The first four sailings of the new passenger-only fast ferries between downtown Nanaimo and downtown Vancouver have been cancelled due to high winds and power outages in the Nanaimo area.
Alastair Caddick, CEO of Hullo, said in a Monday statement the company was assessing the impact of the outage on vessel systems. “This need for this review has led us to make the early decision to cancel our morning sailings.”
Hullo initially cancelled the 6 a.m. sailing out of Nanaimo and the 8 a.m. out of Vancouver about 5:30 a.m. Monday.
It later cancelled the 10 a.m. trip out of Nanaimo two hours before it was scheduled to sail, as service testing had yet to be completed. Customers for the noon sailing out of Vancouver were notified that the sailing was cancelled at 10 a.m. via email.
About 3,800 B.C. Hydro customers in Nanaimo lost power about 11:30 p.m. Sunday. It was restored within a few hours.
Caddick said Environment Canada had also provided an alert of gale force winds, "which will continue to be monitored closely by our team."
A strong wind warning remained in effect for the Strait of Georgia south of Nanaimo on Monday morning, with winds of 20 to 33 knots expected to occur in the marine area.
"Safety and reliability remain our North Star at Hullo. While we recognize the anticipation and excitement surrounding our early sailings, our commitment to ensuring an impeccably safe voyage for our passengers is unwavering," Caddicksaid. "As Hullo sets its course in these initial months, we are adopting a deliberately conservative stance, with the safety and well-being of our passengers steering our decisions.”
Travellers are encouraged to visit hullo.com for the most up to date travel notices and information.
“We will continue to monitor the weather forecast and will provide further updates as soon as more information is available,” Caddick said.
Four sailings are scheduled in each direction daily. The trip takes about 70 minutes, with vessels travelling at speeds of up to 38 knots.
Ferries are scheduled to leave the Nanaimo Port Authority at 6 a.m., 10 a.m., 4:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., and depart from the Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre at 8 a.m., noon, 6:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.
The passenger ferries, named Sthuqi’ (sta-key) and Spuhéls (spah-els), arrived in B.C. in June after being built for the Nanaimo-based Vancouver Island Ferry Company by Damen Shipyards in Vietnam.
They were transported on a largo cargo ship to Victoria’s Odgen Point. From there, they sailed to Point Hope Maritime in Victoria Harbour before moving to their home base at the Nanaimo Port Authority.
Hullo vessels can each carry up to 354 passengers, with adult fares ranging from $39.99 to $59.99.
— With a file from Carla Wilson
