BC Ferries now allowing passengers on select cargo sailings

Starting Monday, the previously scheduled Monday to Friday commercial sailings leaving Tsawwassen at 3 p.m. and leaving Swartz Bay at 5 p.m. will now accept all vehicle traffic.

One week later, BC Ferries will expand this exception to two more commercial sailings, the 7 a.m. from Swartz Bay and the 9 a.m. leaving Tsawwassen.

For the Duke Point to Tsawwassen route, previously scheduled Monday to Friday commercial sailings at 10:15 am and 3:15 pm leaving Tsawwassen and 12:45 pm and 5:45 pm leaving Duke Point will be changed to accept all traffic, starting May 7.

BC Ferries is also making a temporary change from May 4 to 8, adding cargo sailings to help make sure the safe transport of essential goods can continue. From Monday to Friday, there will be an extra sailing from Swartz Bay at 7 a.m. and another leaving Tsawwassen at 9 a.m.

With all these changes, BC Ferries will still maintain the 50 per cent passenger capacity reduction as per Transport Canada requirements.

“Cargo sailings limit the number of passengers on board to 84, and give priority loading to commercial vehicles transporting goods,” said BC Ferries in a statement on posted on their website. “Essential service workers are loaded on a first-come, first-served basis after commercial vehicles. If space is available after commercial vehicles and essential workers have been loaded, other traffic may be loaded at the discretion of the terminal.”

To support social distancing rules and other guidelines set out by the provincial health officer, all food and retail outlets, including vending machines,  at terminals and on ships are closed until further notice.

For more information about sailings and traffic updates, visit the BC Ferries website or call 1-888-BCFERRY (223-3779).