Just when Powell River residents thought ferry service couldn’t be worse, the worst happened. The Queen of Burnaby, the regular vessel on the Powell River-Comox route just back from a $12-million refit, broke down. BC Ferries pulled it from service and put the North Island Princess, the regular vessel plying the waters between Powell River and Texada Island, on the route. The NIP, as she is known locally, can carry only 49 vehicles, while the Burnaby carries 192. This solution is expected to last until at least Friday. The usual replacement ferry for Powell River-Comox, the Queen of Chilliwack, is currently undergoing a refit, which has created a perfect storm.
The Burnaby started having problems on Sunday and BC Ferries pulled it on Monday, with no plan in place for service that day. The NIP came on the route on Tuesday, with BC Ferries representatives warning people of its reduced size and asking them not to travel if at all possible. If they must travel, they suggested using an alternate route, which means travelling down the lower Sunshine Coast to Langdale, then catching a ferry to Nanaimo from Horseshoe Bay.
Both the Queen of Burnaby, built in 1964, and the NIP, built in 1958, need to be replaced. BC Ferries in fact has recognized this and presented to the provincial government way back in 2005 a strategy for replacing both vessels. The report has been in the government’s hands since then and only recently was made available to members of the Northern Sunshine Coast Ferry Advisory Committee and local government leaders.
Both vessels have gone beyond their reasonable life span. The ferry corporation had wanted them replaced by 2014 but with the government stonewalling, it will be at least five years from now, 2017, before any new vessels will service Powell River.
Mike Corrigan, BC Ferries president and CEO, recognized this last week when he was in Powell River meeting with community leaders. He stressed that the company’s priorities are replacing the vessels that serve Powell River. He said the company can’t wait on the government any longer and has to do what must be done.
This week’s situation illustrates the fact that there is no depth in the ferry fleet. The lack of appropriate vessels is an unacceptable situation for this community, which relies on ferry service for so many different reasons, and is creating a nightmare for residents who need to travel and businesses which need to receive, or ship, products.
It’s way past the time for the government to make a decision about BC Ferries’ strategy for replacement vessels and start a capital plan that will ensure reliable, safe service for Powell River.
