Ferry service between Tsawwassen and Long Harbour on Salt Spring Island resumed as scheduled on July 21, 2026, after BC Ferries was able to find the required crew to operate the route. The corporation announced the move at 4:49 p.m., confirming that sailings would depart as planned for the rest of the day, starting with the 9:10 a.m. departure from Tsawwassen.
A temporary crew shortage had disrupted the route earlier, highlighting the vulnerability of island ferry links when even one specialized position goes unfilled. Under federal Transport Canada rules, ferries cannot legally sail without the full complement of required officers and engineers.
Salt Spring Island, the most populated of the Southern Gulf Islands, relies on three ferry connections: the Long Harbour route to Tsawwassen, Fulford Harbour to Swartz Bay, and Vesuvius Bay to Crofton. Any cancellation directly affects residents, visitors, and the delivery of goods to the island.
The disruption was resolved the same day, and BC Ferries has worked to reduce crew-related cancellations. The corporation reports a 37 per cent drop in such cancellations over the past year, achieving an overall cancellation rate of just 0.7 per cent in the 2026 fiscal year.
The marine industry faces a broader shortage of professional mariners. In 2024, 86 per cent of marine employers in Canada reported trouble recruiting, with more than 3,600 vacancies across the sector. BC Ferries has responded by hiring over 1,200 employees in the last year and offering wage increases, including a 7.75 per cent general raise for unionized workers effective October 1, 2023.
While the July 21 disruption was brief, it underscores the critical role of ferry service in keeping island communities connected and supplied.
