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Kwuna tripped up by tire

A couple of Kwuna trips had to be cancelled Sunday and Monday after a tire got caught in one of the ferry's propellers.The Kwuna first experienced difficulty Sunday night (Sept. 20), on the 9 pm sailing from Alliford Bay.QCI Recreation coordinator Julia Brobbel was on the ferry, trying to get home to Graham Island after a successful movie night in Sandspit. The crew told the passengers they were having engine trouble, and eventually called a tugboat to come and help. Ms Brobbel said the Kwuna finally arrived at Skidegate Landing around 10:50 pm.The next day, sailings were cancelled in the early afternoon so that divers could send a camera down to have a look at the Kwuna's propellers, said BC Ferries spokesperson Deborah Marshall.The camera did not show anything, but that night divers went down and found a tire in one of the propellers."It's very unusual," Ms Marshall said.The Kwuna is just about to leave the islands for its four-year refit. It will be replaced by a tug and barge between Oct. 5 and Dec. 11. During this time, the last sailing from Alliford Bay will depart at 7:30 pm, and the last sailing from Skidegate at 8 pm.