QUEEN OF OAK BAY

General information

Course/Position

Latest news

Ferry suffered steering system issue

The 'Queen of Oak Bay' suffered a mechanical issue impacting the service on the Departure Bay-Horseshoe Bay route on March 31, 2025. At least two sailings have been cancelled after the ferry broke down outside Nanaimo's Departure on the morning due to a mechanical difficulty with the vessel's steering system. Affected were the departure at 8:25 a.m. from Departure Bay and the scheduled 10:40 am. sailing from Horseshoe Bay. TAfter repairs the sailings were expected to resume as scheduled at 1 p.m.

Ferry assisted in SAR operation

The 'Queen of Oak Bay' altered course to help as RCM-SAR helped inexperienced sailors and provided a windbreak during a rescue operation in choppy seas outside Nanaimo on Aug 7, 2021. Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue personnel from Nanaimo was paged at about 8:40 p.m. The ferry was nearby and was asked to try to locate the sailboat in distress. The spotted it and lit it up with their spotlight. The SAR boat pulled up alongside the sailboat and tried to provide guidance, but the two sailors aboard lacked experience. They were very afraid and wondering if they were going to survive the night. The rescuers helped the sailboat to the protected side of the ferr and attached a tow line in six-foot seas. The 'Queen of Oak Bay’s arrival in Departure Bay was delayed about an hour. The sailboat was towed to Saysutshun’s Mark Bay.

Ferry rescued three boaters

On June 28, 2020, at 4 p.m. the 'Queen of Oak Bay' responded to a mayday call in Strait of Georgia after a small boat began taking on water east of Nanaimo. The Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Victoria deployed several coast guard vessels and the ferries 'Queen of Oak Bay' and 'Queen of Cowichan'. Three people were taken off the stricken boat, and no one was hurt. The ship was more than two hours behind schedule due to the rescue, as well as heavy traffic and a broken down vehicle.