BC Ferries vessel breakdowns expected to continue

BC Ferries is making no secret of it — service is going to get worse before it gets better.

The former Crown corporation’s comments come in the shadow of a major breakdown on the Horseshoe Bay-Langdale route, when the Queen of Coquitlam lost steering control on Monday, stranding passengers until a tug boat could get the ship to the dock.

BC Ferries fleet is aging, and that means more money is required for repairs, less time on the routes, and even more time at the Richmond shipyard.

“There’s no question about it. These are ferries that were built originally with a lifespan of 30-40 years and we’re running them into their sixties,” Jeff Groot, executive director of communications, told The Leader Spirit on Tuesday.

The oldest ships — the Queens of Alberni, New Westminster, Coquitlam, and Cowichan — were supposed to have been replaced by last year. Now, it’s going to take until 2029, at the earliest.

BC Ferries blames the COVID-19 pandemic for the delay, and says it can’t solve the problem alone. It says new ships require the approval of the BC Ferries Commissioner — a position appointed by the B.C. government.

“It’s something that we know is a priority, and unfortunately, our hands are tied with the final decision-making power here. We just don’t have it,” Groot explained.

The provincial government rejected The Leader Spirit’ request for an interview, saying in an email that “BC Ferries is responsible for its own procurement process, so best to reach out and speak to the corporation.”

“They need to get in there and actually work with BC Ferries, and put together a plan and actually get these ships built. Five years we’re going to have to wait,” Conservative Transportation Critic Harman Bhangu said.

The B.C. government spends approximately $300 million a year on the ferry service.

BC Ferries says the next five years will be about managing expectations — an admission that the state of the ferry service won’t improve until old vessels are replaced.