Major BC Ferries vessel will be out of service for 6 months

One of the vessels that services the busy Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay route will be out of commission for about six months after its propeller fell off, according to BC Ferries.

One of the vessels that services the busy Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay route will be out of commission for about six months after its propeller fell off, according to BC Ferries.

The Queen of New Westminster was pulled from service Tuesday morning due to engine troubles, and during inspection divers discovered that its starboard propeller had “sheared off from its propulsion shaft.”

The detached propeller was recovered from the ocean floor Saturday morning, the company said, an effort that took two days after the 10,000-pound piece was found half-submerged in the seabed.

BC Ferries says its preliminary inspection indicates the fracture of the propeller shaft may be related to “structural fatigue.”

“The required repairs are anticipated to be significant and include work on both the port and starboard propeller systems before the vessel can be returned to service,” the operator wrote in a news release Saturday, adding that process is estimated to take approximately six months.

“This will involve the complete disassembly of both systems and the replacement of the tail shaft on at least the starboard side, which must be specially manufactured. The vessel’s annual refit will also be conducted during this time. Return to service timing will depend heavily on global parts availability and manufacturing timelines,” BC Ferries continued.

The Queen of New Westminster’s sailings have already been cancelled through Sept. 30, but the company says it’s still assessing the “full impact” on schedules. It says it’s considering adding extra sailings on the route using the Coastal Celebration and Costal Renaissance.