B.C. Ferries' reliability has been a topic of concern for years, with a recent analysis revealing a troubling trend. The data shows a significant increase in cancellations and delays over the past nine years, with mechanical issues and severe weather being the primary culprits. This raises questions about the company's ability to handle a potentially record-breaking 2026 travel season.
The number of cancelled sailings has nearly tripled since 2017, reaching 2,809 in 2025. This is a cause for concern, especially given that the vast majority of sailings were completed as planned in 2017 (99%), but only 98.6% in 2025. The rate of delayed sailings has also increased from 11% to 16% during the same period.
The major routes, which connect the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, and the Sunshine Coast, have seen a spike in late and cancelled sailings since 2021. The Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay route, in particular, has experienced a dramatic increase in mechanical issues, with 535 cancellations in 2025, up from just 9 in 2017. Crew shortages have also been a problem on routes like Horseshoe Bay-Nanaimo, with 127 cancellations in 2023, but this number has decreased to zero in 2025.
The aging of the fleet is a significant issue, with the Queen of New Westminster, a 62-year-old vessel, experiencing multiple breakdowns. This highlights the challenges of maintaining reliability on older ships, as material and parts timelines are longer, and parts are not always readily available. B.C. Ferries is working to modernize its fleet, but the process is slow, and there is currently no redundancy in the system.
Weather-related cancellations have also tripled, with extreme weather events becoming more frequent. The decision to cancel a sailing due to weather is a complex process, involving a 24/7 nerve centre, a strict mathematical matrix, and decades of human seafaring experience. However, the increasing unpredictability of the Salish Sea marine environment raises concerns about the safety of passengers.
Despite the challenges, B.C. Ferries CEO Nicolas Jimenez remains confident in the company's reliability, citing strong operational statistics in the last one to two years. However, the upcoming 2026 travel season will be a test of the company's ability to handle increased demand, and the reliability of its services.
The future of B.C. Ferries is uncertain, with concerns about crew shortages, burnout, and the sustainability of the workforce. The company is working to address these issues, but the challenges of maintaining a reliable service in a changing marine environment remain.
