New Denman Island cable ferry stranded by hydraulic failure
Ferry is expected to be back in service Friday afternoon
The new BC Ferries cable ferry connecting Vancouver and Denman islands broke down this morning, stranding those on board.
BC Ferries say a hydraulic hose system failed around 9:30 am PT Friday, creating some smoke and leaving the ship dead in the water with 25 passengers aboard.
By 12:30 p.m. the ferry, which is called the Baynes Sound Connector, was reportedly moving slowly toward Buckley Bay on Vancouver Island.
In the meantime BC Ferries has brought in a water taxi for foot passengers until service can be restored.
Many area residents were concerned about the reliability of the new cable ferry, before it went into service early this year, replacing a propeller-driven ship.
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BCFHeadsUp?src=hash">#BCFHeadsUp</a><br>Water taxis in place between <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BuckleyBay?src=hash">#BuckleyBay</a> & <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DenmanIsland?src=hash">#DenmanIsland</a>. Engineers currently working to resolve hydraulic system issue. ^rd
—@BCFerriesWith files from Megan Thomas