April 1, 2026
BC Ferries provides service update as it prepares for busy Easter travel
Summary
- Service adjustments on two major routes due to vessel outage and delayed return from refit
- Customers travelling without a reservation should expect extremely limited standby availability on both affected routes over the Easter Long Weekend. Long waits are likely for standby traffic and customers are strongly encouraged to consider walking on or adjusting travel plans where possible.
- Ongoing investment in maintenance and fleet renewal is expected to improve long-term reliability
VICTORIA, BC - BC Ferries is advising customers of service adjustments on the Tsawwassen–Swartz Bay and Tsawwassen–Duke Point routes ahead of the busy Easter long weekend, as two major vessels are currently unavailable for service.
The Spirit of Vancouver Island is out of service due to a generator issue that requires additional repairs, following its return to service earlier this week. At the same time, the Queen of Surrey, built in 1981, is experiencing delays returning from its annual refit. Safety is the priority in both cases, and the vessels will only return to service once all work is complete. Customers may experience schedule changes and reduced capacity on these routes, even as additional sailings are added where possible to help keep customers moving.
“We know how frustrating this is, especially heading into a busy travel period like Easter,” said Stephen Jones, Vice President of Engineering at BC Ferries. “Our crews and engineering teams are highly experienced and are working around the clock to safely return both vessels to service as quickly as possible. These are complex systems, and while this work is critical to ensuring the vessels operate safely and reliably, it can take time to fully resolve issues – particularly as vessels age.”
On the Tsawwassen–Swartz Bay route, a revised schedule is in place while repairs to the Spirit of Vancouver Island continue. On the Tsawwassen–Duke Point route, sailings have been adjusted as the Queen of Surrey’s return from refit has been delayed. Customers are encouraged to check the latest service notices for updates:
- Spirit of Vancouver Island sailing cancellations and revised schedule (April 1–8, 2026)
- Queen of Surrey sailing cancellations (April 2–3, 2026)
“Managing service during refit season is complex,” said Jones. “It requires careful planning and constant adjustment to match vessels to routes based on availability and demand. When unexpected issues arise on top of that, it can significantly reduce flexibility across the system.”
“Annual mandatory refits are a critical part of how we keep our fleet safe and operating reliably,” he added. “This work is planned well in advance and represents a significant investment each year, much of it carried out in local shipyards here in British Columbia. During a refit, crews complete hundreds of inspections, modifications. and maintenance tasks across key systems. In the case of the Queen of Surrey it also received new propulsion and steering control systems at refit, which have additional commissioning and training requirements but are expected to improve the long-term reliability of this vessel.”
BC Ferries is advancing a significant fleet renewal program to replace aging vessels and improve system reliability, including four more new Island Class vessels, with the first expected to arrive in B.C. in the coming months, and four New Major Vessels scheduled to begin entering service starting in 2029, with all four expected to be in operation by 2031.
While these new vessels will add important capacity, timelines for delivery mean additional relief capacity is not immediate. BC Ferries has also previously explored other options, including purchasing used vessels, but was unable to find a supply of ships that would meet the specific requirements of its routes and terminals without significant investment.
“This is exactly the kind of situation where having more backup capacity would make a difference,” added Jones. “We’re moving ahead with four new major vessels, with the first scheduled to arrive in 2029, and we know that’s still a ways off. Our analysis showed we really need five new major vessels to give the system the level of resilience it needs. We put that proposal forward last year to our regulator, but only four vessels were approved. Those decisions sit outside of BC Ferries, but we’ll keep making the case and advocating on behalf of our customers. Having another major vessel available to step in during situations like this would make a real difference for our customers.”
The Easter long weekend is one of the busiest travel periods of the spring. As parking lots often reach capacity during all long weekends, travellers are encouraged to consider public transit, the BC Ferries Connector, or arrange to be dropped off at the terminal.
Customers are encouraged to check current conditions and service notices online for the latest updates. Those with impacted bookings are being contacted directly with options to rebook or receive a refund. Additional support is available through the scheduled call-back option to connect with Customer Care. To learn more about the work underway to renew BC Ferries’ fleet, visit the BC Ferries website.
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