B.C. Ferries bracing for summer traffic after tumultuous year

B.C. Ferries says it's ramping up service and staffing to deal with a projected increase in traffic as the summer season approaches.

At a Wednesday news conference, B.C. Ferries executives said the company is expecting a seven per cent rise in traffic this summer.

To prevent service disruptions, Darren Johnston, vice-president of marine operations, said B.C. Ferries increased sailings, reduced fees and made changes to staffing.

The moves are an effort, said Johnston, to improve passenger experiences after numerous sailing disruptions in 2023.

"Last year, we had some challenges," he said. "We understand it's frustrating for our customers when things don't go according to the plan."

The ferry service ran an average of 539 daily sailings last year and faced criticism for late and cancelled sailings due to staffing shortages.
 
In October, after public outcry over the number of cancellations, B.C.'s transportation ministry announced it planned to fine the ferry service for cancelled sailings on major routes.

According to Johnston, about 83 per cent per cent of B.C. Ferries sailings did leave within 10 minutes of their scheduled departure last year and 1.3 percent of sailings were cancelled — that's an average of about seven sailings per day.

In March, B.C. Ferries launched a recruitment campaign to address staffing shortages.

Lindsay Matthews, vice-president of public affairs and marketing, said Wednesday the company has made several changes to attract staff and has hired around 600 new employees this year.

The changes include a single-year 7.75 per cent wage increase for unionized and non-unionized workers. The company also says it will guarantee shifts for casual employees and options for them to keep working after the summer season.

"We've taken steps to make B.C. Ferries a preferred employer," Matthews said.

The company plans to add about 350 sailings in June. (Ben Nelms/CBC)

Peak season, says Matthews, starts this June, when additional sailings will begin.

The ferry service says it's adding about 350 new sailings to accommodate the expected uptick in traffic. This will include a new early morning sailing from Victoria to Vancouver, and a 13 per cent increase in sailings from Vancouver to the Sunshine Coast.

But, Matthews warns, terminals will be busy with heavy traffic this summer and it is best to plan accordingly.

"Go at off-peak times, so early mornings and into the evenings," she said. "If you want to avoid waits, booking in advance is an absolute must."

Matthews also said in June, B.C. Ferries is dropping the four per cent fuel surcharge fee it has been charging customers.