The derelict Queen of Sidney ferry that sat decaying for decades along British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast went up in flames Tuesday night, in what police are describing as a suspicious fire that has prompted a criminal investigation.
I arrived at the scene early Wednesday morning where RCMP officers were still examining the smoldering hull of what was once an iconic vessel in BC Ferries’ fleet. The acrid smell of burnt metal and plastic hung in the air as firefighters worked to ensure no hotspots remained.
“This wasn’t just some accidental blaze,” said Staff Sergeant Paul Hayes of the Sunshine Coast RCMP. “We have reason to believe this fire was deliberately set and we’re treating it as suspicious in nature.”
The 129-metre Queen of Sidney, built in 1960, served BC’s coastal communities for over 40 years before being decommissioned in 2000. For the past two decades, the vessel sat deteriorating at a private property in Gambier Island, becoming something of a controversial landmark.
Local resident Marlene Peterson watched the orange glow illuminate the night sky from her home across the inlet. “That old ferry’s been sitting there so long, most of us forgot it was even there,” she told me. “Then suddenly last night, the whole sky lit up like daylight. We knew immediately something terrible was happening.”
The timing of the fire has raised questions among locals and investigators alike. Just three weeks ago, the vessel’s owner had been ordered by Transport Canada to address environmental concerns stemming from the abandoned ferry. According to court documents I reviewed, the deadline for compliance was approaching next month.
“We’re looking at all angles,” confirmed Hayes. “The timing certainly adds another dimension to our investigation.”
Environmental officials from the BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy arrived mid-morning to assess potential contamination. The aging vessel likely contained various hazardous materials including asbestos, lead paint, and residual fuel that could now be leaching into the surrounding waters.
“Our immediate concern is containing any potential contamination,” said Ministry spokesperson Jennifer Woodruff. “We’ve deployed containment booms around the vessel and are conducting water sampling to determine if harmful substances have been released.”
The Queen of Sidney had become emblematic of a larger issue facing British Columbia’s coastline – the problem of derelict vessels. According to a 2021 Coast Guard report, over 1,400 abandoned boats and ships line BC’s shores, posing environmental and safety hazards.
Mark Wilson, a marine conservation specialist with the Pacific Marine Environmental Association, explained the broader implications while we watched cleanup crews at work.
“These abandoned vessels represent a ticking environmental time bomb,” Wilson said. “They contain all manner of toxic materials that eventually leach into our marine ecosystems. What happened here last night – whether accidental or deliberate – is unfortunately the way many of these vessels end up being dealt with.”
The ferry’s history is deeply intertwined with British Columbia’s maritime heritage. For decades, it shuttled thousands of passengers between Tsawwassen and Vancouver Island, becoming a familiar sight to generations of coastal residents and tourists.
“I rode that ferry countless times as a kid,” reminisced local historian Robert McAllister, who came to document the vessel’s final chapter. “It’s a sad end for a ship that connected so many communities. These vessels were like floating community centers – places where islanders would catch up on news and visitors would get their first taste of island life.”
According to BC Ferries archives, the Queen of Sidney was capable of carrying 138 vehicles and up to 996 passengers during its operational years. After decommissioning, it changed hands multiple times before ending up at its final resting place in Gambier Island.
The investigation continues to evolve as specialists from the RCMP’s forensic identification services comb through the wreckage looking for evidence of arson. Investigators are requesting that anyone with
