Multiple sailing waits are becoming a more common occurance this summer in Nanaimo, as BC Ferries sees its highest traffic volumes ever on the central Island. (File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

reservations required

BC Ferries bracing for final summer weekend, after busiest season on record in Nanaimo

Aug 23, 2024 | 4:18 PM

NANAIMO — Space is becoming increasingly limited on board BC Ferries vessels in and out of the region.

The company says summer 2024 is its busiest on record heading into the unofficial end of the summer season over the September long weekend.

Spokesperson Reet Sidhu told NanaimoNewsNOW traffic volumes are notably up on sailings from Nanaimo, leaving both Departure Bay and Duke Point.

“From June to Aug. 19, we’ve had 313,500 vehicles travel from Nanaimo, a three per cent increase from last year. For passengers, we’ve seen 812,800, slightly up from 811,000 during the same period last year.”

Sidhu noted the trend of increased traffic on board BC Ferries vessels is not unique to Nanaimo, as vehicle and passenger volumes have “surged across the system.”

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She added they’re on track to carry the highest number of customers ever for a summer season.

“With more people looking to travel, reservations have become increasingly important for on-time travel. However, we’ve also noticed a rise in drive-up customers without reservations, who are often facing waits over multiple sailings.”

Peak times have routinely seen waits of two or three sailings to and from Nanaimo, while competition is increasing for reservations on off-peak times as well.

Reserving, and reserving early, is seen as key to stress-free travel.

“As reservations are selling out quickly, last-minute travel without one is becoming increasingly difficult. We encourage travellers to plan ahead, consider off-peak times, or opt to walk on as foot passengers when vehicle reservations are not available.”

The September Labour Day long weekend is historically less busy than its August counterpart BC Day, but the company is still expecting around 24,000 vehicles and 62,000 passengers to travel in and out of Nanaimo between Friday, Aug. 30 and Monday, Sept. 2.

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