For Immediate Release
20-053
September 29, 2020

BC Ferries reminds customers they must exit their vehicles on enclosed car decks

VICTORIA – BC Ferries is reminding customers that as of tomorrow, Sept. 30, customers travelling with BC Ferries must leave their vehicle on enclosed car decks and come up to the passenger areas or outer passenger decks for safety reasons. Customers are welcome to remain in their vehicles on the upper or open car decks.

BC Ferries must comply with this Transport Canada regulation and the company supports the regulation and its intent. Enclosed car decks are spaces that represent inherent risk to the travelling public. Many safety measures are in place including additional cleaning, sanitization, physical distancing and mandatory wearing of face coverings while at the terminal and onboard the vessel. If customers are non-compliant, enforcement may include a travel ban and/or a monetary fine.

Starting tomorrow, BC Ferries will also reopen certain areas of the vessels, such as the Pacific Buffet area on the Spirit Class vessels, for seating only, as a way to provide passengers more space for physical distancing. Buffet food service is not being reintroduced at this time.

As of tomorrow, the company will implement its procedures for the Transport Canada regulation on affected routes, which are:

• Tsawwassen – Swartz Bay
• Tsawwassen – Duke Point
• Horseshoe Bay – Departure Bay
• Powell River – Comox
• Tsawwassen – Southern Gulf Islands

The regulation can be found in Section 152 of the Cargo, Tackle and Fumigation Regulations under the Canada Shipping Act. For more information, visit tc.gc.ca.
  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 at (250) 516-7211.