Sailings from Duke Point are staying in dock until at least Monday evening, due to high winds. (File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

travel woes

Multiple Nanaimo-Vancouver BC Ferries sailings cancelled due to high winds

Dec 22, 2025 | 8:48 AM

NANAIMO — A pre-Christmas wind storm is causing havoc for those looking to get where they need to be for the holidays.

Strong winds forecasted by Environment Canada has prompted BC Ferries to cancel multiple round trips between both Nanaimo’s Duke Point and Departure Bay terminals and the Lower Mainland for Monday, Dec. 22.

Included are the 9 a.m., 10:15 a.m., 12:45 p.m., 3:15 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. crossings leaving Duke Point, and the corresponding return trips from Tsawwassen.

Also cancelled are the 10:55 a.m., 1:20 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6:20 p.m. sailings from Departure Bay and corresponding return trips from Horseshoe Bay.

A service notice from BC Ferries said the decision was “a result of Environment Canada’s severe weather forecast for high winds and wave height in the Strait of Georgia.”

Best in Sport

Nanaimo celebrates Sport Achievement Awards and Hall of Fame inductions

6h ago

ROAD WORKS

Another multi-hour closure planned for Hwy. 4 at Cameron Lake

11h ago

Bruender Magic

Clippers top Chiefs in overtime thriller

13h ago

Environment Canada issued a yellow warning for wind just before 8:30 a.m., forecasting winds upwards of 70 kilometres per hour, gusting to 90 kilometres per hour by late Monday afternoon and into the evening.

“A frontal system will move across the Inner South Coast today bringing strong winds to areas near the water. Winds are forecast to rise to southeast 70 gusting to 90 km/h late this afternoon over southern sections of Metro Vancouver near the Strait of Georgia, especially Tsawwassen and Boundary Bay,” the warning read.

The warning spans waters off the coast of south Nanaimo and Duke Point, but not the city or the Island itself as of 9 a.m.

A yellow alert for wind issued by Environment Canada. (Environment Canada)

Follow us on Facebook. Join Everything Nanaimo on Facebook and stay connected with everything happening on central Vancouver Island.

info@nanaimonewsnow.com

Follow us on: Twitter (X) | Bluesky | Facebook