For Immediate Release
20-021
June 1, 2020

Departure Bay – Horseshoe Bay route resumes reduced service June 3

Make a booking or travel alternate route to avoid long waits

VICTORIA – BC Ferries is reminding customers that the Nanaimo (Departure Bay) – Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) route resumes reduced service Wednesday, June 3. To avoid long waits between sailings, customers are strongly advised to book in advance or travel on an alternate route such as Vancouver (Tsawwassen) – Nanaimo (Duke Point) or Vancouver (Tsawwassen) – Victoria (Swartz Bay), as capacity on this route has been reduced.

As of June 3, the daily schedule on the Departure Bay – Horseshoe Bay route will be:
 

• From Horseshoe Bay: 8:30 am, 12:30 pm, 2:50 pm, 6:50 pm
• From Departure Bay: 10:30 am, 12:50 pm, 2:30 pm, 4:50 pm

The Departure Bay – Horseshoe Bay sailings will operate at a 50 per cent passenger capacity as per Transport Canada guidelines to help support physical distancing. BC Ferries expects very limited capacity for standby traffic. The company continues to prioritize traffic for essential services, like transporting goods and medical personnel, in accordance with the Province of B.C.’s State of Emergency, which further limits capacity for standby traffic.

BC Ferries strongly recommends customers intending to travel on that route consider the following:
 

• Make an advanced booking to guarantee your travel.
• Arrive at the terminal at least an hour before your sailing. Check-in processing is currently longer due to the need to screen customers prior to travel.
• Foot passengers should arrive well in advance because passenger capacity is limited.
• Travel on an alternative route if possible, such as the Tsawwassen – Duke Point or Tsawwassen – Swartz Bay routes.
• Check Current Conditions on bcferries.com or follow @BCFerries on Twitter for the most up-to-date service information.

BC Ferries reminds customers on the Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) – Bowen Island (Snug Cove) and Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) – Sunshine Coast (Langdale) routes that those schedules will be adjusted as of June 3 to reduce the possibility of berth congestion at Horseshoe Bay. The schedule on the Earls Cove – Saltery Bay route will also be adjusted to ensure connectivity for customers. Please visit bcferries.com/schedules for full schedule details.

As this situation is evolving, BC Ferries encourages customers to monitor the website for any additional changes to service. For full details on service changes and the measures BC Ferries is taking in response to COVID-19, visit bcferries.com.