BC Ferries has just announced that he two new Island Class vessels will begin service Tuesday April 12.
One of the vessels will provide 18-hours of service. The second vessel will operate during the busiest 12-hour period of the day. According to BC Ferries, this will result in a 49 per cent vehicle, and over 30 per cent passenger, capacity increase and doubling of sailing frequency between 6:20 am and 5:05 pm.
A separate foot passenger walkway has been constructed at the Nanaimo Harbour terminal to support easier loading and unloading of foot passengers.
Edit: There was a typo in the information provided by BC Ferries regarding the scheduling of Dangerous Cargo – it has now been corrected. Sorry for the confusion!
Gabriola Island Ferry Advisory Committee 
Why not keep the 5:15 evening sailing the same. Most people work until 5:00p.m. The next sailing is at 6:15. I get off work at 4:45 and now I’m going to have to wait til 6:15. Please revisit that time and put it back to 5:15. Thx from a frustrated commuter
There is one sailing missing between 5:05 and 6:15… that is still rush hour of people trying to get home.