Two overboard rescues take place on BC Ferries vessels in span of two days
BC Ferries crews carried out two separate overboard rescues this week, including one during Thursday’s 5 p.m. sailing of the Spirit of British Columbia from Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen.
“We can confirm that an individual went overboard during last evening’s 5 p.m. sailing from Swartz Bay (Victoria) to Tsawwassen (Vancouver) on the Spirit of British Columbia,” a spokesperson said in a statement to Daily Hive.
“Crews immediately deployed a rescue boat and were able to locate the individual, who was then transferred to a Coast Guard vessel.”
The 5 p.m. sailing was delayed during the response.
It came just a day after another overboard incident on the 1 p.m. sailing from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay on Sept. 3.
BC Ferries crew members during a marine rescue training exercise. (meunierd/Shutterstock)
BC Ferries noted how rare it is to see two such events so close together.
“Having one incident like this is unusual, and two in such a short time frame is rare,” the statement continued.
“All of our crew members undergo Transport Canada-mandated training in marine safety and are trained to respond quickly in these types of situations. Regardless, these incidents are distressing for everyone involved, including passengers and crews.”
The company also warned against dangerous behaviour at sea.
“Intentionally going overboard (or throwing items overboard) is extremely dangerous and can cause significant disruption to service,” the spokesperson told Daily Hive.
“It creates a life-threatening emergency for the individual involved and puts our crews at risk. To protect everyone’s safety, actions like this may also lead to consequences such as travel restrictions, fines, or legal proceedings, depending on the circumstances.”
#BCFHeadsUp
The #SpiritofBritishColumbia is currently assisting with a marine rescue. As a result, the 5:00 pm sailing from #SwartzBay will be delayed arriving into #Tsawwassen. We will keep you informed as more info becomes available.Service Notice:https://t.co/ndaUVcbbWK
— BC Ferries (@BCFerries) September 5, 2025
The rescues come just a week after two men drowned in separate incidents at Cultus Lake, drawing fresh attention to water safety across B.C.
“All drownings are preventable,” said Kimiko Hirakida, director of programs and services with the Lifesaving Society of BC and Yukon, in a previous interview.
“We need to work together as communities to make our waters safer.”
Daily Hive has reached out to the Canadian Coast Guard and BC Emergency Health Services for more information and will update this article if further comment is received.
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