BC Ferries Halts Evening Sailings as Winds Surge

On Saturday evening, BC Ferries made the difficult call to cancel a slate of sailings as gusty winds began to pick up across the Strait of Georgia. The decision came just hours after a first, fierce autumn storm knocked out power lines and forced a local emergency on Vancouver Island.

“The safety of our passengers, crew and vessels is always our top priority,” a spokesperson for BC Ferries said in a brief statement. “With wind speeds projected to reach 70 km/h in the coming hours, operating the ferries would be unsafe.”

All departures on the Tsawwassen‑Swartz Bay route after 6 p.m. were called off, and the Horseshoe Bay‑Departure Bay service saw its last scheduled sailing at 5:30 p.m. cancelled. Travelers who had already checked in were instructed to return to the terminals for refunds or rebooking on the next available run.

Weather officials at Environment Canada warned that the second storm system, moving in from the Pacific, could bring additional rain and gusts that exceed ferry‑operating limits well into Sunday. “We’re looking at a potentially protracted period of high winds, especially over the open water channels,” the agency noted.

For many commuters, the cancellations felt like a repeat of Friday’s chaos when the first storm snapped power poles and flooded low‑lying roads. Residents on Vancouver Island recall the sudden darkness and the community‑wide alert that urged people to stay indoors.

BC Ferries urged anyone with upcoming travel plans to monitor the situation closely, check the company’s website or app for real‑time updates, and consider alternate routes—like the BC Highway 1 bridge crossing—if possible. They also reminded passengers that refunds are processed automatically, though it may take a few business days for the credit to appear.

In the meantime, emergency crews continue to restore power and clear debris along the coastal highways. The province’s emergency management office says they are prepared to mobilize additional resources if the weather worsens.

While the sea may be calm now, the forecasters say the wind will keep howling for several more hours. Until then, the ferry terminals will remain closed, and the lights on the docks will stay dim, a quiet reminder that nature still calls the schedule.