Ferry service cancelled during 'severe' weather

The Palm Beach, Wagstaffe and Ettalong ferry service was cancelled late on Wednesday, November 28, due to severe and dangerous sea conditions.

The ferry had previously been diverted to Patonga for Wednesday and Thursday, November 28 and 29, due to rough swells and gale force winds.

According to a statement from ferry operator Fantasea Cruising, an update of sea conditions for Thursday, November 29, were for very rough 3.6m to 3.9m south east swells and high winds.

"Dangerous and severe conditions are prevailing, therefore there are no ferry services to Ettalong or Wagstaffe and no ferry diversion to Patonga," the announcement said.

"The safety and wellbeing of our passengers is paramount.

"Conditions exceed the company's safe operating guidelines for the service."

"When these rough conditions have subsided, and it is deemed safe our services will resume to normal operations.

"Please note that this diversion is not because of shoaling as this issue has been addressed by recent dredging.

"The company will be closely monitoring how the sea conditions interact with recently dredged mouth of the channel.

"Customers will be alerted via SMS text messages."

SOURCE:

Media releases, 28 Nov 2018

Elisabeth Styler, Fantasea Cruising