A new 5:55 p.m. sailing beginning May 29 and running for four Sunday's will help clear some weekend congestion in Nanaimo (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

added crossings

Extra sailings added to Departure Bay-Horseshoe Bay route

May 27, 2022 | 3:24 PM

NANAIMO — BC Ferries are beginning a transition into their summer schedule with some additional sailings.

Two back to back sailings at 5:25 p.m. and 5:55 p.m. from Nanaimo’s Departure Bay to Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver are on the schedule for the next four Sundays, beginning May 29 through June 19.

Deborah Marshall, BC Ferries spokesperson, said it’s to alleviate some congestion which accumulates when Lower Mainlanders look to return home after a weekend on Vancouver Island.

“Traditionally we do see traffic moving from Metro Vancouver over to Vancouver Island, as well as the Sunshine Coast at the beginning of a weekend, so that would be the Thursday-Friday and then we do see that traffic returning on the Sunday.”

Marshall added some wait the extra day and return on a Monday morning or early afternoon.

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The later sailing will start boarding immediately after the first one leaves dock, with BC Ferries asking travellers to arrive early to help ticket agents process the vehicles.

Marshall said reservations are available for the sailing and those without are encouraged to come to the terminal early to get on one of the two dinner-hour crossings.

BC Ferries will transition to their full summer schedule on June 23.

The company is coming off a long weekend where traffic levels were back to pre-pandemic levels.

Marshall said they ran into very few issues while transporting roughly 300,000 passengers and 108,000 vehicles between Thursday and holiday Monday.

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