BC Ferries (BCF) had mechanical issues aboard both vessels that serve Route 3 between the Sunshine Coast and Langdale on Aug. 23.
At 3:16 p.m., the company issued a statement reading "The Queen of Coquitlam is currently holding in dock at Horseshoe Bay due to a mechanical issue. The 2:45 p.m. sailing from Horseshoe Bay to Langdale will be delayed as we investigate the problem with the ship’s fuel pump."
The Coquitlam had been filling in for the Queen of Surrey on Tuesday. That vessel began the day with controllable pitch propeller issues discovered before it was scheduled to depart Langdale for its first sailing of the day at 6:20 a.m.
BCF called the Queen of Coquitlam into service between Horseshoe Bay and Langdale, beginning with the 8:40 am sailing departing from Langdale terminal. Vehicle space was limited to the main car deck as service is restricted to Berth 2 in Langdale. A 12 passenger water taxi was also employed according to that statement.
At 2:42 p.m. BCF posted the Surrey was repaired and ready to leave Langdale shortly.
BCF's most recent posting reads "We are working to fix this [issues with the Coquitlam] and will keep you informed as more information becomes available. As soon as the problem is resolved, the vessel will resume service. For the most up-to-date sailing and departure information, follow @BCFerries on Twitter or visit our Current Conditions page at bcferries.com.
"We appreciate your patience and apologize for any inconvenience you may experience as a result of this sailing delay. The crew is doing everything they can to get us back on schedule."
Earlier postings stated "we ask reserved customers to arrive during the check-in window noted in your booking confirmation email to maintain your reserved status. This ensures we can stage your vehicle at the terminal ahead of standby customers and those reserved on later sailings. If you are travelling without a booking today, check our Current Conditions webpage to see how much space remains available on today’s sailings.
"Reserved customers who would like to cancel their booking can contact us for a full refund or have their reservation moved to an alternate sailing free of charge."
