20-034
June 29, 2020
BC Ferries adding more sailings to its summer schedules
Extra sailings added to three Vancouver – Vancouver Island routes, Vancouver – Sunshine Coast as of July 2Victoria, B.C. –BC Ferries is adding even more service for travellers on the three Vancouver – Vancouver Island routes and the Vancouver – Sunshine Coast route, above the extra sailings the company announced last week.
Effective July 2, new schedules with additional service are being introduced to provide more choice for customers.
Additional service will be added to the following routes:
- Vancouver (Tsawwassen) – Vancouver Island (Swartz Bay); 33 additional round trips per week
- Vancouver (Tsawwassen) – Nanaimo (Duke Point); 8 additional round trips per week
- Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) - Nanaimo (Departure Bay); 30 additional round trips per week
- Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) - Sunshine Coast (Langdale); 8 additional round trips per week
The Tsawwassen – Swartz Bay and Tsawwassen – Duke Point schedules will be updated online tomorrow.
“We are keeping capacity well ahead of demand all through the recovery,” said Mark Collins, BC Ferries’ President & CEO. “Ferry traffic has returned to an average of about 30 per cent lower than this time last year. We are forecasting that it will be two to three years before traffic returns to pre-COVID levels.”
In addition to more capacity, BC Ferries is also making changes to operational procedures. This includes re-opening the foot passenger overhead walkway at Horseshoe Bay with appropriate physical distancing measures in place, giving Langdale sailings priority at Horseshoe Bay, assisting customers to return to their vehicles when a vessel is 10 minutes from the dock, and carefully managing the loading of last vehicles to balance on-time performance and capacity.
Sailing on time is important to all of us. You can help us help you by:
- Return to your vehicle promptly before arrival
- Park within 60 centimetres (24 inches) of the vehicle in front of you on the deck of the ship
- During loading and unloading, our team is focussed on our safety. Please direct any questions to the staff before or after loading, instead of during loading. We will be happy to assist you after you are safely on or off the ship
- When loading, follow the car in front of you promptly and carefully
- Understand that sometimes the captain may choose to sail with some empty deck space in order to balance on-time performance with capacity
- Respect ferry workers and follow their directions with care
BC Ferries encourages responsible behaviour while on board and at the terminal, including maintaining physical distance from other passengers, remaining in vehicles when possible and limiting movement around the vessel and terminal. Transport Canada now requires that passengers possess a face covering and wear it while at the terminal or in passenger areas on the vessel. The company continues to encourage customers to heed Dr. Bonnie Henry’s advice to be calm, be kind and be safe. Vessel and terminal staff are working hard to adjust to changing circumstances and to implement protocols and procedures that keep everyone safe and healthy.
For schedule information and reservations, visit BC Ferries’ website at bcferries.com.
For schedule information and reservations, visit BC Ferries’ website at bcferries.com.
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Media Contact:
BC Ferries, Communications
Victoria: (250) 978-1267
Customer Contact:
Victoria: (250) 386-3431
Toll-free: 1-888-BCFERRY (1-888-223-3779)
Note to newsrooms: For urgent media inquiries off-hours, call our off-hours line at (250) 516-7211.
BC Ferries, Communications
Victoria: (250) 978-1267
Customer Contact:
Victoria: (250) 386-3431
Toll-free: 1-888-BCFERRY (1-888-223-3779)
Note to newsrooms: For urgent media inquiries off-hours, call our off-hours line at (250) 516-7211.