For Immediate Release
Sunshine Coast Media
20-049
September 9, 2020

Horseshoe Bay - Langdale customers may remain in vehicle on main (lower) car deck

VICTORIA – BC Ferries is informing Horseshoe Bay – Langdale customers that they may remain in their vehicles on the main (lower) car decks.

As of Sept. 30, Transport Canada is rescinding the temporary flexibility it granted ferry operators that allowed passengers to remain in their vehicle on enclosed vehicle decks in response to COVID-19. However, BC Ferries has approval from Transport Canada to allow passengers to remain in their vehicles on the main car deck on the Horseshoe Bay – Langdale route.

The vessels on the Horseshoe Bay – Langdale route operate in ‘sheltered’ waters as defined by Transport Canada. BC Ferries received approval from Transport Canada to operate the ships on that route with the stern doors open, which makes the deck an ‘open’ vehicle deck. The company added a new steel barrier gate across the opening to ensure safety and meet the requirements of an ‘open’ main car deck. There may be situations where the ships operate with the stern doors closed, in which case customers on the main car deck will be required to leave their vehicle.

This approval to operate safely with the stern doors open does not apply to ships on any other routes. As of Sept. 30, BC Ferries will reestablish its procedures for clearing the main vehicle deck on the three Metro Vancouver to Vancouver Island routes, Vancouver Island (Comox) – Sunshine Coast (Powell River) and Metro Vancouver (Tsawwassen) to Southern Gulf Islands routes as these routes operate in open rather than sheltered waters. Customers on these routes may remain in their vehicle on the upper car deck only. For more information visit bcferries.com.
  Media Contact:
BC Ferries, Communications
Victoria: (250) 978-1267

Customer Contact:
Victoria: (250) 386-3431
Toll-free: 1-888-BCFERRY (1-888-223-3779)

Note to newsrooms: For urgent media inquiries off-hours, call our off-hours at (250) 516-7211.