The islands will be without ferry service for longer than announced earlier this week, the Observer learned Saturday afternoon.
BC Ferries is no longer offering a return to service date for the ferry, but has cancelled the sailings between Prince Rupert and Port Hardy on November 25 and 26.
The problem is at the shipyard in Ketchikan where the ferry is due to have its propeller seals repaired. The shipyard was to take the vessel Sunday (Nov. 19), but it now turns out it cannot because of ongoing work on another ship.
Ferries is not saying when work on the QPR will begin nor when it will end.
"There will be no service to the Queen Charlotte IslandsÂ…until the return of the Queen of Prince Rupert,".
Ferries says it's sorry for any inconvenience as a result of the unscheduled maintenance, and notes that a temporary barge service for commercial customers will operate across Hecate Strait in the coming week.
For more information, try www.bcferries.com or call the Skidegate terminal at 250 559-4485.