bcferries – Pacific Maritime Magazine

17 Sep

BC Ferries Leader Urges Fleet Resilience Amid Big Ship Repair

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsbcferries, queenofnewminster, repairs

With the BC Ferries’ Queen of New Westminster passenger vessel out of commission for six months and no backup vessel to service its routes, BC Ferries’ president and CEO said the company plans to seek the Ferry Commissioner’s approval for the addition of a new vessel to the fleet. The news was announced by BC Ferries Sept. 7. “If we had a backup vessel available, this incident would have had minimal impact on service,” BC Ferries President and CEO Nicolas Jimenez said. “It underscores the importance of our fleet renewal strategy to ensure we have the capacity and resilience to…

28 May

BC Ferries Anticipates Record-Breaking Summer

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsbcferries

This summer, a record number of travelers and vehicles are expected to use BC Ferries vessels, the organization announced May 15. Roughly 8 million people and 3.2 million vehicles are expected to travel on BC Ferries vessels between June 1 and Sept. 5, up from 7.8 million passengers and 3 million vehicles last summer. To make it more affordable for customers, the organization has omitted a 4% fuel surcharge from all fares beginning June 1. BC Ferries is also wrapping up regularly scheduled maintenance repairs and refits earlier to make sure its 37-ferry fleet is ready for the influx of…

02 Apr

Unionized BC Ferries Workers to Receive 7.5% Wage Increase

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsbcferries, wages

Unionized BC Ferries workers are expected to receive a 7.75% wage increase for one year, with many getting additional “special increases” such as an extra 10% increase for some licensed mariners, the British Columbia ferries operator announced March 28. The increase, retroactive to Oct. 1, 2023, is expected to be in place through March 31, 2025 as part of a labor settlement. Bargaining unit wages are expected to be negotiated two more times over the next 18 months, “with a second wage reopener in April 2025 and the full collective agreement in October 2025,” according to BC Ferries. The ferry…

05 Mar

BC Ferries Releases Conceptual Renderings of New Vessels

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsbcferries, clarksons, lmgmarin

BC Ferries has released two conceptual drawings that depict what its newest set of ferries would look like when they begin service in 2029 on the most active routes to and from Vancouver Island and Metro Vancouver. The renderings, released Feb. 26, offer some insight on the seven new ferries, whose basic design is being developed with naval architect LMG Marin AS. The design centers around maximum efficiency and greenhouse gas emission reduction and would feature engines that can use bio- and renewable fuels, a battery-hybrid propulsion system to enable vessels to convert to full battery-electric operation when the shore…

23 Jan

BC Ferries Awards Damen Contract for New Hybrid Electric Vessels

Pacific Maritime MagazineNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsbcferries, damen, hybrid

British Columbia Ferry Services (BC Ferries) said in mid-January that it has chosen Dutch shipbuilder Damen Shipyards Group to build four new hybrid electric vessels to add capacity and help improve the travel experience for passengers. BC Ferries said that it plans to operate the new vessels exclusively in battery-electric mode, using renewable hydroelectricity. Through a separate contract, BC Ferries is also initiating corresponding electrical upgrades for shore-based rapid charging at the four terminals on these routes in time for ship delivery. “The new hybrid electric vessels will further standardize our fleet, both increasing capacity and improving our flexibility to…

09 Jan

British Columbia’s Snug Cove Terminal to Undergo Improvements

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsbcferries, snugcove

BC Ferries is beginning work on its $3.7 million Snug Cove Terminal improvement project this week, with the work including strengthening structural elements, improving walkways, repairing damaged concrete and creating access platforms for maintenance workers. The project, which is expected to be complete by the end of March, is resulting in ferry service schedule changes to accommodate the work, including a modified schedule from Tuesdays to Sundays and full-day berth closures on weekends. To help commuters, water taxi service is complimentary for daily cancellations and berth closures, as well as free shuttle service from the Snug Cove water taxi to…

02 Jan

BC Ferries Purchasing 4 Hybrid Electric Vessels

Karen Robes MeeksNews, PMM Online Newsbcferries, hybridelectric

BC Ferries is in the process of procuring four new hybrid electric vessels that are expected to bolster passenger capacity throughout the ferry system. The company, which in December secured capital funding approval from BC Ferries Commissioner Eva Hage, said in a Dec. 11 statement that it hopes by 2027 the new vessels would be able to operate routes linking Nanaimo Harbour and Gabriola Island and Campbell River and Quadra Island. Each route would be served by two of the new vessels. The project would include electrical upgrades to allow for quick shore-based charging. “BC Ferries proposed these four new…

28 Nov

BC Ferries Investing in Bowen Island Terminal Upgrades

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsbcferries, bowenisland, snugcove

Work to update the aging infrastructure at Snug Cove on Bowen Island in British Columbia is set to start in January, BC Ferries announced Nov. 21. The ferry agency said that it plans to spend about $3.7 million on a terminal life extension project. Slated to start on Jan. 8 and continue through the end of March, the work calls for bolstering and replacing ramp parts and renewing and replacing berth structures including wingwalls and dolphin chains, as well as other updates. The current berth structure is about 38 years old, with the ramp, apron and headframe structures built in…

20 Jun

BC Ferries Proposes Project to Improve Terminal Efficiency

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsbcferries, bcferriescommissioner

BC Ferries is looking to launch a multi-million project to make customer check-in and boarding easier at its five major terminals. The ferry operator is submitting a Major Terminal Efficiencies application to the British Columbia Ferries Commissioner that outlines how customers coming to Duke Point, Tsawwassen, Horseshoe Bay, Departure Bay and Swartz Bay would experience lower wait times for ticketing and check-in, express lane check-in at terminals for those with prepaid reservations and “a seamless, contactless journey for foot passenger travel provided by enhanced kiosks, fare gates and boarding pass validation.” Last fiscal year, more than 16.5 million passengers and…

24 Jan

BC Ferries Names New President-CEO

Pacific Maritime MagazineNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsbcferries, newsmakers

The British Columbia Ferry Services Board has announced the appointment of Nicolas Jimenez as president and chief executive officer of BC Ferries, effective March 6. Jimenez, currently president and CEO of the Insurance Corporation of B.C. (ICBC), was selected following an international search, according to the Ferry Services Board. Over the last 20 years, Jimenez has held a number of senior roles at ICBC, taking over as president and CEO five years ago. He led structural reforms at ICBC in recent years, returning the auto insurer to financial health and delivering more affordable insurance to customers, according to the Ferry…