Well, probably there won't be too many surprised at the latest development involving the Queen of Prince Rupert. The Ferry which was to be put officially out of service for a week effective Sunday, will remain that way longer than expected.
The original plan was for the Queen of Prince Rupert to transit to Ketchikan for repairs to a leaking shaft seal, but due to a "unforeseen delay" at the Ketchikan end, the Ferry won't be able to enter dry dock as planned.
In a press release put out by the Ferry Corporation yesterday, it was announced that the shipyard in Ketchikan won't be finished working on a vessel currently in its dry dock, with date provided for when the work can commence. Because there is no other dry dock available in BC, the Ferry Corporation must wait for Ketchikan to finish its work and then begin the job on the Queen of Prince Rupert.
All of this will delay the ferries return to service on the North Coast and with no replacement vessel available, it effectively leaves the Northern run abandoned until the repairs are made.
It's just the latest in horror stories involving the Ferries and the North Coast this year, and no doubt one that will be getting close attention from the Ferries critic and local MLA Gary Coons.
We can expect to hear more of the caustic debate between him and Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon over the issue. Coons has been on record as being quite critical of the handling of the Ferries situation generally and on the North Coast in particular, while Falcon has suggested that Coons is given to exaggeration and is a tad excitable.
With the North Coast once again suffering a serious disruption of service one would think that if a vote were held today, Mr. Coons would win points on the debate, the proof sits at a dock in Prince Rupert, that of a ship that isn't going anywhere any time soon.
It serves as a testimony to a ferry service that is leaving the North quite short changed.
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