Professor John Robertson OBA
Yesterday from chekNEWS:
BC Ferries has a major vessel back in its operational fleet as the Queen of New Westminster ferry returned to service Friday, just in time for the spring peak travel season. The vessel, which serves BC Ferries’ busiest route between Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay, had been out of service for nearly 200 days due to extensive repairs and scheduled maintenance. The 60-year-old vessel was pulled from service in September after experiencing a significant failure in its propulsion system, where structural fatigue caused the propeller shaft to detach. https://cheknews.ca/queen-of-new-westminster-ferry-back-in-operation-after-lengthy-repairs-1244124/
Meanwhile, in Scotland, in stormier more northerly seas, CalMac’s oldest large ferry, the MV Isle of Arran is 41 but already just a relief vessel. The oldest, still fully in-service large ferry, the MV Isle of Mull is only 41, just two thirds of the age of the Queen of New Westminster.
How does BC Ferries perform, as a rule?
After years of crew shortages and breakdowns in elderly ferries (average age 37 compared to 24 in Scotland) BC Ferries customers faced new disappointments at the end of 2023.
From CTV News in August 2023:
BC Ferries says it will be more than a month before its Coastal Renaissance ferry returns to service. The vessel has been docked for days now, after an issue with its motor took it out of service on Aug. 17. In an update Tuesday, the provincial ferry provider said the Coastal Renaissance will not be back in service until October.
and in October:
BC Ferries has officially changed course, scaling down its climate ambitions to electrify its Island Class fleet and ability to achieve provincial emissions targets.
In 2021, the provincial ferry service got permission for the first phase of its Island Class Electrification Program (ICEP) – to convert the six Island Class diesel-electric hybrid ferries it has currently in operation to 100 per cent battery-electric operations by 2025.The electrification project included upgrading nine terminals serving four routes to allow rapid on-shore charging so the vessels can stop running on diesel.
However, that plan was contingent on securing adequate funding from the federal and provincial governments – something that hasn’t occurred.
How does the government subsidy for ferries serving vulnerable island communities in Canada compare with that offered by the SNP Government in Scotland:
Most striking is the level of subsidy per passenger. In Scotland, it averages £29.80 per passenger journey. In Canada (BC), it is only just over half at £16.36 and in Australia, only just over one-tenth at £3.86.
Oh yes, age of ferries? We hear often that Scotland’s ferries are elderly. What are the facts? From research only two years ago:
CalMac ferries are, on average, newer (22) than those in Norway (26), Australia (24) and Canada (35!):
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
One thought on “BC Ferries in Canada has to patch-up 60 year-old ferry for busiest route as replacements not yet ordered despite it being 19 years older than Scotland’s oldest comparable ferry”