BC Ferries breakdown leads to 'bedlam' on Mayne Island

BC Ferries has apologized after hundreds of weekend travellers were caught in a massive traffic jam trying to leave Mayne Island on Sunday.

All sailings of the Queen of Nanaimo between the Lower Mainland and theGulf Islandswere cancelled on Friday due to propeller problems. The vessel won't be back in service until at least Thursday.

The smaller SalishEagle has continued to run between Tsawwassen and the islands, but it was no match for traffic after a sunny weekend that, coupled with travellers leaving Mayne Island's annual music festival.

Village Bay terminal was packedand for a while only one BC Ferries employee was on hand, leading to widespread confusion.

Passenger Chris Leigh said it took him 10 hours to get back to Tsawwassenwhen it usually takes anhour and a half.

• BC Ferries Service Notices

"Gongshowis alightword," Leighsaid, describing the situation at the terminal.

"Traffic was lined up so far downMayne[Island]that they couldn't get cars through," he said.

"There was a lot of arguing, a lot of shouting, complete miscommunication. No one knew what exactly to do, where to go ... [people asking]'Are my reservations good?What's going on?'

"It was bedlam for a couple hours there. Even locals couldn't get out of their driveways."

BC Ferries spokesperson Deborah Marshall said extra staff were called to the terminal later in the day, offering an apology to those caught in the mayhem.

"We did have some hiccups atMayneIsland yesterday ... we know we had those challenges and we do apologize to our customers," said Marshall on Monday."We know it's inconvenient in the summertime."

Repairs continue

Despite working through the weekend, Marshall said, engineers still don't know exactly what went wrong with the Queen of Nanaimo. They did, however, find a second "mechanical issue" that will also need to be fixed.

The 53-year-old vesselis being retired this fall. There's beenspeculation that the corporation isn't allocating resources to keep it running smoothly, but Marshall said that's not the case.

"It's difficult with an older vessel ...but we do need to maintain that ship through the end of her operational life which means making repairs that are necessary."

Extra sailings have been added with theSalishEagle along the route this week and the SalishRaven is being prepared as a replacement vessel. The Queen of Cumberland was also running extra sailings.

Marshall said passengers can also reach the Southern Gulf Islands fromTsawwassenviaSwartzBay.

• BC Ferries: Southern Gulf Island Schedules