BC Ferries on track for record summer as union claims vessel maintenance is rushed

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As we head toward the Labour Day long weekend, BC Ferries says it is on track for a record summer after a significant jump in passenger traffic compared to last year.

That has also meant a significant increase in “drive-up” customers at the terminals resulting in more summer sailing waits for travellers without reservations.

“For June and July, we’ve seen a 1.6 per cent increase in total passengers, with 5.16 million traveling in June and July 2024, compared to the same period last year. And a three per cent increase in vehicle traffic, with 2.08 million vehicles transported in June and July 2024,” said Ritinder Matthew, director of media and issues for BC Ferries.

Matthew adds that by the time the Labour Day weekend ends, the service will likely have seen its busiest season ever.

“There was a lot of preparation put in prior to this season starting which put us in a much stronger position this year compared to last year and I think that really paid off,” Matthew told 1130 NewsRadio.

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Rob Shaw: Count on more of the same Canada Day weekend shambles on BC Ferries

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BC Ferries had barely finished explaining Tuesday what went wrong during the disastrous Canada Day long weekend, when it was hit with a new round of questions: What can be done to prevent the same miserable customer experience of long lines and multi-sailing delays from repeating in roughly a month during the even-busier B.C. Day long weekend?

The answer: Pretty much nothing.

Customers are in for enormous waits, frustrations and headaches no matter what actions are taken by the provincial government or BC Ferries over the next month, all sides now admit.

“What we saw this weekend was unacceptable,” said Transportation Minister Rob Fleming. “We have to do better. I said that before the long weekend. We will do better.”

Just not any time soon.

The problems are too big to solve in the short-term, admits everyone in and around BC Ferries. It will take many months, if not years, to build more ships, streamline ticketing and hire enough people to solve a serious staffing shortage. This summer is essentially a write-off for any real, tangible, improvements.

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BC Ferries pulls vessel back to service early after crew-shortage cancellations

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BC Ferries says it has returned the Spirit of Vancouver Island back to service one day early as the company works to clear Wednesday backlogs caused by a crew shortage.

Passengers travelling between Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay (Victoria) were greeted with the prospect of up to seven-sailing waits Wednesday morning, after the 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. sailings were cancelled at the last minute.

“We did have a couple of crew members call in sick on the Coastal Inspiration, which was scheduled to be our 7 a.m. sailing from Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen and unfortunately we weren’t able to replace those crew members in time and we did have to cancel that round trip,” BC Ferries spokesperson Deborah Marshall told Global News.

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With vessels in for repairs and reservations full, BC Ferries passengers face long delays

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If you are hoping to travel between Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay aboard BC Ferries, you better have a made a reservation or expect some long delays. The ferry service is down three vessels this weekend.

Not all people who tried to get a reservation on one of the vessels that is in service were successful.

“Three days ago, I looked for a reservation and it was booked for the whole week,” said Chris Thomas, who was hoping to make it to Bellingham from Victoria on Friday.

Unable to secure a reservation, Chris and friend Karen arrived at the Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal Friday morning at 9 a.m. They were told they may get on the 5 p.m. sailing.

“If we’re lucky, she said,” said Chris.

For those who could make a reservation, it was smooth sailing.

On Thursday, all sailings on the route in both directions were at capacity before 2:30 p.m.(opens in a new tab)

Friday was much of the same, as BC Ferries’ largest vessel is in for repairs.

“The Spirit of Vancouver Island is currently out of service in dry dock. We need to make repairs to a ballast tank,” said Deborah Marshall, executive director of public affairs at BC Ferries.

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Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay route sees major delays due to pulled vessel

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The loss of a major Spirit Class ferry for repairs is being felt on the BC Ferries Tsawwassen – Swartz Bay route Thursday.

BC Ferries is reporting multiple sailing waits on either side, with the next available standby space not free until after 5 p.m.

The ferry corporation says as the Spirit of Vancouver Island was moved to drydock after Thanksgiving, they are down to two vessels on the route.

When announced at the end of last month that the Spirit would be heading in for repairs, the BC Ferry and Marine Workers Union president said impacts were likely to be felt for folks travelling to and from Victoria, Nanaimo, and Langdale for at least a week.

Eric McNeely acknowledges that staff and passengers are frustrated as the ferry service has experienced rough waters this year.

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Wisdom of imposing fines on BC Ferries questioned

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The province’s decision to impose fines on B.C. Ferries for missed sailings due to crew shortages has some academics and other ferry watchers scratching their heads.

“I almost see the fine as a punishment in terms of, ‘You’re being bad. Fix your behaviour.’ And I’m sure B.C. Ferries is not cancelling ferries on purpose,” said Kimberley Speers, assistant teaching professor in UVic’s School of Public Administration, who called fines “a strange way” to address staffing shortages — a common problem for many organizations.

B.C. Ferries faces a fine of $7,000 if a sailing on a major route does not take place because of a staff shortage, or $1,000 on certain minor routes. The new penalty is part of the latest service contract that comes into effect in April between the province and B.C. Ferries.

Fines represent the cost of fuel that would have been used on those routes.

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On the Island with Gregor Craigie – Hear from the BC Ferry & Marine Workers’ Union

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On The Island is a lively and informative blend of news, reviews and interviews, designed to keep Vancouver Islanders informed about the issues that matter to them.

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‘Ships were running off of overtime:’ fatigue eyed as potential reason for crew shortages at BC Ferries

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NANAIMO — Crew shortages and overarching fatigue among the BC Ferries workforce is being eyed as a potential reason behind a slew of cancelled sailings over the last year.

A report tabled at the BC Ferries AGM on Thursday, Aug. 24 showed roughly 40 per cent of the sailings cancelled between April 1 and June 30, 2023, were a result of a shortage of available crew.

BC Ferries saw 665 cancelled sailings over the three-month period for a variety of reasons, up from 487 during the same time last year.

“While cancelling trips in response to weather conditions or vessel mechanical issues is not unusual, we have experienced a higher number of trips cancelled due to our inability to secure required crew,” the report read.

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Adam Stirling Hour 3 – Crew shortages to blame for 40% of BC Ferries cancellations

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Crew shortages to blame for 40% of BC Ferries cancellations Adam speaks with Eric McNeely, President, BC Ferry and Marine Workers Union Ferry cancelations due to staffing shortages more than doubled in 2023 fiscal year.

Continued discussions on administrative conduct in Langford.

Can educators use AI to empower students? Adam speaks with Terri Griffith, professor, Beedie School of Business, SFU.
As teachers and students head back to school, educators are trying to integrate AI technologies while also making sure generative AI’s aren’t being misused.

During open lines Adam speaks with listeners through calls and texts.

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Crew shortages behind 4 in 10 BC Ferries cancellations last year, report finds

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About four in 10 cancelled sailings on BC Ferries last fiscal year were the result of the ferry service’s staffing woes, according to a company report.

The report found about 1,100 of more than 2,800 cancellations from April 2022 to March 2023 were due to crew shortages. That figure was more than double the 522 crew-related cancellations in the previous fiscal year, and just 25 crew-related cancellations in the 2020 fiscal year.

The data is contained in a report titled Management’s Discussion & Analysis of Financial Condition and Financial Performance, released at the company’s annual general meeting last week.

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