The Spirit of Vancouver Island was brought back into service a day earlier than expected after two sailings on the Swartz Bay-Tsawwassen run were cancelled due to crew shortages. The vessel had been out of service for repairs, leaving only the Coastal Inspiration and Spirit of British Columbia on the route. B.C. Ferries warned travellers without reservations to expect “multiple” sailing waits at Swartz Bay. The addition of the Spirit of Vancouver Island allowed for three extra sailings, and the vessel is set to resume regular operation the following day.
The cancellation of sailings is a last resort for B.C. Ferries, as the company ensures the safety of passengers and compliance with Transport Canada regulations by having a specific number of crew members on board. Customers with bookings on affected sailings are contacted and offered space on a later sailing or a full refund. B.C. Ferries faces fines of $7,000 for major route cancellations due to staff shortages, and $1,000 for certain minor routes.
B.C. United Leader Kevin Falcon criticized B.C. Ferries for the cancellations, suggesting that the fines should be directed at senior executives to ensure accountability. Falcon noted that B.C. Ferries was able to find new executive vice-presidents but seemed to struggle with finding crew members to operate the ships. The fines are part of the service contract between the province and B.C. Ferries.
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