We’re less than three weeks away from the start of our new ferry schedule – and although not all of the changes are positive, one of the benefits of the new schedule should be a dramatic reduction in the number of late ferry sailings compared to last summer.
For much of the day, an extra 5 minutes has been added between sailings to help ensure on-time departures. Coupled with the extra daytime ferries, this should help reduce delays and overloads at busy times.
When traffic is lighter (especially at weekends) the new schedule will also help save fuel and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by avoiding the need for Quinsam to constantly sail at maximum speed to stay on time. That’s good for the environment as well as contributing to lower fuel costs.
Most times, Quinsam completes the crossing (dock to dock) in 20-22 minutes. That’s still going to be the case for much of the day, but if the captain determines that there’s time to do so, he (or she) may reduce speed a little to save fuel. This happens already to some extent, but now it’s official. BC Ferries will likely be updating their website to show crossing times of 20-25 minutes sometime soon.
How are fares? Are we going to have to pay more. I was in Vancouver last week and came home on Sunday and the ferry from Vancouver was 1 1/2 hours late and I had to wait until 10:45 for the last ferry home to Gabe. Five hours to get home from Vancouver
Jean McLaren
Fares are due to rise by 3.9% from April 1 – about the same as the fuel surcharge we had until December. More significant now is the fact that at the end of this month the Ferry Commissioner will announce the “preliminary price cap” – the amount by which ferry fares will have to increase each year for the next 4 years to bridge the gap between income and operating costs. The government then has 3 months in which to decide whether that price cap is “reasonable” or whether further action (more taxpayer funding or more service cuts) will be necessary to contain the level of fares increase. Right now, anything that improves the viability of our ferry route has to be a positive signal for the future.