Delayed a couple of extra days due to weather, a new fast ferry service began sailing in August between downtown Nanaimo and Vancouver. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

long awaited launch

Top Story of 2023: New fast ferry service launches in Nanaimo

Dec 31, 2023 | 11:11 AM

NANAIMO — For years, mentioning a new fast ferry launching in the Harbour City was met with a predictable response: ‘I’ll believe it when I see it’.

Nearly two years removed from announcement of a new, long term partnership with capital investors and local groups, the Vancouver Island Ferry Company officially launched Hullo this year, connecting downtown Nanaimo to downtown Vancouver in roughly 70 minutes.

It was an easy and unanimous selection in our newsroom, for the arrival of Hullo to be our top story of 2023.

Hullo CEO Alastair Caddick said during a July tour of the two custom built vessels providing service on the route, the company was very aware of the ‘show me’ attitude towards a local fast ferry operation.

“It’s incredibly exciting for us, really it makes it real,” Caddick said of the vessels arriving in Nanaimo in mid-July. “The community can see the vessels here, they can believe that this long awaited service is very close so we’re incredibly excited and proud to have our two vessels home.”

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Passengers were welcomed on board in mid-August for a 75 minute crossing between Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Initially named back in April, details about the new service were carefully distributed over the weeks and months to follow.

A plan for service was revealed in June with multiple planned round trips per day and a starting price point of around $40 one way.

Both the spuhéls (pronounced shpah-els) and its sister ship sthuqi’ (pronounced shta-key) made trips from a ship yard in Vietnam in June, to Victoria for Transport Canada inspections, before sailing up and into Nanaimo Harbour on July 14.

The ships sat for a month as crews trained, with the occasional practice run over to Vancouver.

A much-hyped debut was scheduled for Aug. 14 with four daily round trips planned, however despite years of preparation and careful maneuvers, Mother Nature forced the company and Nanaimo to wait a little longer.

An overnight storm cut power and created unsafe conditions for launch day, meaning the ships were tied to the dock for two more days.

When skies cleared, passengers were welcomed aboard on Aug. 16 with a slimmed down schedule of two round trips daily.

A roughly half-full boat enjoyed the first sailing of Hullo, however tens of thousands more have used the service since. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Nearly 190 people boarded the maiden voyage leaving Nanaimo mid-morning and arriving in Vancouver in time for an early lunch.

The hiccup on launch day was disappointing, but not a major setback for Hullo co-founder Rupesh Amin.

“Obviously disappointing when you have to make the tough decisions in the early days…but ultimately at the forefront of our mind is that we’re here for the long run and we want to make sure that safety and reliability are paramount.”

He added all new facilities have issues out of the gate as new procedures and formats are learned.

Both on the first crossing, and the dozens since, feedback on the service has been largely positive.

Phil, one of the 188 people on board the first trip, was using the service to return to the Lower Mainland after visiting family.

“Smoother than I would have expected, happy that it left pretty well on time. It saves me time, I live in Vancouver and work downtown so it’s easy for me to get back there. It’s a great way to get from the family place to downtown in just over an hour.”

The company said in early December they’ve transported over 100,000 people since launching and have grown their schedule in the months since launch to not only include more round trips per day, but also late night sailings to accommodate concerts and sporting events in Vancouver.

Docking at the harbourfront, next to the Convention Centre in downtown Vancouver, the Hullo connection is hoped to be a long-term fixture in Nanaimo. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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