25 sailings have been added to and from Departure Bay in Nanaimo over the May long weekend. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

start of summer

BC Ferries adds extra sailings between Nanaimo & Lower Mainland for long weekend

May 16, 2022 | 11:33 AM

NANAIMO — The unofficial start to summer is also the beginning of the travel season for BC Ferries.

The upcoming May long weekend is one of the busiest weekends of the year on board, with BC Ferries adding 110 sailings to their schedule between Thursday, May 19 and Monday, May 23.

Spokesperson Deborah Marshall said the general flow of traffic is expected to be coming from the Lower Mainland to Vancouver Island.

“We do expect the busiest times to be departing Horseshoe Bay and Tsawwassen Thursday night as well as Friday night and Saturday morning, then we will see that traffic return from Vancouver Island as well as the Sunshine Coast on the holiday Monday.”

Of the 110 extra sailings, 25 are on the Departure Bay to Horseshoe Bay route. No extra sailings were added between Duke Point and Tsawwassen.

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Most of the added sailings however are on the Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay crossing, which Marshall said was their busiest one.

The company is also looking to limit, or completely eliminate staffing related sailing cancellations or delays.

A recruitment drive has seen around 500 people hired for the summer months for both on board and terminal jobs.

Their training is underway and they are expected to formally join BC Ferries before the summer months.

The long weekend schedule for both Nanaimo routes is available at the links below:

Departure Bay to Horseshoe Bay — Duke Point to Tsawwassen

–with files from 97.3 The Eagle

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