One year ago, the first Hullo sailing left Nanaimo bound for Vancouver. Thousands of sailings have occurred since, ferrying over 400,000 people between the two downtowns. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

fast ferry service

One year in: Hullo Ferries marks first anniversary of maiden voyage

Aug 16, 2024 | 6:08 AM

NANAIMO — The city’s downtown-to-downtown fast ferry connection is officially a year old.

After weathering storms, power outages and other issues on their first couple of scheduled sailing days, Hullo Ferries finally completed their first Nanaimo to Vancouver connection on Aug. 16, 2023.

Nearly 190 people were on board for the first trip and it marked a major step forward in proving to locals a fast ferry service was possible.

“We are thrilled that we’ve reached that one-year anniversary of offering sailings between Nanaimo and downtown Vancouver, and so happy that now 400,000 guests have come aboard and have had the opportunity to travel in a different way,” Alastair Caddick, Hullo CEO, told NanaimoNewsNOW.

Caddick admitted it was a rocky start for the venture, backed by funding from a Toronto private equity firm, however he points to the experience as making the service better.

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Since April, over 99 per cent of scheduled sailings have run, with some days featuring seven round trips between the two ports.

Sailing through the rougher, winter months was also a learning experience with the ships adapting to change up routes and speeds to make the trip safely.

“We knew the vessels were great, they could easily handle all the different conditions crossing between Nanaimo and Vancouver but what we needed to figure out what is a comfortable experience for our guests. We know there will be days here in year two where…we will have to have some cancellations but those days are few and far between.”

Split into classes, not unlike an airplane, the Hullo Ferries vessels have proved a popular addition to local transportation options. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Through its first 12 months, the service grew and evolved.

More sailings, including immensely popular late-night trips after sporting events or concerts in Vancouver, more amenities on either side and a Nanaimo-based shuttle bus were all gradually added.

Caddick said year two will see them further solidify those additional aspects of the service.

Allowing a small number of bicycles on board is a priority moving forward.

Expansion of the service is also a possibility, however not something in short-term planning.

“For now, the focus is providing an excellent service for people mid-Island to downtown Vancouver. That being said, we do hear the requests about offering other routes from people who have enjoyed the Hullo service and would like to see it expanded to other locations.”

Hullo Ferries, under the Vancouver Island Ferry Company umbrella, were first announced in September 2021 through a leasing agreement between the company, Snuneymuxw First Nation and the Nanaimo Port Authority.

The vessels, built in Vietnam, arrived in Nanaimo in July 2023 and spent weeks going through Transport Canada certification and crew training before they were put into service.

Around 190 people lined up to be the first on board last August for the maiden voyage. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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