A new sailing between Tsawwassen and Departure Bay will be added this summer, providing another option for travellers arriving on Vancouver Island. (File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

travel option

BC Ferries adding daily Tsawwassen-Departure Bay sailing, starting mid-June

Mar 26, 2025 | 10:25 AM

NANAIMO — Travellers between Nanaimo and the Lower Mainland will have some additional options this summer.

Beginning June 19, BC Ferries will add a single daily sailing from Tsawwassen to Nanaimo’s Departure Bay terminal, leaving at 4:30 p.m. on board the Queen of Alberni.

BC Ferries spokesperson Shiryn Sayani told NanaimoNewsNOW the move provides a great deal of flexibility for the company and customers alike.

“It provides a new travel option during the really busy summer season, and that’s very important in terms of balancing with ferry traffic and easing congestion at the terminals, or wait times for customers.”

It will also enable better vessel positioning for the following day.

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“The Queen of Alberni can dock overnight at Departure Bay after that final run of the day, that’s really helpful for us in terms of thinking about its next day…where it needs to be, and also what’s the most efficient way to have the vessel in place.”

Sayani added the ferry will then make a short trip to Duke Point the following morning in order to operate on the Duke Point-Tsawwassen route.

Sailings between central Vancouver Island and Tsawwassen have typically been serviced through Duke Point, south of Nanaimo.

Those sailings will continue as scheduled.

The new route, which will take around two hours, is only slated for the summer months and is scheduled to stop after Sept. 1.

Reservations on the new route are available through the BC Ferries website.

Customers are advised to double-check their destination when booking, to ensure they arrive at the intended terminal.

While Departure Bay offers transit options for riders, there is presently no bus connection at Duke Point.

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