Two Ferries Down in One Day: Chamber Calls for Urgent Action on Route 3, Starting with the Queen of Surrey

SUNSHINE COAST, BC – Today, both the Queen of Coquitlam and the Queen of Surrey broke down on Route 3, triggering cancellations and hours-long delays between Horseshoe Bay and Langdale – the Sunshine Coast’s only vehicle link to the mainland.

This comes as the provincial and federal governments pledge support for Sunshine Coast workers and the broader coastal economy following the announced closure of the Howe Sound Pulp and Paper mill. The Chamber welcomes that commitment but notes the coastal economy cannot be rebuilt without a ferry system reliable enough to move people, goods, and visitors.

“You cannot promise to support this community’s economy with one hand while the only road on and off it keeps failing with the other,” said Arthur Cullinan, Director of the Sunshine Coast Chamber of Commerce. “Today it was two ferries in one day. This isn’t bad luck – it’s a pattern.”

Every disruption costs local businesses supplies and staff time, erodes visitor confidence at a moment the Coast needs to attract investment, and adds real stress for residents who depend on the ferry for work, school, and medical care.

The Chamber is calling on BC Ferries, the Province, the federal government, and the BC Ferries Commissioner to expedite replacement of the Queen of Surrey, which is not scheduled for replacement until at least 2036 under BC Ferries’ current fleet plan.

The Chamber continues to work with the Ferry Advisory Committee, Sunshine Coast Tourism, and coastal municipalities on a unified advocacy plan ahead of BC Ferries’ regulatory submission this September, which will shape funding and service levels for the next four-year contract term. Once the BC Ferries Commissioner opens its public comment period following that submission, the Chamber will launch a campaign encouraging Chamber members and Coast residents to submit their own comments, with a template available to make it easy to participate.