BC Ferries’ Queen of New Westminster, a ferry that regularly carries commercial vehicles and passengers between Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay – linking Vancouver to Victoria, will be out of service for approximately six months due to significant repairs.

According to preliminary assessments, the vessel, which was built in 1964 and is a key part of the fleet, suffered a propeller shaft fracture that could be attributed to structural fatigue.

“If we had a backup vessel available, this incident would have had minimal impact on service,” said BC Ferries chief executive officer Nicolas Jimenez in a news release. “Our priority is to ensure we can accommodate customers on other vessels,” he added. “We’ll also continue maximizing the loading of existing sailings to minimize disruption.”

The company is now seeking approval to build and add a new vessel to its major routes to increase the fleet’s resiliency.

BC Ferries has already canceled all sailings of the Queen of New Westminster through September and is assessing the full impact on the schedule. In the interim, the company plans to increase sailings on vessels such as the Coastal Celebration and Coastal Renaissance to accommodate passengers and commercial vehicles and minimize disruption.