Many BC Ferries passengers have faced significant waits this Easter long weekend, and a mechanical issue on one of the vessels has caused further headaches Sunday.

The company says several sailings on the Horseshoe Bay to Langdale Route were cancelled Sunday morning due to a problem with the ship’s steering panel.

As of 1: 30 p.m., four earlier sailings had been cancelled:

7:30 a.m. departing Horseshoe Bay
8:40 a.m. departing Langdale
9:50 a.m. departing Horseshoe Bay
11:00 a.m. departing Langdale
12:10 p.m. departing Horseshoe Bay
1:15 p.m. departing Langdale

BC Ferries says a replacement vessel will be brought into service, starting with the 2:25 p.m. sailing leaving Horseshoe Bay. The posted schedule will remain in place for the rest of the day, it says.

“We expect to accommodate all traffic currently staged at both terminals, but customers should be advised that there will be no further standby space available on this route for the remainder of today,” spokesperson Ceilidh Marlow told CityNews around 1:30 p.m.

“Long waits are likely for standby traffic across all other major routes and customers are strongly encouraged to consider walking on or adjusting travel plans where possible.”

In addition, BC Ferries says other alternative arrangements have been implemented.

“Four 12-person and one 38-person water taxis will continue to provide complimentary service until full service has resumed,” according to a service notice. 

“Customers will load the vessel from the public dock adjacent to Horseshoe Bay and at the Langdale terminal and operate in shuttle mode.”

This is on top of an already busy weekend. On Saturday, we reported that many waiting at Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal have had to deal with multiple-sailing waits this Easter long weekend.

Earlier this week, the company had an issue with the Spirit of Vancouver Island, which was taken out of service temporarily Tuesday after experiencing issues with the starboard generator. This issue has since been resolved.

— With files from Jan Schuermann and Joe Sadowski

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