The workhorse Departure Bay ferry terminal will be put to the test during the BC Day long weekend. (File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW staff

busy weekend

BC Ferries braces for busy weekend, strategic traveling advised

Aug 1, 2025 | 11:21 AM

NANAIMO — A mid-summer long weekend combined with favourable weather will see ferries heavily relied on.

According to BC Ferries, vehicle reservations are booked for peak sailings on the Departure Bay – Horseshoe Bay terminal during the BC Day long weekend.

Senior communications officer Sonia Lowe estimates a five per cent boost in vehicular traffic on the four major routes linking Vancouver Island and Lower Mainland this weekend.

“That’s approximately about three thousand additional vehicles over the course of the long weekend…and about 10 per increase in foot passengers and that translates to about eight thousand people.”

As of Friday, Aug 1 at 11:15 a.m., there are no reservable vehicle spaces available between Departure Bay and Horseshoe Bay, with the next availability out of the Harbour City being the 8:30 p.m. sailing.

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Lowe suggests travelers use the Duke Point/Tsawwassen, or Swartz Bay/Tsawwassen routes as alternatives, or travel as a walk-on passenger if possible.

She pointed out there is a summer-only daily sailing from Tsawwassen to Horseshoe Bay at 4:30 p.m.

This past fiscal year (March 31 2024 to April 1 2025) BC Ferries reported its highest traffic volumes ever, with nearly 10 million vehicles and 22 million passengers served, Lowe said.

“We have seen our busiest traffic numbers ever in the history of BC Ferries, that volume continues to build, those passenger numbers continue to go up.”

BC Ferries has its full complement of vessels available.

Information on securing reservations on major routes and current conditions can be found on BC Ferries’ website linked here.

– with files from Jon DeRoo, 97.3 The Eagle

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