., 5:30 p.m. water taxi sailings from Horseshoe Bay
BC Ferries said it will also be monitoring traffic levels closely over the long weekend, and has the ability to add extra service at the end of the night if the need arises.
Customers who had reservations on sailings that have been cancelled will be contacted via email.
