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The BC Ferries terminal at Duke Point near Nanaimo will be out of service for months after it was rammed by a ferry Tuesday.

BC Ferries spokeswoman Deborah Marshall says the docking facility suffered major damage, including to its ramp, when it was hit by the Coastal Inspiration, which also had damage to its bow doors.

She says it will take several months to repair the dock and at least one month to fix the bow of the Coastal Inspiration because a new part has to be made in Germany, where the ship was built.

Ms. Marshall says the Coastal Inspiration's sister ship, the Coastal Renaissance, will replace the damaged vessel on the mid-island route, which will connect Tsawwassen to Departure Bay at Nanaimo while the Duke Point terminal is closed for repairs.

She says a preliminary investigation shows an electronic failure in a control system may have caused the crash, but that hasn't been verified.

The crash caused minor injuries to one passenger and one crew member.

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