MV Queen of Oak Bay: A Story of Resilience

The MV Queen of Oak Bay is a ferry that's made headlines for all the wrong reasons. It was involved in a tragic accident in 2015 that took the lives of two crew members.

The ferry was traveling from Swartz Bay to Crofton when the accident occurred. It's a route that's been serviced by the Queen of Oak Bay for years, and one that many locals and tourists rely on.

The MV Queen of Oak Bay has had its fair share of incidents and issues over the years. In 2005, the vessel lost power and ran aground at Horseshoe Bay terminal due to a missing cotter pin.

A faulty speed governor was to blame for the incident, which was serviced just 17 days prior to the accident. The Transportation Safety Board's investigation revealed that inadequacies in BC Ferries' procedures on safety-critical maintenance tasks played a major role in the accident.

In 2012, one of the vessel's four engines broke down on a sailing from Horseshoe Bay, forcing the cancellation of eight sailings on three routes. The vessel was taken out of service for repairs.

The Queen of Oak Bay has also experienced steering system issues, with a mechanical difficulty causing the cancellation of at least two sailings in 2025.

The Queen of Oak Bay, a ferry operated by BC Ferries, has experienced its fair share of mechanical issues. In 2005, the vessel lost power and ran aground at Horseshoe Bay terminal due to a missing cotter pin that was not properly replaced during a $35-million upgrade.

The incident highlighted the importance of proper maintenance and oversight. The Transportation Safety Board's Marine Investigation Report found that inadequacies in BC Ferries' procedures on safety-critical maintenance tasks and ship handling during berthing operations contributed to the accident.

A similar issue occurred in 2005 when the ferry's propulsion system was shut down due to overspeed safety devices tripping. The faulty speed governor had been serviced 17 days before the incident, but the cotter pin was not replaced.

The Queen of Oak Bay has had its share of close calls, but fortunately, no casualties or injuries were reported in either incident. The ferry was quickly repaired and returned to service after the 2005 grounding.

In 2025, the Queen of Oak Bay suffered a mechanical issue with its steering system, resulting in the cancellation of at least two sailings. Repairs were made, and the sailings were expected to resume as scheduled.

The incidents serve as a reminder of the importance of regular maintenance and proper oversight to prevent such issues from occurring in the future.

On January 12, 2012, the Queen of Oak Bay experienced a mechanical breakdown on its 5 p.m. sailing. One of the vessel's four engines broke down just 10 minutes before its scheduled arrival at the Horseshoe Bay terminal.

The engine failure caused the vessel to come to an abrupt stop, triggering fire alarms and smoke. This led to a chaotic situation on board.

The captain managed to safely bring the vessel into Horseshoe Bay under the power of one engine. Engineers then sorted out the problem, allowing the vessel to be taken out of service for repairs.

BC Ferries was forced to reroute several vessels and cancel eight sailings on three routes due to the Queen of Oak Bay's breakdown.

The Queen of Oak Bay has undergone a significant mid-life upgrade, a $35 million project that prepared the vessel for another 20 years of service. This upgrade was completed in early 2005 at Vancouver Drydock Company in North Vancouver.

Major maintenance work included steel replacement, piping and cable renewal, hull sandblasting, and extensive painting. The vessel was outfitted with four state-of-the-art marine evacuation systems, supplemented by two rescue boats and eight life rafts.

In addition to the upgrades, the vessel's lifesaving equipment was also improved. The marine evacuation systems are designed to ensure the highest safety standards for passengers and crew. The systems deploy into inflatable rafts, providing a safe and easy way for passengers to evacuate the vessel in an emergency.

The Queen of Oak Bay has a robust safety record, thanks in part to its mid-life upgrade. The vessel meets all Canadian stability requirements, including the TP 10943 (SOLAS ’90 (Safety of Life at Sea)) damage stability standards for two compartment damage.