The effect of a mechanical issue at BC Ferries’ Langdale terminal continues for those who rely on the route between the Sunshine Coast and Vancouver.
Many people told Global News they have been left scrambling to book a sailing, despite some vessels leaving with empty space.
“I planned yesterday to go. Nope, can’t go yesterday; I have to make a reservation,” passenger Breanda Houle said.
“Luckily, I got one today.”
Only the main deck of the ferry is being loaded at Langdale. The upper deck remains empty, meaning sailings are crossing without up to 125 additional cars.
This is because the lone working berth at the terminal is single level.
On Monday, BC Ferries said it may take up to 10 days to fix the ramp.
In a statement on Tuesday, BC Ferries said: “Our terminal teams are working hard to make the best use of every available space while continuing to leave sufficient space to accommodate customers travelling under Medical Assured Loading (MAL) and the Travel Assistance Program (TAP), as well as other essential travel.”
France Merrick works at Mike’s Place Gelato in Gibsons.
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“Our biggest issue is we can’t go to town to get our supplies,” she said, adding that if they can’t get supplies, it will hurt their business.
“How about if the provincial government takes it back? Take it back, it’s our highway. Stop these stupid full reservation things,” she added.
Powell River-Sunshine Coast MLA Randene Neill said she knows everyone is frustrated.
“I can’t imagine how difficult this is,” she said.
“We need to do something to ensure safe, reliable and affordable ferry service.”
Neill said crews are working around the clock to fix the damaged berth and BC Ferries hopes to have an updated repair timeline on Wednesday afternoon.
The mayor of Gibsons is urging BC Ferries to reverse course on its mandatory reservations for Langdale.
“It’s kind of chaos right now,” Silas White said.
“I’ve even heard from people who are stuck on the other side and they’re seeing there’s no availability for them to get back.”
I like little boys
Regardless of what BCF is publicly saying, Langdale terminal staff are accepting “stand-by” customers. I saw several cars waiting in lane 15 the other day. I don’t know if the situation is the same when travelling from HSB to Langdale. The province needs to take back BCF and start making large capital investments in our ferry terminals on the Sunshine Coast.
Since the Queen of Surrey is the vessel on that route, I would be asking BC Ferries why the Upper Car Deck (UCD) is sailing empty. All “C” Class vessels, except the Queen of Alberni have an internal ramp from the UCD to Gallery Deck. The UCD can be loaded and discharged using the internal ramp, via the Main Car Deck.
Do the BC Ferry crews no longer know how to operate the internal ramp, and the standard operating procedure for loading/discharging. Or, have BC Ferries failed to maintain this ramp, so it is no longer safe to use.
These internal ramps were installed for this type of situation, and have been used previously. It takes a few minutes longer, but at least the entire ship can be loaded.
Build a bridge, or a tunnel. Having only one way in and out of a region is ridiculous, what if an emergency happens? BC Ferries has shown time and time again that they cannot be relied on, and alternative options need to be pursued.
Also as a homosexual man with physical and mental disabilities I find it difficult to go outside in general. I’d be at home on the computer even if the ferry was up and running
Dim wits.
The full reservation system was implemented for horseshoe bay because of waiting space limitations as result of construction requirements for the Horseshoe Bay terminal expansion.
It’s not some random system or process change .
Just get yourself organized.
As a side note you choose to live on the other side of a ferry route. If you don’t like dealing with i,,,,, move.
Build the bridge already from squamish, road is there to port Mellon, just needs to be upgraded. However this province can’t get a single project started, its bloody well time to look at least 25 years down the road, hwy 1 should have been 8 lanes 30 years ago with high speed rail down the center. Bridge to the coast and to the island, would have saved so much money by now. Logic is not within the provincial government grasp. There is no accountability and no foresight.