Some BC Ferries passengers will have to ride on the outside deck until the corporation can remove asbestos in the lounge of a 40-year-old vessel.

In February, BC Ferries discovered asbestos that had been sprayed in a space above ceiling panels in the upstairs lounge of the MV Quadra Queen II that services the small communities of Port McNeill, Sointula and Alert Bay off the northeast coast of Vancouver Island.

BC Ferries spokeswoman Deborah Marshall said the lounge has been closed again, and the corporation has approval to contain the asbestos by covering it again.

The repair work could take two weeks or more, spokeswoman Deborah Marshall said, and in the meantime the corporation will put a bus aboard the ferry for foot passengers in lieu of lounge access.

Air quality tests have not found any asbestos in the air on board the vessel, Marshall said.

About 50 high school students use the vessel every day, but Marshall said she is not concerned about not having enough room on the bus, because many customers stay in their own vehicles for the short trips.

"Our concern was to close that lounge, until we are satisfied that there isn't any issues going on," she said.

Asbestos an issue for decommissioned vessels

Dealing with the asbestos on the BC Ferries fleet remains an ongoing concern for the corporation as it replaces many of the older ships.

BC Ferries put three of its decommissioned vessels up for sale on Monday, and the corporation's 2006-07 annual report noted:

"The company’s long-lived assets include certain vessels which contain undetermined amounts of asbestos. Under certain circumstances the company may be required to handle and dispose of the asbestos in a manner required by regulations.

"It is the company’s intention to sell decommissioned vessels into world markets for continued use in providing commercial ferry service. Under these circumstances asbestos remediation would become the responsibility of the new owner."