Mechanical Issues Cause Cancellations for ‘Spirit of Vancouver Island’
On March 22, 2026, the ‘Spirit of Vancouver Island’ ferry faced mechanical problems, leading to the cancellation of several sailings between Greater Victoria and Metro Vancouver. The vessel experienced a generator failure on its starboard side, forcing it to remain at the Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal for the entire day. Affected sailings included the 7 a.m., 11 a.m., and 3 p.m. departures from Swartz Bay, along with the 1 p.m., 5 p.m., 7 p.m., and 9 p.m. departures from Tsawwassen.
B.C. Ferries took immediate action by contacting customers with reservations on the cancelled sailings. They provided information on alternative travel options or the possibility of cancelling their bookings. However, other vessels such as the ‘Spirit of British Columbia’, ‘Coastal Renaissance’, and ‘Queen of New Westminster‘ were at or near full capacity, limiting options for stranded passengers. Travelers were advised to consider the Tsawwassen-Duke Point route to Nanaimo as an alternative. The ‘Spirit of Vancouver Island’ remained out of service as of March 23, with the ferry operator promising to resume its service once the mechanical issue was resolved.
Mechanical Issues Cause Ferry Cancellations on Departure Bay Route
Rescue Operation After Passenger Falls Overboard
In a separate incident, a person fell overboard from the ‘Spirit of Vancouver Island’ shortly after departing Tsawwassen on September 3, 2026. The incident occurred around 1 p.m., just 15 minutes into the journey to Swartz Bay. BC Ferries responded quickly, deploying rescue boats to the scene. Crew members successfully pulled the individual from the water with assistance from the ‘Queen of New Westminster’ and a Coastguard hovercraft.
A BC Ambulance Service crew was already stationed at the Tsawwassen terminal, ready to transport the rescued passenger to the hospital. Fortunately, the individual was reported to be in stable condition. Due to this incident, the ‘Spirit of Vancouver Island’ arrived at Swartz Bay one hour late. Passengers were advised to expect potential delays on the Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay ferry route while the situation was being managed.
Earlier Mechanical Issues Result in Delays
Earlier on August 10, 2026, the ‘Spirit of Vancouver Island’ faced another mechanical issue, this time affecting its propulsion system. The ferry, scheduled for a 7 a.m. departure from Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen, left nearly two hours late. This delay caused a ripple effect, impacting subsequent sailings, including the 9 a.m. from Tsawwassen and the 11 a.m. from Swartz Bay.
As a solution, passengers from the delayed ferry were transferred to the 8 a.m. sailing on the ‘Queen of New Westminster’. B.C. Ferries worked diligently to minimize disruptions, but the cascading delays highlighted the challenges faced by ferry services during mechanical failures. The issue was resolved, allowing for normal operations to resume shortly thereafter.
