Editor:
The following letter was addressed to BC Ferries chair Joy MacPhail and CEO Nicholas Jimenez and shared with Coast Reporter.
The mechanical breakdowns suffered by the Queen of Surrey on Route 3 over the holiday season highlights an issue -maintaining service levels and reliability cannot be achieved with the current fleet.
The Queen of Surrey and the other vessels that are used were built in 1976 and 1981. I am told all were designed to operate for 40 years. With mid-life upgrades and additional maintenance in recent years, this “life expectancy” has been extended to about 50 years.
While these longer lifespans sound good, what is not being addressed is the reality that each of these aging vessels will breakdown more frequently each year between now and when the new vessels arrive. It is inevitable.
When I met with Mr. Jiminez in October 2023, I called the situation an emergency. Clearly, the increasing breakdowns in recent years confirm this to be the case.
Reliable ferry service is not a luxury – it is a necessity. We need additional capacity available, now, to provide this reliability. Whether it is purchasing used vessels immediately, supporting passenger-only options, or developing other creative solutions, it is time for immediate, decisive action by the BCF management team.
I want to express my appreciation to the onboard crews, maintenance teams and terminal personnel who do a great job on a daily basis. The challenges they face are due to the lack of reliable service which results from a lack of capacity. Having management solve this issue will improve their working conditions while providing reliable, predictable service to your customers.
I am available to meet at your early convenience to discuss possible solutions.
Yours sincerely,
John Henderson
Mayor of Sechelt
