Common dangerous goods

Carefully review the list below. If you plan to travel with dangerous goods, or you’re shipping a trailer with dangerous cargo, you need to complete a dangerous goods shipping document ahead of travel. Print your completed document and present it to the ticket agent when you arrive at the terminal.

If your particular product is not listed or you have any questions about travelling with dangerous good, you can email us at dg.bcf@bcferries.com, call 250-978-1152, or fax 250-386-1652.
 

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Aerosols no larger than 1 litre are allowed.

Automotive antifreeze is not considered dangerous and can be carried in any amount.

Auxiliary fuel tanks that form an integral part of the vehicle, connected by a fuel line to the engine fuel system, and firmly secured and protected from external damage, are permitted. Auxiliary fuel tanks are not to be confused with spare gas tanks (see Gasoline).

Adhesive products containing flammable liquid, such as contact cement, have special requirements. Check with the terminal staff for information on acceptable quantities.
 

Air bottles, scuba tanks and enriched air

• Oxygen for personal use is allowed in cylinders up to 5 litre water capacity. No transferring between containers is permitted.
• Scuba tanks (compressed air) for personal use is unlimited and must be declared
  • All full or partially-full tanks require a dangerous goods shipping document
  • All full or partially-full tanks are to be transported in closed, locked vehicles, or in open vehicles, provided the tanks are out of sight
• Enriched air must be declared and fully documented
  • The number of enriched air tanks may not exceed 8 per consignment (tank size not to exceed 20 kg). Enriched air tanks follow the same conditions of transportation as Scuba tanks for safe stowage in vehicles.
• Empty tanks not containing air are not considered dangerous goods under the Transport of Dangerous Goods Regulations, as long as the valves are open and not under pressure
• These tanks are not considered baggage and our employees are not permitted to handle them or to transport them in our baggage vans

Ammunition for small arms, rifles and shotguns may be permitted on our ferries in small quantities. Check with the departure terminal for confirmation.

Batteries for automobiles are permitted. New vehicle batteries and up to 3 used batteries can be transported.

Boat/RV gas can be carried in spare tanks. See gasoline for the amounts of gas which can be carried in spare tanks.

Coleman's fuel, naphtha and white gas products used to fill camp stoves and lanterns are permitted in 5 litre metal containers in vehicles, but foot passengers are prohibited from carrying them.


Diesel fuel in tidy tanks of 450 litres or less is permitted. No dangerous goods documentation required if you travel with amounts of diesel fuel within this limit.

Firearms may be transported under strict conditions. Check with departure terminal for confirmation. 

• Firearms must be transported in compliance with Canadian Firearms Regulations. Firearms transported in vehicles must be:
  • Unloaded
  • Not visible from outside the vehicle
  • Locked inside vehicle when unattended
• Foot passengers are not permitted to transport firearms, except on sailings between Port Hardy (Bear Cove) and Prince Rupert, and between Prince Rupert and Graham Island (Skidegate) on Haida Gwaii. On these routes, foot passengers with firearms must:
  • Check with departure terminal for confirmation
  • Be responsible for securing the firearms in a locker designated by the ship's officer
• Airsoft guns, pellet guns, crossbows, bow and arrows, axes and similar items of concern are subject to restrictions
• Items of concern transported in vehicles must be:
  • Not visible from outside the vehicle
  • Locked inside the vehicle when unattended
• On-duty police officers, armoured car personnel, or peace officers authorized to carry restricted firearms in the performance of their duties are permitted by law to possess and transport firearms

Fire extinguishers can be carried on BC Ferries as long as they are firmly packaged or secured to prevent them from moving.

Fireworks are prohibited on BC Ferries. Some pyrotechnics are permitted if they are used as safety equipment for a vehicle or are equipment being transported. These pyrotechnics will normally fall under the category of Class 1 - 1.4S. 

Foot passenger carry-on commodities are allowed on the car deck of the northern vessels, with approval. Check with departure terminal for confirmation. 

• Passengers may carry outboard motors, chain saws, etc. onto the car deck only. This type of equipment is not permitted in passenger areas.
• Foot passengers that are camping must hand over their camping fuel to the loading officer.

Gasoline is permitted on BC Ferries in limited amounts and in containers approved to carry gasoline (e.g. CSA-approved jerrycans). Your vehicle’s fuel tank must contain the same type of fuel you are carrying.
 

• Personal vehicles are permitted:
  • 1 approved 25 litre container or jerrycan of gasoline properly secured within the vehicle. The container is considered a dangerous good if it contains any amount of gasoline, including only gasoline fumes.*
• Vehicles that are towing a motorboat, ATVs, snowmobiles, or personal watercraft in a trailer are permitted:
  • 2 additional approved 25 litre containers or jerrycans of gasoline secured in the trailer

There are no other amounts of gasoline allowed on a passenger vessel. This includes gasoline in tidy tanks. 

*Containers that once carried gasoline must be filled to the brim with water in order to no longer qualify as dangerous goods. There is no limit to the number of containers filled to the brim with water that can be carried.

Note: No dangerous goods documentation is required if you travel with amounts of gasoline within the limits above.

Hay bales may be carried, but must be secured within a closed vehicle or the load must be completely tarped to prevent random ignition. A dangerous goods shipping document is required and is transported under UN 1327, and in addition Class 4.1 placarding must be displayed when transporting over 500kgs (1100lbs).

Kirpans are permitted for all of our passengers who are practicing members of the Sikh religion. All passengers travelling with Kirpans must do the following while aboard our ferries:

• Keep the Kirpan sheathed
• Keep the Kirpan worn underneath clothing
• Keep the Kirpan not visible to other passengers

Marine pollutants are hazardous to aquatic life and humans; therefore, all marine pollutants must be identified on a dangerous goods shipping document.

Methanol in the fuel tank of a race car is permitted up to a maximum of 25 litres. A maximum of 2 additional containers are permitted, but must be completely secured and labelled.

Oxygen for personal medical use is permitted, but cylinders may not exceed 5 litre water capacity. Please notify terminal staff if you are carrying personal medical oxygen.

 

Paint and related paint products, including lacquer, enamel, stain, shellac, varnish, polish, liquid filler and liquid lacquer base, paint thinners or reducing compounds for personal use may be allowed. Check with departure terminal for confirmation.


Propane is permitted on BC Ferries in approved cylinders within specific limits. Commercial vehicles are prohibited from carrying propane cylinders of any size.

• Recreational vehicles (e.g. RVs, campers and motorhomes) are permitted:
  • Up to 2 cylinders, each with a maximum of 46 litre water capacity individually.* The maximum capacity for both cylinders combined cannot equal more than 65 litre water capacity total.
  • Propane must be for domestic use and must be secured to the vehicle or trailer.
• A vehicle or trailer carrying a portable barbecue is permitted:
  1. Limit of one (1) cylinder with a capacity not exceeding 18.9L water capacity
  2. This would make the 3rd allowable cylinder for RVs, trailers and camping vehicles.

Important propane safety alert: All propane tanks must be closed and tagged prior to boarding. Water capacity of propane cylinders can be found on the collar that surrounds and protects the valve.

Note: No dangerous goods documentation required if you travel with amounts of propane within the limits above.

Service vehicles, including welding, refrigeration and plumbing vehicles, or any vehicle having a service repair function, may be classed as a service vehicle. Service vehicles travelling in marine mode are required to present a shipping document for dangerous goods. Call the terminal of departure for details on limits.

Wheelchairs (motorized) have no restrictions when they are in use, but there are some precautions when they are carried as cargo or freight:

• The battery must be securely in place, disconnected, with the terminals insulated to prevent short-circuiting
• The chair itself must be securely anchored so that it will not move