Ahead of the arrival of the FIFA World Cup in Vancouver, B.C. Ferries announced Wednesday its plan to manage what’s expected to be an early and increased peak season.
Vice President of Strategy and Planning Brian Anderson said the company wanted to give its customers a clear picture of how it plans to manage inevitable disruptions “because we know that’s the reality of the system we’re working within.”
Citing a recent history of repeated service disruptions, including mechanical issues, congestion and even a police incident, Anderson says BC Ferries is taking a holistic approach in preparations.
“We’ll be starting earlier this year with our summer schedule on some routes beginning on June 11, two weeks sooner than usual, to better meet the continued growth in demand and projections for a busier travel season,” he explained.
“With a nod to the FIFA World Cup that’s coming up, I’ll borrow a soccer analogy. Our peak season is like playing the full 90-minute match with no substitutes. All our ships will be in service every day. And in the event there’s an injury that puts us down a player, or a ship in this case, we can’t bring a replacement in from the bench.”
Anderson says the summer will be complicated by higher travel volumes, more concentrated travel windows, more visitors who are unfamiliar with the ferry system, fuel price volatility, supply chain pressures, and increased demand across all transportation networks. Those challenges, he says, will be compounded by BC Ferries’ aging fleet and maintenance requirements.
Under its regulatory framework, he says the company can implement a temporary fuel surcharge.
“If implemented, any surcharge would be temporary and communicated in advance so customers have time to prepare. We know affordability matters, and we don’t make these decisions lightly, but we also have the responsibility to maintain safe, reliable service across the network.”
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To address the many other challenges, Anderson says BC Ferries has been preparing for months.
“With demand continuing to grow, a major focus this year has been on making sure we’re using the available capacity as effectively as possible while giving customers more certainty and more tools to plan,” Anderson explained.
“That includes adjusting schedules and adding sailings where possible, expanding the amount of space that can be booked ahead on a number of routes, and expanding discounted saver fares to incentivize customers to travel on less busy sailings.”
Vice President of Customer Experience Melanie Lucia says the company has also increased staffing levels and started seasonal hiring and training earlier than usual.
“We’re hiring over 630 seasonal staff, which includes 124 returning employees. The majority of those are already trained and onboarded,” she explained, adding that she’s also focused on clear communication with customers.
Lucia says online waitlists and booking alerts will help give travellers flexibility and “improve their chances of getting on their preferred sailing.”
Schedules and more information about BC Ferries plans to address summer demand can be found online.
As always, the company recommends customers plan their ferry travel well in advance.