Queen-Of-Cumberland

The Queen of Cumberland' suffered an issue with the vessel’s electrical breaker, leading to several cancelled sailings from Victoria’s Swartz Bay to the Southern Gulf Islands including stops at Pender, Mayne, Saturna and Galiano, on March 5, 2026. While the 'Queen of Cumberland' did not leave port, at 4:40 a.m., the 'Salish Raven' departed from Swartz Bay, docking at Mayne Island’s terminal, Village Bay, at 6:25 a.m. The 'Queen of Cumberland’s scheduled 5 a.m. departure from Swartz Bay was cancelled as crews worked to fix the mechanical issue. Sailings of the ship between Swartz Bay (Victoria) – Southern Gulf Islands were cancelled for the entire day. Previously cancelled sailings: 5:00 am departing Swartz Bay 6:15 am departing Lyall Harbour (Saturna Island) 7:00 am departing Village Bay (Mayne Island) 7:40 am departing Otter Bay (Pender Island) 9:10 am departing Swartz Bay 10:25 am departing Lyall Harbour 11:15 am departing Village Bay 11:55 am departing Sturdies Bay (Galiano Island) 12:30 pm departing Village Bay 3:15 pm departing Swartz Bay 4:35 pm departing Lyall Harbour 5:35 pm departing Sturdies Bay 6:20 pm departing Village Bay 7:05 pm departing Otter Bay Additional cancelled sailings: 8:00 pm departing Swartz Bay 8:50 pm departing Otter Bay 9:20 pm departing Village Bay 10:05 pm departing Lyall Harbour The 'Salish Raven' was operating on the following revised schedule. Departing Arriving Otter Bay (Pender Island) at 4:20 pm Swartz Bay (Victoria) at 5:05 pm Swartz Bay (Victoria) at 5:20 pm Otter Bay (Pender Island) at 6:05 pm Otter Bay (Pender Island) at 6:20 pm Village Bay (Mayne Island) at 7:15 pm Village Bay (Mayne Island) at 7:30 pm Swartz Bay (Victoria) at 8:25 pm Swartz Bay (Victoria) at 8:40 pm Otter Bay (Pender Island) at 9:20 pm Otter Bay (Pender Island) at 9:35 pm Sturdies Bay (Galiano Island) at 10:15 pm Sturdies Bay (Galiano Island) at 10:25 pm Village Bay (Mayne Island) at 10:50 pm Village Bay (Mayne Island) at 11:00 pm Lyall Harbour (Saturna Island) at 11:40 pm Lyall Harbour (Saturna Island) at 11:50 pm Swartz Bay (Victoria) at 1:00 am (March 6) The 'Queen of Cumberland' remained stationary at the Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal as of March 6.

A man tried to drive his Tesla off the moving 'Queen of Cumberland' and allegedly struck at least one B.C. Ferries employee on July 8. He was behaving bizarrely leading up to the incident on the ferry enroute from Mayne Island to Swartz Bay Terminal at 9:35 p.m. The) driver of the Tesla seemed to give staff a lot of trouble getting on the ferry, and then did not follow their directions, but drove to the front centre of the ship, as if he wanted to be first off. Staff let the man stay at the front of the vessel, but mid-sailing, he got out and started frantically washing his car, possibly in his underwear, using bottled water and paper towels. The man later opened the gate at the front of the ferry and drove forward as if he was going to drive overboard off Pender Island. He was yelling at ferry staff who came out to talk to him and calm him down, and the ferry stopped for a brief time. People tried to block his tires, but he drove over them. At times, he was backing up aggressively at people. At one point, he hit one of the ferry staff. When the ferry arrived at Swartz Bay, Sidney/North Saanich RCMP were waiting. Police cruisers blocked the ramp as the ferry approached just after 11:30 p.m. Three officers dragged the man from his car and arrested him. B.C. Ferries staff acted quickly and helped passengers feel safe, ushering them to the upper decks and out of harm’s way. As a result of the police investigation, the B.C. Prosecution Service has approved five charges against the man: assault with a weapon, two counts of mischief, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and obstruction. The man has been remanded for a court appearance. The ferry company was conducting an internal review to understand what occurred and whether additional safety measures may be needed.

The 'Queen of Cumberland' was out of commission for multiple sailings on March 9, 2023, due to a vehicle being stuck on the ramp at Earls Cove north of Sechelt, preventing staff from loading the vessel. The tidal conditions needed to improve before the large vehicle can be removed and service could be resumed. The following sailings were cancelled: - 9:25 a.m. departing Saltery Bay (Powell River); - 10:25 a.m. departing Earls Cove (Sechelt); - 11:20 a.m. departing Saltery Bay (Powell River); - 12:25 p.m. departing Earls Cove (Sechelt). Reports with photos and video: https://globalnews.ca/news/9539835/bc-ferries-truck-stuck-sailings-cancelled-earls-cove/ https://www.coastreporter.net/highlights/blocked-ramp-cancels-sailings-between-saltery-bay-and-earls-cove-6673165

Use of an insufficient length of rope on a rescue boat caused it to fall and injure two crew members during a drill on the "Queen of Cumberland" on April 18, 2018, according to a Transportation Safety Board (TSB) investigation. Both crew members were wearing survival suits and helmets when the incident occurred during drills near the Swartz Bay terminal. The davit was being used when the hoist cable broke. The rescue boat dropped 11 metres into the water, injuring both crew members. The lack of length for the rope, known as a painter, exerted a force on both the boat and the hoist cable. A painter is attached to the bow of a boat. “The resulting side load caused the hoist cable to get pinched and break, resulting in the boat falling into the water along with the two crew members,” the TSB said in a statement. A vessel deployed from the shore reached the crew members within a few minutes and they were pulled from the water. Both were taken to hospital for assessment. After the incident, B.C. Ferries ruled that personnel couldn’t be on rescue boats while they’re being raised or lowered, save for emergencies. There has also been updated training on the operations of davits. The TSB determined that although the "Queen of Cumberland"’s rescue-boat davit was upgraded in 2016, corresponding updates to operation and maintenance procedures weren’t made. The TSB said it’s important to manage equipment changes effectively on ships. “Additionally, if changes to operation procedures and training are not made, the crew may not be proficient in the use of the equipment. oth of these factors increase the risk of equipment failure, accidents or injuries.”

Aboard the "Queen of Cumberland" repair work was progressing as planned, and BC Ferries let the customers know that the vessel will return to service on the Swartz Bay-Southern Gulf Islands route on May 18. The vessel was removed from service due to a malfunction with a rescue boat davit which was being replaced and the vessel will be recertified prior to returning to service.