BC Ferries cancels several Gulf Islands sailings following accident

BC Ferries has cancelled several Thursday sailings between Tsawwassen and the Gulf Islands after an accident on one of its vessels on Wednesday.

Departures from Long Harbour on Salt Spring Island; Otter Bay on Pender Island; Village Bay on Mayne Island; Sturdies Bay on Galiano Island; and the 9:55 a.m. sailing from Tsawwassenhave been cancelled.

The Salish Eagle will operate a modified schedule between the islands and Swartz Bay throughout the day, before resuming sailings between the Southern Gulf Islands and Tsawwassen from 5:15 p.m. Thursday.

For full details of the modified schedule, check the BC Ferries website.

On Wednesday, two ferry workers were taken to hospital after theywere dropped into the water during a safety drillon theQueen of Cumberland.

The two deckhands were in a rescue boat that was being lowered into the water when thedavit the small crane that raises and lowers the rescue boat failed.

The ferry was pulled from service leaving the Salish Eagle to operatea modified schedule on Thursday.