By Mark Edward Nero
BC Ferries, the contractor responsible for the delivery ferry service along coastal British Columbia, is temporarily removing one of its vessels from service due to mechanical issues.
Queen of Burnaby is being temporarily removed from service on the Comox – Powell River route to repair a propeller hub. The vessel is scheduled to enter a dry-docking Wednesday, Feb. 8 and is expected to return to service within a week.
The M/V Island Sky, which usually sails between Earls Cove and Saltery Bay, is being redeployed to the Comox – Powell River route to replace the Queen of Burnaby on the evening of Feb. 7, and the regular schedule is to remain in effect on this route beginning the morning of Feb. 8.
The Bowen Queen will assume service on the Earls Cove – Saltery Bay route on Feb. 8, as well. Since the capacity of the Bowen Queen is lower than that of the M/V Island Sky, an additional round-trip is being added to the schedule from Friday, Feb. 10 through to Monday, Feb. 13. This will include a 1:50 pm sailing from Saltery Bay and a 2:50 pm sailing from Earls Cove.
BC Ferries has said that once the repairs are complete on the Queen of Burnaby, that vessel and the M/V Island Sky will resume service on their regular routes.