The new Kootenay Lake ferry has hit another snag, with an issue identified with the vessel’s anchoring system during the certification process.
B.C.’s Ministry of Transportation and Transit confirmed the issue after questions were raised about the anchoring system on the new MV Kokanee.
The ministry said the anchor does not sit flush against the vessel’s hull as intended, which was discovered after installation.
KLF Project Management is overseeing the development and implementation of a corrective solution on behalf of the ministry and is working with the regulator as required.
The ministry said this corrective work will be carried out alongside other planned pre-sea trial activities and is not expected to affect the project schedule or delay substantial completion, which remains targeted for December 2026, the ministry said.
The vessel is now 95 per cent complete, with the MV Kokanee expected to enter service in 2027.
The cost of the corrective work has not yet been determined.
The ministry did not provide details on when the anchoring system was installed, what inspections or approvals it underwent before the issue was identified or why the issue was not identified earlier.
Transport Canada said in a statement it has not inspected the vessel in relation to the anchoring issue and could not confirm what deficiencies were identified or what corrective work may be required.
The ferry project has been plagued by delays and rising costs since construction began. The new vessel was originally supposed to be completed in 2023.
The province took over responsibility for completing the vessel last December, citing issues with project delivery by the original contractor Western Pacific Marine.
The overall project budget has also grown substantially from its original $62.9 million estimate, with the latest project cost expected to reach $117-million.
The MV Kokanee is being built to replace the aging MV Balfour that currently provides service between Balfour and Kootenay Bay.
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