The Quadra Queen II will continue to service Port McNeill, Alert Bay, and Sointula until March 17, 2026, when it will make its farewell voyage.
The Quadra Queen II is set for retirement next year. From Oct. 13 to March 17, Island Aurora, which usually covers the McNeill route, will provide service from Campbell River to Quathiaski Cove (Quadra Island) and Nanaimo Harbour to Descanso Bay (Gabriola Island) during BC Ferries' annual refit season.
Vehicle capacity is approximately 20 vehicles less on the Quadra Queen II than on the Island Aurora, so BC Ferries is encouraging travellers to carpool to minimize potential sailing delays.
"A passenger vehicle will be available on the car deck to provide shelter and warmth for foot passengers who are unable to negotiate the stairs on the Quadra Queen II," said a press release from BC Ferries. "We recognize some customers will be impacted when travelling on this route, and we thank the community and local businesses in advance for your patience as we work through this required refit period and mitigate impacts to service as much as possible."
The Island Aurora was introduced to service in 2020, one of the six Island Class vessels built as part of BC Ferries' fleet renewal project. The project commenced in 2016 and is scheduled to conclude in 2031. In addition to the six Island Class ferries, four Salish Class ferries have also been introduced into service.
By 2031, four additional vessels for each class will be introduced into BC waters. In 2026, the four Island Class vessels will be completed. Two of the Salish Class will be constructed in 2029, with the Queen of Alberni retiring. The last two will be finished in 2030. The Queen of Coquitlam and the Queen of New Westminster will also be retired. The last vessel to retire will be the Queen of Cowichan in 2031.
Each boat is designed with hybrid--electric or fully electric propulsion systems in an effort to reduce environmental impact. They also offer an increase in capacity for vehicles and passengers.
