BC Ferries had said early yesterday that cancelled trips were inevitable.

A staffing shortage continues to affect BC Ferries crossings between Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland.

BC Ferries had said early yesterday that cancelled trips were inevitable. It did find enough available workers to keep most of the day on schedule, but last night's sailing from Departure Bay in Nanaimo to Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver on the Queen of Alberni was cancelled, as was the return voyage, along with several other routes.

BC Ferries says it requires a specific number of crew members, to ensure the safety of our passengers in case of emergency, but also to comply with Transport Canada regulations.

It said last month that the level of absenteeism among employees had doubled from where it was before the pandemic, with about 11 percent of employees unavailable because of illness or vacation.