Ferry service to Bowen Island halted 2 days as crews repair Snug Cove berth

The B.C. Ferries vessel Queen of Surrey passes Bowen Island while travelling on Howe Sound from Horseshoe Bay to Langdale, B.C., on Friday, April 23, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

BC Ferries has cancelled all service to Bowen Island for Tuesday and Wednesday as crews work to repair weather damage to the Snug Cove berth.

Sailings scheduled for Thursday are considered “at risk” as well.

In a service notice, the company said several water taxis – four 12-person vessels and one 38-person vessel – have been sourced to move people on and off the island while the repairs are underway.

“We appreciate your patience and apologize for any inconvenience you may experience as a result of these cancellations,” BC Ferries wrote.

The issue is not related to the collision involving the Queen of Capilano on Sunday, which damaged a private dock and at least one moored boat.

Bowen Island Mayor Andrew Leonard said he inspected the ferry berth at Snug Cove on Tuesday morning, and that “significant repairs” are needed.

“It appears that swells from the weather, both last night and this morning, have ripped out this really large concrete base,” Leonard said.

The mayor expressed concerns for how the ferry cancellations could impact residents, particularly given that a “dangerous cargo” sailing was scheduled for Wednesday that would have brought propane and gas to the island.

“We’re an island community and the ferries are our lifeline,” Leonard said. “The weather’s cold. People need to get back and forth for jobs, for medical appointments. We won’t get mail, we won’t get prescriptions from the mainland to our pharmacy. There’s definitely concerns.”

BC Ferries initially only cancelled sailings into Tuesday afternoon, before extending the service outage through Wednesday. The company said ferry taxi service was increased after hearing feedback from the community, including designated morning and afternoon trips for students heading to and from school.

“We remain committed to working closely with the community to ensure travel remains as seamless as possible,” a spokesperson told CTV News, in a statement.

Operations could resume earlier than Thursday if the repairs are completed ahead of time, the spokesperson added.

Until regular service is restored, the Bowen mayor said residents should follow BC Ferries for updates, and reach out to the municipality if they are in trouble.

“If they need assistance or need help, definitely call,” Leonard said. “We’ll do the best that we can.”