Beginning Monday, June 15, BC Ferries will require all passengers to have a face covering with them while on board. (BC Ferries)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

MANDATORY MASKS

Face coverings to be required on all BC Ferries sailings longer than 30 minutes

Jun 8, 2020 | 1:24 PM

NANAIMO — An extra layer of protection will soon be required for BC Ferries travellers.

Effective Monday, June 15, all passengers over the age of two, including those in vehicles, must have face masks with them to travel on board during sailings of 30 minutes or more.

Deborah Marshall, spokesperson from BC Ferries told NanaimoNewsNOW, the new regulation handed down from Transport Canada will see passengers be asked to wear masks when necessary.

“If a customer who is in a situation on board the ship and they weren’t able to physical distance from other customers, they must be willing to put on their face covering,” Marshall said.

BC Ferries will not supply masks to travellers.

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Passengers who do not have a face covering when asked at the terminal ticket booth will not be able to travel. The question of whether a passenger has a mask will be included in a list of screening questions already asked when purchasing tickets.

“Our staff would have a polite conversation with the customer and remind them if they are in close proximity to other customers or staff members, they should put on their face covering,” Marshall said.

The Public Health Agency of Canada defines an appropriate mask as one made with at least two layers of material, large enough to completely cover the nose and mouth.

Mask coverings will be required by BC Ferries on the Departure Bay to Horseshoe Bay route, along with sailings between Duke Point and Tsawwassen.

Travellers going to or from Gabriola Island will not be required to abide by this change.

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