Travel policies

View Conditions of Carriage on our Terms and Conditions page.

Learn important information about carrying dangerous goods onboard BC Ferries.

BC Ferries has a zero-tolerance policy for passengers under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and the unacceptable conduct that can be associated with impairment. The consumption of drugs and personal alcohol on BC Ferries’ ships and at its terminals is prohibited.  

Intoxicated persons and persons consuming personal alcohol will not be sold a ticket. Persons consuming personal liquor or drugs on board or at our terminals will be cautioned and advised to stop. If the situation persists and their behaviour is blatant and disruptive, the police will be notified. Intoxicated person(s) on a ferry may be arrested and detained if their conduct is disruptive and/or confrontational, or if they pose a potential risk to the safety or security of passengers or crew.

Rules & Requirements regarding the Carrier’s right to refuse passage: 
 

• 2.1 The Carrier reserves the right to refuse passage to any person who does not comply with the Conditions of Carriage or these Rules & Requirements, and without restricting the generality of the foregoing, further reserves the right to refuse passage to: .
  • Any person who appears to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or whose conduct is deemed to be unsafe, unlawful, disruptive or objectionable

Safety of life, prevention of injury to passengers and employees, and protection of the environment will always be given the highest priority in the operation of the BC Ferries' vessels and terminals.
 

BC Ferries makes every effort to reunite you with any items you may have lost while travelling.

We keep wallets and purses in a secure location for 30 days. After this time, we donate any unclaimed money to charity, we return unclaimed credit cards to the card issuer, and we destroy any personal information.

We keep other items of value, such as clothing, books, glasses, umbrellas, cameras and cell phones for 15 days. After this time, we donate or dispose of unclaimed items.
 

Contact a terminal

Call a terminal directly to check their lost and found. To find a terminal phone number:

• View the list of terminals
• Select the terminal you want to call then select "Find terminal".
• Scroll down to "Lost and found" and expand to open contact information.

Important:

• Contact both terminals you travelled through as items lost on board will be sent to the ferry's home terminal.
• Terminals without a lost and found phone number will direct you to the main Customer Service Centre.

MARSEC security levels

MARSEC stands for Marine Security. MARSEC levels are designed to easily communicate pre-planned responses to increased threat levels.
 

• MARSEC Level 1: Appropriate security measures under normal operating conditions

• MARSEC Level 2: Increased security measures maintained for a heightened security threat or incident for a limited period of time

• MARSEC Level 3: Additional security measures when a security threat or security incident is probable or imminent

Nationally, threat levels are assigned by Transport Canada Marine Security (TCMS).

How you can help with security

Everyone can assist with safety and security by immediately reporting any hazard, threat or suspicious events to the nearest BC Ferries employee, including:
 

• Unusual recording or monitoring activities, including the use of cameras, note taking, drawing diagrams, annotating on maps, or using binoculars or other vision enhancing devices

• Unusual or heightened interest in restricted or prohibited areas

• Unusual activities around ferries, terminals, berths or loading areas

• Suspicious unoccupied packages or baggage

BC Ferries Corporate Security Services
Phone 250-978-1232
Email bcf.security@bcferries.com

RCMP National Security Information Network
See it. Hear it. Report it.
Phone 1-800-420-5805

This Transport Canada regulation restricts passenger access to closed vehicle decks. In accordance with the regulation, every passenger shall keep off a closed vehicle deck on a ferry that is underway unless the passenger:
 

• Has received the express consent of the ferry’s master to enter the deck, if there are no packaged dangerous goods on the deck
• Is accompanied by a crew member, if there are packaged goods on the deck

The requirement to keep off a closed vehicle deck while underway does not apply when passengers are directed to return to their vehicles before the ferry docks. On BC Ferries vessels, the closed vehicle deck is the enclosed lower deck with limited or no openings to the outside environment.

To support the health and wellness of our customers and employees, all BC Ferries vessels and terminals are smoke-free environments. The smoke-free environment applies to all BC Ferries customers and employees.

The policy applies to smoking of tobacco, vapour products, e-cigarettes, and medical and non-medical marijuana. No smoking of any kind is permitted on board all ferries and at all terminals.

The contents of this downloadable PDF regarding the rules and requirements relating to the operation of BC Ferries include the following:
 

1. Definitions
2. Carrier’s right to refuse passage
3. Carrier’s right to inspect
4. Requirement to comply with instructions and signage
5. Requirement to pay fares
6. Operational safety
7. Dangerous goods
8. Abandoned, disabled and unattended vehicles
9. Vehicles subject to special permits
10. Non-motorized transportation
11. Parking
12. Luggage
13. Transportation of firearms