Service Alerts

Osprey 2000 Service Notice – October 13 to November 3, 2026.

The Osprey 2000 ferry will be out of service October 13 to November 3, 2026 for scheduled fall maintenance and refit work. Due to new Transport Canada regulatory requirements, this spring’s refit has been extended to allow for necessary and time sensitive upgrades to the vessel.

During this timeframe, the smaller-capacity MV Balfour ferry will operate on the regular winter schedule. Travellers may experience longer waits during peak times, please check www.drivebc.ca for up-to-date sailing information.
Western Pacific Marine appreciates your patience and understanding. If you have questions, please contact office@westernpacificmarine.com

Western Pacific Marine Ltd. Kootenay Lake Ferries

Osprey 2000 Service Notice – April 7 to May 5, 2026

The Osprey 2000 ferry will be out of service April 7 to May 5, 2026 for scheduled spring maintenance and refit work. Due to new Transport Canada regulatory requirements, this spring’s refit has been extended to allow for necessary and time sensitive upgrades to the vessel.

During this timeframe, the smaller-capacity MV Balfour ferry will operate on the regular winter schedule. Travellers may experience longer waits during peak times, please check www.drivebc.ca for up-to-date sailing information.
Western Pacific Marine appreciates your patience and understanding. If you have questions, please contact office@westernpacificmarine.com

Western Pacific Marine Ltd. Kootenay Lake Ferries

Please be advised that the Harrop ferry will be out of service for required maintenance work from Tuesday, June 3 at 11:45PM to Wednesday, June 4 at 3:00AM.

Emergency services have been notified. During an emergency, please call 9-1-1.

Osprey 2000 Spring Refit – Out of Service June 3rd – June 20th, 2025 (Due to a mechanical problem, we have had to extend the refit for the Osprey for another day. We apologise for any inconvenience.)

The Osprey 2000 Ferry will be out of service for its semi-annual maintenance, starting Tuesday, June 3^rd, 2025 through Thursday, June 19^th, 2025.

The smaller MV Balfour ferry, with reduced deck capacity, will be in service operating on the regular winter schedule. 

For up-to-date sailing information please check www.drivebc.ca.

Please be advised that the Harrop ferry will be out of service for required maintenance work from Sunday, May 25 at 11:45PM to Monday, May 26, at 2:00AM.

Emergency services have been notified. During an emergency, please call 9-1-1.

be advised that the Harrop ferry will be out of service for required maintenance work from Friday, May 9, 10:00PM to Saturday, May 10, 2:00AM.

Emergency services have been notified. During an emergency, please call 9-1-1.T

The BCGEU has notified WPM that the following Kootenay Lake Ferry sailings are cancelled due to crewing issues:

Thursday, April 10th CANCELLED SAILINGS

Balfour: 2:50pm, 4:30pm, 6:10pm, 7:50pm, 9:40pm PDT

Kootenay Bay: 3:40pm, 5:20pm, 7:00pm, 8:40pm, 10:20pm PDT

The following Kootenay Lake Ferry sailings have been cancelled due to crewing issues:

Tuesday, April 8th CANCELLED SAILINGS

Balfour: 6:30am, 8:10am, 9:50am, 11:30am and 1:10pm PDT

Kootenay Bay: 7:10am, 9:00am, 10:40am, 12:20pm and 2:00pm PDT

Further to the earlier service alert from today, The Kootenay Lake Ferry crew has just now advised WPM that there will only be the one afternoon Essential Service sailing due to crewing issues – the only sailing today will be the Balfour 4:30pm and Kootenay Bay 5:20pm PDT.

Below is a list of all cancelled sailings for today, as of this afternoon. Italicized sailing times are sailings that are now cancelled due to this latest announcement.

Monday, April 7th CANCELLED SAILINGS

Balfour: 6:30am, 8:10am, 9:50am, 11:30am 1:10pm, 2:50pm, 6:10pm, 7:50pm, 9:40pm PDT

Kootenay Bay: 7:10am, 9:00am, 10:40am, 12:20pm, 2:00pm, 3:40pm, 7:00pm, 8:40pm, 10:20pm PDT

Monday, April 7th CANCELLED SAILINGS:

Balfour: 6:30am, 8:10am, 9:50am, 11:30am and 1:10pm PDT

Kootenay Bay: 7:10am, 9:00am, 10:40am, 12:20pm and 2:00pm PDT

The BCGEU has notified WPM that the following sailings are cancelled:

Monday, April 7th CANCELLED SAILINGS:

Balfour: 6:30am, 8:10am, 9:50am, 11:30am and 1:10pm PDT

Kootenay Bay: 7:10am, 9:00am, 10:40am, 12:20pm and 2:00pm PDT

Travel Advisory – Kootenay Lake Ferry

The following April 3, 2025 sailings have been cancelled due to crewing issues:

Thursday, April 3rd CANCELLED SAILINGS

Balfour: 6:30am, 8:10am, 9:50am, 11:30am, 1:10pm PDT

Kootenay Bay: 7:10am, 9:00am, 10:40am, 12:20pm 2:00pm PDT

Travel Advisory – Kootenay Lake Ferry

The Union has notified WPM that sailings are cancelled until today’s 2:50pm sailing from Balfour, when regular service should resume.

Wednesday, April 2nd CANCELLED SAILINGS

Balfour: 6:30am, 8:10am, 9:50am, 11:30am, 1:10pm PDT

Kootenay Bay: 7:10am, 9:00am, 10:40am, 12:20pm 2:00pm PDT

The Union has advised that there is a crew shortage for today’s afternoon shift.

Sunday, March 23, CANCELLED Sailings

Balfour: 2:50pm, 4:30pm, 6:10pm, 7:50pm, 9:40pm PDT
Kootenay Bay: 3:40pm, 5:20pm, 7:00pm, 8:40pm, 10:20pm PDT

As of March 22, the following sailing cancellations are in addition to those from March 20.

Balfour 6:30am, 8:10am, 9:50am, 11:30am, 1:10pm PDT
Kootenay Bay 7:10am, 9:00am, 10:40am, 12:20pm, 2:00pm PDT

On March 20, the BCGEU converted their strike action to an overtime ban. As a result, the Kootenay Lake Ferry, should be back on the regular winter schedule. 

However, the BCGEU continues to control the crew schedule and will not sail the ferry if overtime is required. WPM has been advised that the BCGEU is cancelling the following sailings today due to a crew shortage:

March 20, CANCELLED Sailings

Balfour 2:50pm and 4:30pm PDT
Kootenay Bay 3:40pm and 5:20pm PDT

Going forward, expect delays and short-notice cancellations. WPM will update DriveBC.ca as soon as possible when made aware of schedule changes.

As of today, March 20, the BCGEU has converted their strike action to an overtime ban. As a result, the Kootenay Lake Ferry, should be back on the regular winter schedule. 

However, the BCGEU continues to control the crew schedule and will not sail the ferry if overtime is required. WPM has been advised that the BCGEU is cancelling the following sailings today due to a crew shortage:

March 20, CANCELLED Sailings

Balfour 2:50pm and 4:30pm PDT
Kootenay Bay 3:40pm and 5:20pm PDT

Going forward, expect delays and short-notice cancellations. WPM will update DriveBC.ca as soon as possible when made aware of schedule changes.

THURSDAY, MARCH 13th, 2025:

Due to the Kootenay Pass closure today, the Kootenay Lake ferry will make additional Essential Service sailings, leaving from:

Balfour at 11:30am, 1:10pm and 2:50pm PST.

Kootenay Bay at 12:20pm, 2:00pm and 3:40pm PST.

The usual Balfour 4:30pm and Kootenay Bay 5:20pm PST Essential Service sailings will also take place.

The BCGEU has confirmed that crew is arranged for the additional sailings.

Due to the Kootenay Pass closure Friday February 28, 2025, the Kootenay Lake ferry will make an additional roundtrip Essential Service sailing, leaving from Balfour at 2:50pm PST and from Kootenay Bay at 3:40pm PST.

As per the Essential Service Order, ALL Kootenay Lake Ferries are cancelled on Monday, February 17. There will be no service at Kootenay Lake Ferry on statutory holidays.

FRIDAY JANUARY 31st, 2025:

Due to highway closure, the following sailing will occur:
 
Departure Balfour – 15:45
Departure Kootenay Bay – 16:25
Departure Balfour – 17:05
Departure Kootenay Bay – 17:45

Effective at 6:30 am on Monday, January 6th, 2025, Glade and Harrop Cable Ferries will be affected by BCGEU Strike Action.

Please view the revised schedules below for non-essential travel:

Glade Cable Ferry

• Morning Departures: 05:00, 06:00, 06:30, 07:00, 07:30, 08:00, 08:30, 10:00
• Afternoon/Evening Departures: 15:00, 16:30, 17:00, 17:30, 18:00, 18:30, 19:00, 20:00

Harrop Cable Ferry

• Morning Departures: 06:00, 07:00, 08:00, 09:00
• Afternoon/Evening Departures: 16:00, 17:00, 18:00, 19:00

Essential travelers can download a Ferry Boarding pass to fill out and display in order to board as required.

The LRB has ruled in favour of WPM’s application for a stay. Therefore, Cable Ferry operations will continue indefinitely as NORMAL from January 6th.

Cable Ferries will operate as usual until further notice with no changes to the current schedule, as both sides are still in negotiations.

Cable Ferries will operate as usual until 2 January 2025. A new schedule for the month of January and onwards will be posted on Tuesday, December 31st, late afternoon.

UPDATED Holiday Schedule: the Osprey ferry will sail on the regular winter schedule on December 24, 25, 26, 31 and January 1, not Essential Service Sailings. All other days will be as follows:

Monday – Friday Essential Service Sailings: Balfour 6:30 am, 8:10 am, 4:30 pm / Kootenay Bay 7:10 am, 9:00 am, 5:20 pm

Saturday & Sunday  Essential Service Sailings: Balfour 6:30 am, 9:40 pm / Kootenay Bay 7:10 am, 10:20 pm

The general public can now use the ferry (up to vessel capacity) after priority essential workers have boarded.

Monday – Friday Essential Service Sailings: Balfour 6:30 am, 8:10 am, 4:30 pm / Kootenay Bay 7:10 am, 9:00 am, 5:20 pm

Saturday & Sunday  Essential Service Sailings: Balfour 6:30 am, 9:40 pm / Kootenay Bay 7:10 am, 10:20 pm

No sailings on December 25, December 26, and January 1

General public can now use ferry (up to vessel capacity) after priority essential workers have boarded.

Effective Saturday November 30, the Kootenay Lake Ferry will provide: General public can now use ferry (up to vessel capacity) after priority essential workers have boarded.

Two ongoing round-trip weekend sailings added on Saturday and Sunday:

Balfour 6:30am / Kootenay Bay 7:10am

Balfour 9:40pm / Kootenay Bay 10:20pm.

General public can now use ferry (up to vessel capacity) after priority essential workers have boarded.

Due to today’s (November 25, 2024) highway closure, we will provide an additional roundtrip departure from Balfour at 14:50 and Kootenay Bay at 15:40 for today only.

Due to today’s (November 25, 2024) highway closure, we will provide an additional roundtrip departure from Balfour at 14:50 and Kootenay Bay at 15:40 for today only.

We would like to keep you informed on the ongoing labour negotiations with the BCGEU and the status of the Kootenay Lake ferry schedule.

1. Last week, the union’s last strike notice had expired so there were no interruptions to our ferry service.
2. If the union decides to proceed with job action, they need to issue a new 72-hour strike notice
3. We are looking forward to ongoing talks with the union throughout the month of October.

We encourage you to visit our website and Twitter for up to date information.

The BCGEU will not be taking strike action today, October 10, 2024. All Kootenay Lake Ferries will continue to run as scheduled.