Company Sued for $6.4 Million Over Kootenay Lake Ferry Fees

URGENT UPDATE: A major legal battle is unfolding as Eco HeavyDuty Repairs has filed a lawsuit against Western Pacific Marine for over $6.4 million in unpaid fees related to the construction of the new Kootenay Lake ferry. The lawsuit, filed on December 24, 2023, in the B.C. Supreme Court, claims the Vancouver-based company is owed substantial funds for work completed at a temporary dry dock near Nelson, British Columbia.

According to the civil claim, Eco HeavyDuty Repairs alleges that it operated under an oral agreement with Western Pacific Marine until January 1, 2024, after which they formalized a contract allowing Eco HeavyDuty to bill monthly. Despite submitting 86 invoices between January and September 2025, Eco HeavyDuty claims it has only received $11.7 million of an outstanding balance of $6.7 million. The company contends that Western Pacific Marine has “refused or neglected” to pay the outstanding invoices, resulting in significant financial strain.

The impact of this lawsuit is felt deeply, as Eco HeavyDuty states, “As a result of WPM’s breach of the contract, EHDR has suffered and continues to suffer damage, loss, and expense.” The financial woes are compounded by the ongoing delays in the ferry project, which was initially awarded to Western Pacific Marine under a $63 million contract in 2021.

The new ferry, designed to run exclusively on electric power by 2030, was set to replace the aging MV Balfour, built in 1954. However, construction has faced numerous delays attributed to the remote location of the build site and a shortage of specialized tradespeople. The Ministry of Transportation and Transit has now pushed the expected completion date to late 2026, with the vessel anticipated to be operational by 2027, at a revised total cost of $117 million.

As this legal situation continues to develop, both parties have yet to issue public comments regarding the lawsuit. The outcome could significantly affect the timeline and budget of this critical transportation project for the Kootenay region.

Stay tuned for updates as this story develops, and watch for potential implications for other contracts and projects in the area.