Local News

2026-02-09

  Starting today, travellers to and from Cortes Island will need to take a water taxi while the ferry is sidelined.

  The Whaletown terminal on Cortes will be unaccessible while it’s being prepared to accommodate a new Island-class ferry to operate the route between Cortes and Quadra Islands.

  Upgrades have been under way since last May, to prepare for a new Island-class vessel currently under construction at the Damen Shipyard in Romania. It’s expected to be delivered sometime this spring.

  The final phase of work requires the Whaletown ferry berth to be closed. In the meantime, travellers will need to use the complimentary 40-passenger water taxi operating between Manson’s Landing and the Heriot Bay government dock on Quadra. There is also a complimentary 28-passenger private coach service between Quathiaski Cove and Heriot Bay on Quadra Island, for the convenience of people travelling between Campbell River and Cortes Island.

  The Island-class ferries are designed to operate as fully electric vessels, once rapid shore-based charging infrastructure has been installed at their terminals.  

  Next year the final two Island class ferries built by Damen will be brought into service on the Campbell River to Quadra Island route. They have been named Island Gwa’yam and Island K’asa, chosen by the We Wai Kai and Wei Wai Kum Nations, and mean "Whale" and "Otter" in the Kwak'wala language. 

  The Island-class ferries were ordered by BC Ferries in 2019. By spring 2027,  10 new vessels will have been built and put into service along the coast. 

  For more information about the water taxi schedule, visit BC Ferries’ project page.