Wednesday, December 16, 2009

BC Ferries cancels Thursday sailing to Haida Gwaii due to weather




Perhaps mindful of the last time that BC Ferries sailed off into the storm, the Ferry corporation today announced that it had cancelled the planned departure of the Northern Adventure for Thursday, December 17.

With extreme weather conditions forecast for Thursday morning and afternoon the scheduled 2:30 sailing for Thursday was cancelled, with BC Ferries adding a special sailing earlier today for those that could change their travel plans on a minutes notice and make today's 2:30 departure time.

The return trip from Skidegate to Rupert is scheduled for 11:59 Thursday night, depending on the situation with the weather at the time of departure. From there they anticipate being back on the regular schedule of sailings.

The extra caution and schedule shifting comes in the wake of last month's sailing of the Northern Adventure that ran straight into the middle of a vicious winter storm in Hecate Strait, leaving some cars damaged, passengers and crew injured and nerves frayed from the battle with Mother Nature on the high seas.

There was a fair amount of criticism of BC Ferries at that time about making that attempted crossing, a situation that no doubt has provided for some extra thought on upcoming sailings to the Islands.

For more information about all BC Ferries sailings you can check their website or call their information line at 1-888-BCFERRY 1-888-223-3779.)

QCI observer
Ferries cancels sailing, ads an extra one

The following is a press release from BC Ferries:

Please be advised that due to extreme weather conditions forecast for Thursday morning and afternoon we have cancelled the 2:30 pm sailing of the Northern Adventure for December 17. In an effort to accommodate customers travelling to Skidegate we have added a sailing from Prince Rupert this afternoon (Wednesday) at 3:00 pm.

Reserved customers for the cancelled December 17 sailing have been contacted by our Customer Service Centre and advised that we have added an additional sailing today at 3:00 pm. If customers are able to move their travel plans ahead they are asked to check-in at the Prince Rupert terminal by 1:00 pm today.

The return trip from Skidegate is expected to sail as scheduled for11:59 pm on December 17, however that remains weather dependent.

For updated information about future sailings please call 1-888-BCFERRY (223-3779) or continue to check the website.

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