BC Ferries has finalized a modified schedule on the Saltery Bay-Earls Cove route to accommodate the speed of the replacement vessel, Queen of Chilliwack.
Since replacing the Island Sky on the route on September 12, the Chilliwack has been unable to maintain the regular schedule. According to BC Ferries, engineering issues associated with the age of the ship are affecting its speed.
The company has created two schedules, one for the shoulder/holiday season and the other for off-peak times.
The new schedules come into effect on Wednesday, October 2. The crossing time has been extended to 60 minutes from the current 50 minutes to allow for reduced vessel speed.
The modified schedules have been aligned with the Horseshoe Bay-Langdale schedule to promote more reliable connections.
The shoulder/holiday season schedule will be in effect from Wednesday, October 2 to Monday, October 14 and again from Friday, December 20 to Sunday, December 29. The vessel leaves Saltery Bay 4:15 am except Sundays and December 25, 6:35 am, 9:05 am, 11:30 am, 2:55 pm, 5:30 pm, 7:55 pm and 10:10 pm. It leaves Earls Cove at 5:20 am except Sundays and December 25, 7:50 am, 10:15 am, 12:45 pm, 4:15 pm, 6:40 pm, 9:05 pm and 11:15 pm.
The off-peak schedule will be in effect from Tuesday, October 15 to Thursday, December 19 and from December 30 to March 9, 2014. The vessel leaves Saltery Bay at 4:15 am except Sundays and January 1, 6:35 am, 9:05 am, 11:30 am, 2:40 pm, 5:15 pm, 7:40 pm and 9:55 pm. It leaves Earls Cove at 5:20 am except Sundays and January 1, 7:50 am, 10:15 am, 12:45 pm, 4 pm, 6:25 pm, 8:50 pm and 11 pm.
With the expanded schedule, the first sailing will depart at 4:15 am and the last sailing will be at either 11 pm or 11:15 pm, depending on the time frame. BC Ferries will monitor the utilization of the early morning and late night sailings. If the usage of these sailings is low, company may revisit the schedule, in consultation with the community. Any temporary reduction in service would require the authorization of the BC Ferries Commissioner for the remaining period until the Island Sky returns to the route in March 2014.
Previous changes to the Texada Island to Powell River service have been cancelled. The regularly scheduled 6:10 am sailing from Texada to Powell River will remain.
During terminal construction at Westview from January 11 to March 9, 2014, an alternate schedule will be in effect for Texada Island.
BC Ferries consulted with the Northern Sunshine Coast Ferry Advisory Committee, said Darin Guenette, BC Ferries public affairs manager. “I think we’ve found a good balance,” he said. “We’re highly confident that it will be a reliable schedule, both for on-time performance and for the long-term maintenance of the Chilliwack. It will put much less strain on her engines.”
The Island Sky will be returning to service on the Saltery Bay-Earls Cove route on March 10, 2014 and will resume the regular schedule.
