B.C. Ferries Braces for Record Summer Amid Aging Fleet and Community Frustrations

As the May long weekend approaches, B.C. Ferries says it's gearing up for another record-breaking summer season — all while managing the challenges of aging vessels and strained infrastructure.

Last summer marked the busiest in B.C. Ferries' history, and company officials expect even higher demand this year. “We are working with aging vessels and terminal infrastructure,” said Stephen Jones, vice-president of engineering. “That means planning for worst-case scenarios to ensure we can keep people and goods moving.”

To prepare, B.C. Ferries is adjusting sailing schedules, ramping up vessel maintenance, and hiring 600 seasonal staff. The company says four new diesel-hybrid vessels will join the fleet starting in 2026, with another four scheduled between 2029 and 2031. “Relief is on the horizon,” said Jones. “Until then, we’re stretching every mile out of the fleet we have.”

But some communities that rely heavily on ferry service are already frustrated. On the Easter long weekend, a mechanical failure left passengers stranded for hours between Langdale and Horseshoe Bay after a tugboat was needed to assist the vessel.

Silas White, mayor of Gibsons on the Sunshine Coast, says residents are concerned about how service will hold up this summer. “We asked to collaborate on the summer schedule because it’s a critical time for our community,” said White. “Service tends to fall apart just before and after the seasonal schedule kicks in.”

White says unreliable service impacts everything from medical appointments and commuting to youth sports. Although a replacement vessel had been promised in 2022, the plan was shelved during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He criticized B.C. Ferries’ communication, saying local residents are often left out of key updates. “We’re being overlooked. Our communities rely on ferries daily, yet we’re not treated like a priority,” he said.

Despite these concerns, B.C. Ferries maintains it is doing everything possible to deliver consistent service through the summer rush.