Easter Monday ferry fiasco: aging vessel breaks down between Sunshine Coast and Vancouver, passengers stranded

Holiday travel plans took a frustrating turn for many on Easter Monday as a key BC Ferries vessel, the Queen of Coquitlam, suffered a mechanical breakdown, leading to disruptions on the busy Langdale-Horseshoe Bay route.

The incident, occurring around 1 pm Vancouver time, stranded passengers for approximately three hours and resulted in the cancellation of multiple sailings.

The ferry, carrying travellers returning from the Sunshine Coast after the long weekend, experienced a "pitch control issue" just a short distance from the Langdale terminal.


Passenger Rohana Rezel, who was onboard with his family, described the unexpected halt after a timely departure. "They said once the tugboat gets here, it’s going to be about another 40 minutes to the terminal," Rezel recounted during the lengthy delay.

The prolonged stoppage understandably led to frustration among passengers, many of whom had connecting flights or important appointments.

"Especially, given that it’s a long weekend, they should make sure the ferries are in ship shape, so to speak," Rezel added, echoing the sentiments of many inconvenienced travellers.

The breakdown puts a spotlight on the aging state of BC Ferries' fleet. The company itself acknowledged that both vessels currently servicing the crucial Langdale-Horseshoe Bay route are nearing 50 years old.

"As vessels age, maintenance becomes more frequent and complex – reinforcing the importance of our long-term fleet renewal strategy to improve reliability, add capacity, and better support growing demand," a BC Ferries spokesperson stated.

The incident follows a challenging Good Friday at the Horseshoe Bay terminal, where traffic congestion on Highway 1, exacerbated by Whistler-bound traffic and a disabled commercial vehicle, caused approximately 40 vehicles to miss their ferry reservations.

West Vancouver police had even urged motorists to avoid the area due to the severe backups.

In response to the Queen of Coquitlam's breakdown, BC Ferries reported that the pitch control issue had been repaired by 2:20 p.m.

The vessel was set to undergo sea trials with the assistance of a tugboat while awaiting final clearance from Transport Canada to resume service. The company aimed to restart sailings with the 4:20 p.m. departure from Horseshoe Bay to Langdale.

To mitigate the immediate impact on stranded passengers, BC Ferries also sourced three 12-passenger water taxis to provide complimentary transportation between the Horseshoe Bay and Langdale terminals.

The company also stated that it directly contacted individuals with affected reservations to inform them of the cancellations and alternative arrangements.