COASTAL CELEBRATION

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Latest news

B.C. Ferries sends all Coastal clas ferries to yard for installing rotors

On March 18, 2024, B.C. Ferries stated that it has decided against pursuing an insurance claim for engine problems on its three Coastal class ships and has opted instead to pay the estimated $8.5 million cost out of its contingency fund, which is in place for major incidents. Considering all the costs related to design, freight (air/sea), the rotors themselves and the work to exchange them, installing six rotors is about $1.4 million each, or approximately $8.5 million total. Initially the 'Coastal Renaissance' was sidelined on Aug. 17, 2023, and taken to Departure Bay in Nanaimo. The motor was subsequently sent to the U.S. for investigation and repair. A problem discovered with the ferry’s rotor prompted B.C. Ferries to investigate the other two Coastal vessels where they discovered similar problems. The ferries were equipped with motors which vibrated and were noisy when in dock. The decision was made to turn off the motors and restart them when departing for the next sailing. That doubled the number of starts for the engines and led to the need to replace the rotors. The company has decided to install variable-speed motors to avoid a similar engine problem in the future on all three Coastal class vessels. The 'Coastal Celebration' arrived in the Victoria Shipyard at the Esquimalt Graving Dock on March 6 and will stay there until April, while it is being repaired and going through refit. After that, the 'Coastal Inspiration' will take its turn for repair and refit. B.C. Ferries is putting on an extra 192 sailings through spring break, March 14 to April 2, which also covers the Easter weekend, March 28 to April 2. Of those additional sailings, 172 will run between Swartz Bay and Tsawwassen

Ferry suffered propulsion system issues

The 'Coastal Celebration' was behind schedule due to accumulated operational delays following a mechanical issue with the propulsion system fixed in time for the 5:45 p.m. sailing from Tsawwassen on Jan. 15, 2024. The breakdown has caused the cancellation of two round trips on the Duke Point-Tsawwassen route. The scheduled 5:15 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. sailings from Duke Point have been cancelled, as have the 7:45 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. sailings from Tsawwassen. BC Ferries contacted travellers with reservations to try to accommodate them on alternate sailings.

Ferry forced to reroute due to mechanical issue

The 'Coastal Celebration', which serves the Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay route, will not sail through Active from Oct 29, 2023, to Nov 26. The vessel will instead sail south of the area, via East Point on Saturna Island, which will add 15 minutes to the voyage, which has to do with the drive motor, and the issues BBC Ferries had with the other coastal class. The company is replacing the drive motor rotors on all three of the Coastal Class vessels. They do need to be replaced due to wear, so it is done systematically with all three ships. The 'Coastal Celebration' will have her drive motor changed out in March 2024, and the 'Coastal Inspiration' will have a new drive motor in April.