For Immediate Release
23-042
November 29, 2023

BC FERRIES’ HOLIDAY PREPARATIONS UNDERWAY

VICTORIA – BC Ferries is planning for the busy holiday season ahead. In 2022, 911,000 passengers and 428,000 vehicles travelled on a BC Ferry over the holidays and to ensure customers can get to their destinations safely, the company will be able to transport that same volume this year.

In total, four major vessels will service the Tsawwassen – Swartz Bay route over December, with the capability of carrying over 55,000 passengers and 10,500 vehicles on the busiest days of the season. BC Ferries’ fleet deployment allows many vessels to move where and when needed. For example, the Salish Heron will be sailing on the Tsawwassen – Swartz Bay route for the first time, in place of the Queen of New Westminster, to provide the capacity required on the first two weekends in December.

BC Ferries has just learned that the repairs on the Coastal Renaissance will take longer than originally anticipated. While the ship will not be ready in time for mid-December, the Coastal Celebration will sail in its place on the Swartz Bay-Tsawwassen route. Any customer affected by the minor schedule adjustments will be notified.

Sailings were suspended on the Coastal Renaissance in the summer following the failure of the #2 drive motor which was shipped to an authorized repair facility for repairs. While the vessel was expected to return to service in December, there was an issue identified during the final testing that requires further investigation. The company anticipates being able to provide a media briefing on its broader retrofit plans early in the new year.