BC Ferries sailings delayed between Vancouver and Victoria this morning due to protest
UPDATE (9:30 am):
BC Ferries says all scheduled sailings have now resumed.
#ServiceNotice #ServiceResumes #SwartzBay all sailings resume to and from Swartz Bay, and the #SpiritofVancouverIsland will be departing shortly. You can find more information here: https://t.co/Wv2ZhNKeOx ^js
— BC Ferries (@BCFerries) January 20, 2020
ORIGINAL STORY:
BC Ferries is experiencing sailing delays and at least one cancellation so far this morning, due to what it says are protesters blocking the Swartz Bay terminal out of Victoria.
According to the company, both the Spirit of Vancouver Island and Coastal Renaissance are currently holding in dock at Swartz Bay and Tsawwassan “due to an external protest at the Swartz Bay which is blocking access to the terminal.”
#BCFHeadsUp #SwartzBay #Tsawwassen Please know that both the 7:00am leaving Swartz Bay and the 7:00am leaving Tsawwassen will be holding in dock while the scope of the protest is determined. More info will be posted soon. ^js
— BC Ferries (@BCFerries) January 20, 2020
Just before 8:30 am, the company provided an update, informing customers that the 7 am sailing departing Tsawwassen left the terminal 70 minutes behind schedule, and the 9 am sailing has now been cancelled.
Other scheduled Gulf Island sailings have been delayed or held as well.
#BCFHeadsUp #SwartzBay #SouthernGulfIslands Please know that the #MayneQueen is currently holding in dock at #OtterBay, the #QueenofCumberland holding in dock at SwartzBay, and the #SalishRaven is holding in #VillageBay due to safety concerns with kayakers in the water. ^js
— BC Ferries (@BCFerries) January 20, 2020
According to a release, the protest is being held in solidarity with Wet’suwet’en Nation, after a court injunction was issued by the BC Supreme Court earlier this month by Coastal GasLink, ordering protesters to clear the way and move obstructions for workers and prohibiting individuals from impeding workers in any way.
Hereditary Chiefs of all five Wet’suwet’en nations rejected the Supreme Court injunction last week, citing that it “criminalizes Wet’suwet’en law.”
BC Ferries said that as part of the protests, “there may be kayaks in the water,” and as such the 7 am sailings were held for “safety reasons.”
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