BC Ferries is cancelling sailings Friday night between Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland in anticipation of high winds.
According to Environment Canada, an intense Pacific frontal system will bring rain and strong winds to the south coast on Friday evening to Saturday morning.
The weather agency released a special weather statement stating areas near the Strait of Georgia and Haro Strait can expect the strongest winds with speeds of 70 km/h gusting to 90 developing overnight Friday.
In light of the warning, the ferry service is preemptively cancelling the 7 p.m. sailing from Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen and the 9 p.m. sailing from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay.
“The safety of our passengers and crew is of primary importance to us. We don’t take the decision to cancel sailings lightly, as we know customers rely on us to get to their destinations ” reads a statement from BC Ferries.
“We will resume service as soon as it is safe to do so,” the company added.
Additionally, the 8:15 p.m. sailings and the 10:45 p.m. sailings leaving either end on the Duke Point to Tsawwassen route have also been cancelled.
Customers with bookings on the affected sailings will be refunded, and will be contacted by ferries representatives, the company said.
The strong winds are expected ease late Saturday morning.
