A tug and barge and a water taxi service have been hired by B.C. Ferries to get passengers and vehicles to and from the tiny community of Shearwater, on Denny Island west of Bella Bella.
The Northern Sea Wolf ferry had been using the corporation’s own barge to dock.
But B.C. Ferries announced that it recently discovered that the barge it owns at Shearwater needs to be replaced and that the Northern Sea Wolf can not safely dock there.
It issued a service notice on Jan. 27 that the ferry will not be able to use the Shearwater dock until further notice.
The company said in a statement: “We are actively working on a solution to bring the Shearwater dock back into service and we will advise customers and the communities we serve as soon as we can.”
The-250-foot-long Northern Sea Wolf runs between Port Hardy and Bella Coola and has scheduled stops at Bella Bella, Shearwater and Ocean Falls.
Its route between Bella Bella and Shearwater has been taken over by the tug and barge, which will carry vehicles only, and the water taxi, which will carry passengers. The sailing takes 20 to 30 minutes. Sailings are not offered every day. For schedules, go to bcferries.com/current-conditions.
The cost of hiring the tug and barge and the water taxi as well are confidential because this is a commercially sensitive matter, B.C. Ferries said.
