There will soon only be four sailings from Nanaimo to the Lower Mainland during the COVID-19 pandemic. (File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

not smooth sailing

Departure Bay to Horseshoe Bay BC Ferries route nixed during COVID-19 pandemic

Apr 3, 2020 | 11:19 AM

NANAIMO — Ferry travel to and from Nanaimo will soon be severely limited as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.

BC Ferries announced new routes starting Saturday, April 4.

The entire Departure Bay to Horseshoe Bay route, which ran several times during the day, will halt completely.

Regular sailings on the Duke Point to Tsawassen route are being reduced to four round trips.

Ferries will leave Duke Point at 5:15 a.m., 10:15 a.m., 3:15 p.m. and 8:15 p.m.

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Four cargo only trips will run on the Duke Point route to ensure supplies still arrive in the mid-island area.

Numerous other routes around Vancouver Island are also impacted.

BC Ferries CEO Mark Collins said the demand for ferry services has plummeted.

“Traffic has essentially collapsed. It’s down by 80 per cent as people stay home and respect the pandemic requirements. That’s exactly the right thing to do.”

These changes will be in effect for 60 days.

Collins said the agreement between BC Ferries and the government anticipates extending the changes beyond 60 days.

BC Ferries estimated this service reduction will lead to hundreds of temporary layoffs for its employees.

“This is not a decision we wanted to take,” Collins said of the layoffs. “Circumstances have backed us into this decision.”

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