Persons with Disabilities

BC Ferries provides a variety of services for persons with disabilities to ensure a safe and comfortable journey for our passengers.

Persons with disabilities who will require special assistance, in the event of an emergency, are asked to advise the ticket agent on arrival at the terminal. Once you have boarded the vessel please discuss your specific needs with the Chief Steward or request to speak with the ship’s First Officer.

SPECIAL FARES

Discount fares are available for residents of British Columbia who have a permanent disability (this applies to passenger fares only).  To receive the discounted fare you must apply for a BC Ferries Disabled Status Identification (DSI) Card, which you will present to the Ticket Agent when you arrive at the terminal.

Please call us at 1-888-223-3779 for details, or you can download the Information for Passengers with Special Needs Brochure.

Please note:  If the above documentation is not provided upon arrival at the ticket booth you will be charged the regular fare.

ACCESSIBLE SERVICES WITHIN BC FERRIES

Signage:
Appropriate informational signage can be found at key points, both within the terminals and on board the ferries.

Onboard Safety Video:
BC Ferries’ Coastal Class vessels (Coastal Celebration, Coastal Inspiration and Coastal Renaissance) are equipped with TV Monitors in the lounges on deck 5 and 6 which play our safety videos at the beginning of the voyage.

Passenger Areas & Cafeteria:
Most general passenger areas, including the cafeteria, are designed to be completely accessible to persons with disabilities. If additional assistance is required please ask one of our friendly staff to assist you.

Elevators:
Our terminal buildings at Swartz Bay (Victoria), Tsawwassen (Vancouver), Duke Point (Nanaimo), and Departure Bay (Nanaimo) are equipped with passenger elevators providing public access to all floors of the terminal buildings. Passenger amenities are available on the ground floor of each of these terminals.

In addition, each vessel servicing the above mentioned ports are equipped with passenger elevators providing accessibility to all vehicle and passenger decks.  Please note that in conditions of extreme weather, passenger elevators on the vessels may be unavailable due to safety regulations.

Passengers who require parking close to an elevator are asked to advise the ticket agent on arrival at the terminal.  Please ensure you arrive at least 30 minutes in advance of your intended sailing. There are limited vehicle spaces next to the elevators, so if parking next to an elevator is mandatory you may need to wait for the next available sailing.

Manual Wheelchairs:
All terminals and vessels are equipped with a manual wheelchair and are available to customers upon request.

Let us know if BC Ferries can assist in any way to make your experience travelling onboard as a foot passenger more comfortable. Please contact our Customer Service Centre at 1-888-BC FERRY (1-888-223-3779) 48 hours prior to your intended departure date to arrange for assistance and additional information on the range of services provided to our customers with varying disabilities.

Cabins:
BC Ferries’ vessels serving the Port Hardy-Prince Rupert, and Prince Rupert-Haida Gwaii (formerly Queen Charlotte Islands) routes have a limited number of adapted cabins designed to meet the accessibility requirements of persons with disabilities.

Reserving the Adapted Cabin – North Coast
Customers who use wheelchairs, or who have mobility disabilities, are permitted to reserve the Adapted Cabin in advance.

Public Washrooms:
All vessels and terminals serving our Swartz Bay (Victoria), Tsawwassen (Vancouver), Duke Point (Nanaimo), and Departure Bay (Nanaimo) routes offer washroom facilities designed to be accessible by persons with disabilities. Specially equipped washrooms are available on the following vessels:

Coastal Celebration	Queen of Cumberland
Coastal Inspiration	Queen of Nanaimo
Coastal Renaissance	Queen of New Westminster
Queen of Alberni	Queen of Oak Bay
Queen of Burnaby	Queen of Surrey
Queen of Capilano	Queen of Vancouver
Queen of Chilliwack	Spirit of British Columbia
Queen of Coquitlam	Spirit of Vancouver Island
Queen of Cowichan	MV Island Sky

More information about our vessel-specific amenities can be found on our Fleet Profiles web page. 

Please contact our Customer Service Centre at 1-888-BC FERRY (1-888-223-3779) with inquiries about the accessibility of our other vessels and terminals.
 
AEDs:
Each vessel has designated crew members trained in the use of Automatic External Defibrillators.

Assistance from Personnel:
Persons with disabilities who will require special assistance, in the event of an emergency, are asked to advise the ticket agent on arrival at the terminal. Once you have boarded the vessel please discuss your specific needs with the Chief Steward.

Designated Parking Spaces:
Upon arrival at terminal, please advise ticket agent that designated parking is required to ensure close proximity to elevators onboard the vessel.  Please ensure you arrive at least 30 minutes in advance of your intended sailing. There are limited vehicle spaces next to the elevators, so if parking next to an elevator is mandatory you may need to wait for the next available sailing.

Please note that in conditions of extreme weather, passenger elevators on the vessels may be unavailable due to safety regulations.

First Aid Stations:
Available on main passenger deck. We would like to inform our passengers that although we do not have medical personnel onboard our vessels, we do have a first aid room containing a bed and medical supplies in case of emergencies. For your safety we ask for you to have any necessary medical supplies with you in case of an allergic reaction. BC Ferries does carry such items as Epi-pens on board the vessels in the case of an emergency.

Bus and Coach Services:
BC Ferries is working with Pacific Coach Lines and Greyhound to enable passengers who are blind or sight-impaired to travel to and from Vancouver Island with greater independence. Click here for more information >>

JOINT COMMITTEE ON ACCESSIBILITY

BC Ferries is committed to improving accessibility. There is a joint committee with representatives from various organizations for persons with special needs to better understand how BC Ferries can improve service for our customers with disabilities. The purpose of this committee is to review accessibility issues at BC Ferries and institute procedural and structural changes to improve accessibility.

While vessel modifications are often restricted by the age and physical structure as well as financial considerations, our new ferries are being built with barrier-free transportation in mind.  

QUESTIONS

Any questions, or comments, regarding accessibility with BC Ferries can be directed to the knowledgeable staff at any of the terminals or the toll-free number: 1-888-BCFERRY (223-3779).  Or punch in *BCF (*223) on Rogers or Telus Mobility networks.  From outside North America, call (250) 386-3431. TTY users can contact BC Ferries through TELUS Relay Services at either:  711 or 1-800-972-6509.