BC Ferries cancels many Christmas Day sailings, says others 'at risk'

The stormy weather in the forecast for B.C.'s South Coast is already disrupting many Christmas Day travel plans.

BC Ferries has cancelled more a number of scheduled sailings for Dec. 25, including half of the trips between Tsawwassen and Victoria's Swartz Bay, citing anticipated "high winds and waves in the Strait of Georgia."

Others have been cancelled between Horseshoe Bay and Nanaimo's Departure Bay, and between Comox and Powell River – and the company has warned additional trips are "at risk" as of Tuesday afternoon, including every sailing between Tsawwassen and Nanaimo's Duke Point.

"The safety of our passengers and crew is a top priority – we obviously don't want to sail if it's unsafe to do so," said Sonia Lowe, spokesperson for BC Ferries.

The company was in contact with Environment and Climate Change Canada throughout the day while deciding which sailings to cancel, Lowe told CTV News.

"We obviously don’t want to cancel any sailings if we don't need to," she said.

BC Ferries urged would-be holiday travellers to check the latest service notices before heading to the terminals on Wednesday.

"We know you have important places to be," reads one notice posted on Christmas Eve.

As of early Tuesday evening, the cancelled departures for Dec. 25 included the 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. departures from Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay. The 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. sailings between the terminals are considered at risk as well, BC Ferries said.

The 10:40 a.m., 1 p.m., 3:45 p.m. and 6:35 p.m. departures from Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay have also been called off for Christmas Day, as have the 10:40 a.m., 1 p.m., 3:20 p.m. and 5:55 p.m. sailings in the other direction. Several later sailings on the route are also at risk. 

The most up-to-date information on impacted sailings is available on the BC Ferries website. 

The company said affected customers with reservations will receive automatic refunds. The BC Ferries customer service centre will be open until 7 p.m. on Christmas Eve, and from noon to 4 p.m. on Christmas Day.

The forecasted weather conditions have prompted a series of warnings from Environment and Climate Change Canada, including for Metro Vancouver, Greater Victoria and the Sunshine Coast.

The agency is expecting heavy rain and gusting winds for much of the region – and has cautioned the latter could end up "tossing loose objects and damaging outdoor holiday decorations."

In Metro Vancouver, the winds are expected to gradually ease up on Christmas night, while the rainfall could continue into Boxing Day.