What's behind the summer travel chaos at B.C. Ferries?

B.C. Ferries is a crucial part of the province's infrastructure, connecting the Lower Mainland with Vancouver Island, the Sunshine Coast and the Gulf Islands.

Independently managed but provincially owned, the ferries transport tourists to popular vacation destinations and provide essential services to people who live and work on the islands that dot B.C.'s coast.

But this summer, getting on a ferry has felt like scoring tickets to the hottest concert in town, as B.C. Ferries has been plagued by technical difficulties with its vessels, last-minute cancellations, staffing shortages and confusion about the availability of reservations online.

Even B.C. Premier David Eby has weighed in, saying the repeat cancellations are unacceptable.

"Every Islander knows that the ferries are part of our highway system. It's not, just as it is for our family, a good way to visit grandma and to come over to the island for a visit. It's an essential part of the island economy," Eby said.

"It's how people get goods. It's how people get around. And we know the urgency of ensuring that B.C. Ferries delivers for British Columbians."

So what is behind the seemingly never-ending sailings waits and vanishing vessels, and how can you ensure the smoothest possible passage through B.C. waters?

Cancellations throughout the summer of 2023 have been frequent but the biggest impact came when, just hours before one of the busiest long weekends, B.C. Ferries pulled one of its largest vessels from service, leading to eight daily sailing cancellations on the Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay route.

The Coastal Celebration, which carries up to 310 cars and 1,604 passengers and crew between Metro Vancouver and Greater Victoria, was scheduled for refits in mid-May in Victoria. But after just one company bid on the contract, the refit was moved to Vancouver and delayed to mid-June.

Once work finally started, it was discovered that the maintenance issues were more complicated than expected, further delaying its seaworthiness.

Spokesperson Karen Johnston told CBC News at the time that B.C. Ferries schedules most of its refits between September and May, before the busy summer travel months. 

"We do our best to control and plan ahead for our refit schedule," explained Johnston.

"This was a situation where there were circumstances beyond our control."

The problems with the Coastal Celebration didn't end there. The vessel saw several cancelled sailings in the past weeks due to a mechanical issue with its propulsion system.