Crew shortage prompts cancellation of all ferry sailings between 2 B.C. islands
All ferry sailings between two of B.C.'s Discovery Islands have been cancelled Saturday because of a lack of crew.
BC Ferries announced the cancellations on the route between Heriot Bay on Quadra Island and Whaletown on Cortes Island in a statement Saturday morning. Initially, the company said six sailings had been cancelled, but by 10 a.m., all 12 of the sailings on the route Saturday were affected.
"We require a specific number of crew members on board the vessel to ensure the safety of our passengers in the unlikely event of an emergency and to comply with Transport Canada regulations," BC Ferries said in the statement.
"The decision to cancel a sailing in these circumstances is made when we have exhausted all options to find replacement crew."
The route between Quadra and Cortes islands is served by the vessel Tachek, which was built in 1969 and has a capacity of 150 passengers and crew, as well as 26 cars.
It's the only BC Ferries route serving Cortes Island.
"We appreciate your patience and apologize for any inconvenience you may experience as a result of these cancellations," the company said.
BC Ferries has been struggling with staff shortages for months, even as it works to hire more people and welcomes back employees who were placed on leave without pay because of the federal COVID-19 vaccine mandate for transportation workers.
The company said this week that it has hired approximately 850 workers since the start of the year. About 150 people were placed on leave because of the vaccine mandate.
"We are still struggling to find licensed experienced officers," BC Ferries president and CEO Mark Collins said late last month, noting the shortage of experienced mariners is a worldwide issue and has been for years.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
Regina police officer injured after being accidentally shot by fellow officer's gun
An investigation is underway after a Regina police officer was accidentally shot by a fellow officer’s gun during the search of a house early Friday morning.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.