BC Ferries / British Columbia Ferry Services review: ferry cancellations April 19 from and to Horse Shoe Bay

Yesterday I went to Vancouver on the 8:40 ferry and made my way downtown despite serious public transportation delays due to the Sun Run. That however pales in comparison to the delays in the ferries when I arrived at Horseshoe bay to catch the 4:45 to get home. When I arrived thousands of passengers for the Sunshine coast, Nanaimo and Bowen Island had already been delayed for 2 hours, with no end in sight. Two ferries were docked and one coming in waiting many kilometers off shore. The reason was a single individual standing on one of the rescue boats with a knife threatening to jump. Below was the RCMP boat apparently trying to ’talk him down’ . It was on their orders that all ferry traffic stop and all passengers held back.

This one individual who was not a threat to the public, and the over-the-top police response affected thousands of passengers and their right to travel. Surely such a small issue is something that could and should have been handled by the staff on board. What disturbs me is the disregard for the rights of the public. It is bad enough that many sailings have b been cancelled due to mechanical issues, but adding these kind of isolated, one person issue to the mix of causes of ferry delays is over the top. For one thing, the person had the right to do what he wanted, without interference and such a huge response. At the very least the ferry staff should have cordoned off the area and continued with operations. The disruption to the general public is totally wrong. The public is the victim and the lone individual should not warrant such a response.

People, like myself are losing their trust in the reliability of the ferry system which is having serious effects on the economy of the Sunshine Coast. There has to be a more appropriate and measured response to these incidents (as well as urgent replacement of aging boats). I am offended by the total disregard for the rights of thousands of people in favor of one lone individual who will never be charged for the huge costs involved.