Tourism providers on north Vancouver Island say ferry cancellations disrupting peak travel season

Maryse Zeidler · CBC News

· Posted: Aug 21, 2026 7:01 PM EDT | Last Updated: August 22

Several tourism providers on north Vancouver Island say they're already seeing guests cancel their stays after B.C. Ferries announced Monday a mechanical issue would be downing regular service between Port Hardy and Bella Coola for three weeks.

B.C. Ferries said an alternative service is being provided, but not all travellers seem to have gotten the message.

Jacqueline McQueen, front desk manager at Port Hardy's Glen Lyon Inn, said she'd had seven customers cancel their rooms on Thursday morning alone.

"It's frustrating for them, right?" McQueen said.

"You have these trips that planned well in advance, like months in advance, and now, a couple weeks leading up to their trips, they're having to cancel everything because of this boat issue."

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Alternative service

B.C. Ferries posted the cancellations on Monday, saying an issue with the Northern Sea Wolf's stern tube shaft seal would have it out of commission until late August. Later in the week the cancellations were extended to Sept. 7.

On Thursday, the ferry service said it had confirmed an alternative service using a combination of passenger water taxis and a tug and barge — the same model used during the vessel's scheduled annual retrofit.

"Vehicle customers with existing bookings on cancelled sailings will be moved to the barge service and notified of the change, with the option to cancel at no charge if the alternative service does not meet their needs," it said.

The schedule for the alternative service was posted Friday morning. It did not include stops in Port Hardy, just between the Central Coast communities of Bella Bella, Ocean Falls, Shearwater and Bella Coola.

Natalie Stewart, the tourism development specialist for Vancouver Island North, said B.C. Ferries told her Friday afternoon that they were trying to connect passengers on the coast with the Northern Expedition, which runs between Port Hardy and Prince Rupert, via Bella Bella.

"It will be interesting to see how it all plays out," she said.

In an email late Friday afternoon, B.C. Ferries said there is some vehicle capacity on the "broader northern route network," but space is limited — especially for larger vehicles like motor homes.

Peak travel season

McQueen was one of several accommodations providers who told CBC News that several guests had cancelled their reservations.

B.C. Ferries told CBC News that it had been providing regular updates with reservation holders and tourism operators.

"We recognize how disruptive this service interruption is, particularly during the peak summer travel season when residents, visitors and tourism operators rely on this route," B.C. Ferries said on Thursday in a written statement.

"Our teams are working to complete repairs to the Northern Sea Wolf as quickly and safely as possible."

'A significant issue'

Brian Cant, president of 4VI, the tourism marketing company that provides services for communities across Vancouver Island, said it can be difficult to communicate with travellers — especially if they're already on the road.

"What we have advised people to do is as they find this information out, obviously call their operator and see what the alternatives are for that service," Cant said. "Whether they can go at a later time in the season or, you know, work with B.C. Ferries on the alternative options."

McQueen and Stewart said the cancellations aren't just a disruption for tourists — there are also residents on the Central Coast who rely on the service for medical appointments and services.

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