The trip at 9:30 p.m. from Departure Bay in Nanaimo to Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver on the Queen of Alberni was cancelled, as was the return trip scheduled for 11:40 p.m. Earlier in the day, BC Ferries had issued a service alert stating that some services on the route were at risk due to crew availability. Found enough workers available to keep the remaining scheduled services on the route. The ferry service said staff would contact customers with bookings on the canceled routes to let them know if space is available on an alternative journey or if their booking needs to be cancelled. “In the event of cancellation, we will refund fees and/or fares,” BC Ferries said in a service announcement. The Departure Bay to Horseshoe Bay route was not the only one with cancellations on Sunday. Several Quinsam sailings between Crofton on Vancouver Island and Vesuvius on Salt Spring Island were also canceled. BC Ferries said all ferry services in both directions from 6:45 p.m. and then they were cancelled. Two water taxis, with a total capacity of 18 passengers, will operate the route in place of the canceled Quinsam services, the ferry service announced. “We require a certain number of crew members on board to ensure the safety of our passengers in the unlikely event of an emergency and to comply with Transport Canada regulations,” BC Ferries said. “The decision to cancel a trip in these conditions is made when we have exhausted all options to find replacement crew. That said, if conditions change and replacement crew becomes available, we will notify customers immediately.” The company has been struggling with limited crew availability and periodic sailing cancellations for months. Last month, just a week before former CEO Mark Collins was fired, BC Ferries said the level of absenteeism among workers had doubled from where it was before the COVID-19 pandemic. At any given time, a spokesman said, about 11 percent of ferry service workers are unavailable due to illness, vacation or other reasons. The company advises travelers to check its Twitter account or visit the current conditions page on its website for the most up-to-date sailing and departure information.
