Posted: 10:20 am

Our 9:35 am sailing from Swartz Bay (Victoria)– Otter Bay (Pender Island) – Sturdies Bay (Galiano Island) departed 29 minutes behind schedule due to crew taking time to get extra vehicles loaded where possible given today’s heavy volume of traffic.

We expect the 10:25 am departing Otter Bay, the 11:20 pm departing Village Bay, and the 11:55 am sailing departing Village Bay (Mayne Island) to Otter Bay to also be delayed.

We know you have important places to be and apologize for any inconvenience you may experience as a result of this sailing delay.

For up-to-date sailing and departure information, check Current Conditions, follow @BCFerries on X or phone 1-888-223-3779 for further assistance.

Issued: March 27, 2026

Potable Water Temporarily Restricted on Salish Raven

Swartz Bay - Southern Gulf Islands

Potable water on board the Salish Raven, is temporarily not available for drinking or food preparation.

Customers on board are being informed, signage has been posted at taps in customer and crew areas, and bottled water is available.

Based on advice from public health authorities, onboard water and ice are not being used for drinking or food preparation at this time but can continue to be used for handwashing. Food service is continuing, with adjustments in place to ensure food is prepared safely. Additional beverages, including coffee and tea, are being brought on board from the Land's End Café at the Swartz Bay terminal as required.

This follows routine water quality testing that identified elevated lead levels in an initial sample. As a precaution, we immediately restricted use of onboard potable water systems while follow-up testing is underway in coordination with public health officials.

We regularly test water quality across our fleet. When a result is flagged, we restrict use and complete follow-up testing, and systems are only returned to service once results are confirmed safe by public health.

We know customers may have questions given the number of precautionary water-related measures taken this week. While this is more than we would typically expect to see in a short period, these cases have involved different types of test results and we believe that they are not related. In recent cases, follow-up testing confirmed water quality was safe, and there is no indication of a broader system issue at this time.

We are working closely with public health experts and following their guidance to ensure safe operations on board.

For up-to-date sailing and departure information, check Current Conditions, follow @BCFerries on X or phone 1-888-223-3779 for further assistance.

Updated: Thursday, February 5, 2026

Terminal Life Extension Project
Otter Bay (Pender Island)
December 1, 2025 - fall 2026

As part of our ongoing commitment to ensure the safe operation of our terminal facilities, necessary work to extend the life of the Otter Bay terminal berth began on December 1, 2025 and is expected to be completed in fall 2026.

Construction activities will generally occur around scheduled sailings, between 7:00 am and 7:00 pm. Additional overnight work will take place February 2-6, between 9:00 pm and 7:00 am, to complete further work on the ramp tower piles.

Equipment used may generate moderate noise levels around the terminal, however, every effort will be made to minimize disturbance for nearby residents.

The Otter Bay berth closure, originally scheduled for March 6-10, has been postponed until fall 2026 due to a Notice of Delay received from the contractor. Regular service to and from the terminal has been reinstated; the schedule for this route can be viewed here.

Updates on the revised, five-day berth closure will be shared as soon as details are confirmed. More information is available on the Otter Bay project page.

Minor schedule adjustments have been made to reduce congestion at other Southern Gulf Island terminals during the Village Bay berth closure; however, sailings will not depart earlier than scheduled.

Thank you to our customers and neighbours for your patience and understanding as we work to complete this terminal project.

For up-to-date sailing and departure information, check Current Conditions, follow @BCFerries on X or phone 1-888-223-3779 for further assistance.