B.C. Ferries said it will take six months to repair a vessel, after a propeller fell off it, triggering an oil spill, earlier this week.
The propeller from the 60 year-old Queen of New Westminster — which weighs about 4,500 kilograms — was pulled from the seabed Saturday morning after two days of recovery work, the authority operating British Columbia’s ferries said in a statement.
Officials took the ferry out of service earlier this week after discovering the starboard propeller had “sheared off from its propulsion shaft.”
The incident also saw about 800 litres of light hydraulic oil spill into surrounding waters, though B.C. Ferries said the type of oil leaked “disperses quickly in the marine environment” and no oil sheens have been detected.
The company said a preliminary visual inspection suggests the propeller shaft may have fractured due to structural fatigue, and the repairs are expected to involve completely disassembling port and starboard propeller systems.
It estimates the full repair could take half a year, noting the work will also depend on global parts availability and manufacturing timelines.
Meanwhile, all of the vessel’s sailings up to Sept. 30 have been cancelled, and B.C. Ferries said it’s looking at ways to add additional trips on other boats.
<a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/BCFNews?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#BCFNews</a> <br>Following the recovery of the 60-year-old Queen of New Westminster’s propeller from the seabed this morning, the repairs required will keep the ship out of service for approximately six months.<br><br>Learn more 👇<a href=”https://t.co/FGPOHnrW0f”>https://t.co/FGPOHnrW0f</a><br><br>(1/4) <a href=”https://t.co/89JwGYKkcR”>pic.twitter.com/89JwGYKkcR</a>
—@BCFerries
CEO Nicolas Jimenez said the company plans to ask the B.C. Ferries Commission for permission to add a net new vessel to its major routes, adding impact to service would have been minimal this week if the company had a backup craft.
The Queen of New Westminster operates on the popular Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay route between Metro Vancouver and Greater Victoria. It can carry more than 250 cars and 1,300 passengers.
The Canadian Coast Guard told CBC News Friday that B.C. Ferries notified it about the leak Tuesday morning.
It said crews that assessed the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal Tuesday saw “some non-recoverable sheen.” It added that an overflight was conducted in the area between Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal on Wednesday, but there was no observation of visible pollution.
The Coast Guard said Friday that it has ended its response efforts because the situation remains stable, and there have been no reports of oil.