Ferry service between downtown Nanaimo and Gabriola Island continues to be disrupted as part of a damaged passenger walkway at the Nanaimo terminal is repaired.
On Friday, a truck full of asphalt belonging to Royal Paving that was making repairs to the terminal went on to the wooden trestle, causing it to collapse.
The truck plunged four metres into the water, landing upside down. The driver went into the water with the truck, according to B.C. Ferries, but escaped serious injury. A B.C Ferries safety officer, working below the trestle in a boat, also escaped injury.
The damaged terminal has forced B.C. Ferries to operate a water taxi out of the Nanaimo Harbour for foot passengers while vehicle traffic travels the MV Quinsam between Gabriola Island’s Descanso Bay and B.C. Ferries’ Duke Point terminal.
“We’re continuing to use the water taxi and Duke Point until further notice,” said Deborah Marshall, B.C. Ferries spokeswoman, Monday morning. An update on the situation was expected later Monday after the News Bulletin’s deadline.
The truck was lifted from the water Friday, and B.C. Ferries is working with WorkSafeBC and other agencies to determine what caused the accident and if there are any environmental consequences.