After nearly 200 days out of service for extensive repairs along with scheduled maintenance, the 60-year-old Queen of New Westminster will return to service March 14, just in time for Spring Break a March 13 BC Ferries (BCF) news release reported.
The ship has been sidelined since September after a failure in the propeller shaft caused the propeller to detach, something the corporation cited as "an issue attributed to structural fatigue" in the release.
"Given the extent of the damage, crews fully disassembled the propulsion system, replacing one damaged propeller shaft and proactively replacing the other to ensure future reliability. Additional inspections uncovered further issues, requiring repairs to the rudder system, hull, and protective coatings. These unplanned repairs totalled $5.5 million, on top of scheduled refit costs" the corporations statement reads.
Easter weekend impacts for Route 3
The 60-year old vessel won't be on the Langdale/Horseshoe Bay run (Route 3) upon her return. According to the release she will be pinch hitting for 43-year old Queen of Oak Bay, whose return from a scheduled refit has been delayed until March 31 due to an issue with her tail shaft bearings. The New West is slated to cover 16 of the 23 affected round trips on the Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay route during spring break.
"Some sailings will operate with reduced capacity due to vessel size differences. Further adjustments will be required as the Queen of Surrey, originally scheduled for refit in March, must now remain in service longer to provide coverage for the Queen of Oak Bay. As a result, the Queen of Surrey’s refit has been rescheduled, impacting travel between Horseshoe Bay-Departure Bay and Horseshoe Bay-Langdale over Easter weekend (April 18-21)," according to the release.
As of March 13 the online schedule for Route 3 shows some additional sailings on tap for the April 17, 18, 20 and 21. As always, the corporation recommends the public check for the latest sailing schedules and availability information on bcferries.com.
BCF's vice-president of customer experience Melanie Lucia stated in the release that "reliable ferry service is essential for connecting people, communities, and local businesses, especially as more British Columbians choose to explore their own backyard and support BC’s tourism economy this Spring Break... these recent refit challenges are a clear reminder that fleet renewal is critical to ensuring reliable service for customers today and into the future."
The document notes that spring break is one of BC Ferries’ busiest travel periods. "Higher-than-usual demand is expected this year, and customers are encouraged to plan ahead, book in advance, and check schedules regularly for updates," it states.
