BC Ferries vessel expected to remain out of service into October
BC Ferries says it will be more than a month before its Coastal Renaissance ferry returns to service.
The vessel has been docked for days now, after an issue with its motor took it out of service on Aug. 17.
In an update Tuesday, the provincial ferry provider said the Coastal Renaissance will not be back in service until October.
The ship is normally a workhorse on the route between Tsawwassen in Metro Vancouver and Duke Point in Nanaimo.
To mitigate the effects of the loss of the Coastal Renaissance's sailings, another ship – the Queen of Coquitlam – is being taken off of the route between Horseshoe Bay in Metro Vancouver and Langdale on the Sunshine Coast.
The Queen of Coquitlam will serve the Tsawwassen to Duke Point route on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, said BC Ferries CEO Nicholas Jimenez during a virtual news conference Tuesday.
"That will help mitigate – not entirely, but in part – some of the impacts associated with the Renaissance undergoing an unexpected repair," Jimenez said.
Officials said they continue to contact customers with bookings on the Coastal Renaissance to offer rebookings, refunds and vouchers for free future travel. By Thursday, they expect to be done contacting customers with bookings through the Labour Day long weekend.
"With the Queen of Coquitlam coming on this route, we've been able to protect about 3,000 bookings that otherwise would've been impacted, so we're really happy that that vessel is available on Tuesdays and Wednesdays," said Karen Tindall, the ferry provider's director of customer care, at the news conference.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Celine Dion delivers stirring comeback performance at Paris Olympics opening ceremony
Against the rainy Paris night sky, Celine Dion staged the comeback of her career with a powerful performance from the Eiffel Tower to open the Olympic Games.
Jasper wildfire: 'Several weeks' before residents can return, premier says
Premier Danielle Smith said Friday afternoon in Hinton while weather conditions are cooler, the Jasper fire is still considered out of control and that Jasper residents can expect to be away from their homes 'for several weeks.'
Missing 3-year-old boy found dead in creek in Mississauga, Ont.: police
A three-year-old boy has been found dead a day after he went missing in a park in Mississauga, Ont., Peel police say.
Irish museum pulls Sinead O'Connor waxwork after just one day due to backlash
An Irish museum will withdraw a waxwork of singer-songwriter Sinéad O'Connor just one day after installing it, following a backlash from her family and the public, it told CNN in a statement on Friday.
Winnipeg senior's account overdrawn for $146,000 water bill
A Winnipeg senior is getting soaked with a six-figure water bill.
FBI says Trump was indeed struck by bullet during assassination attempt
Nearly two weeks after Donald Trump’s near assassination, the FBI confirmed Friday that it was indeed a bullet that struck the former president’s ear, moving to clear up conflicting accounts about what caused the former U.S. president’s injuries after a gunman opened fire at a Pennsylvania rally.
Driver charged after flashing high beams at approaching police
Orillia OPP arrested and charged a driver with impaired driving after flashing their high beams.
Turpel-Lafond won't sue CBC over Cree heritage report that took 'heavy toll': lawyer
The lawyer for a former judge whose claims to be Cree were questioned in a CBC investigation says his client is not considering legal action against the broadcaster after the Law Society of British Columbia this week backed her claims of Indigenous heritage.
Major Canadian bank experiences direct deposit outage on payday
Scotiabank says it has fixed a technical issue that impacted direct deposits on Friday morning.