Sailings that were at risk of cancellation between Nanaimo and Horseshoe Bay Wednesday are back on after a mechanical issue on a vessel was repaired, BC Ferries announced. The Queen of Cowichan was taken out of service Monday due to a problem with its main engine turbocharger, throwing a wrench in travel plans for thousands of people that continued Tuesday as all of the vessel’s sailings were cancelled. “We know you have important places to be and apologize for any inconvenience you may have experienced as a result of this mechanical issue,” BC Ferries wrote in a notice just after midnight Wednesday. Nanaimo RCMP were called to the Departure Bay terminal Tuesday to deal with several upset passengers, including a tourist who attempted to block other passengers from loading on to the ferry, according to the detachment. Police also had to calm down two frustrated passengers who were “abusive toward ferry staff,” the detachment wrote in an email to CTV News. Now that the vessel is back in service, BC Ferries asks anyone with a reservation to arrive during the check-in window on their booking confirmation email to maintain that reserved status. Mechanical issues also hit two other members of BC Ferries’ aging Queen class fleet last weekend, causing travel delays on the route between Metro Vancouver and the Sunshine Coast. As the Labour Day long weekend approaches, the company is urging passengers to book in advance and travel during off-peak times to avoid long waits.
