BC Ferries plans to convert spirit-class vessels to liquefied natural gas (LNG) to realize major savings on fuel bill

Seven opportunities for customers to help shape new schedules

Victoria - August 4, 2015

BC Ferries is inviting members of the public to attend upcoming open houses and provide feedback on sailing schedules that may be introduced with the introduction of two new Salish Class Ferries, Salish Eagle and Salish Raven, into service in the Southern Gulf Islands region in 2017.

These open houses are planned as follows:

• Monday, August 17: Saturna Island Community Hall, 7 pm - 9 pm

• Tuesday, August 18: Mayne Island Community Hall, 7 pm - 9 pm

• Wednesday, August 19: St Peter’s Church, Pender Island, 7 pm - 9 pm

• Monday, August 24: Salt Spring Island Harbour House Hotel, 7 pm - 9 pm

• Wednesday, August 26: Mary Winspear Centre, Sidney, 7 pm - 9 pm

• Thursday, August 27: Galiano Island Community Hall, 7 pm - 9 pm

• Wednesday, September 9: River Rock Casino Resort, Richmond, 7 pm - 9 pm

As a follow up to the customer needs assessment carried out earlier this year, new sailing schedules have been developed as an opportunity to balance seasonal service capacity and demand with operating efficiencies. People are welcome to attend any of seven open houses to see how these new schedule options have been derived and provide their suggestions to BC Ferries representatives for refining these schedules.

Because of the complexity of four vessels serving five islands, while connecting with both Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island, schedule change options affect the following three routes:

• Tsawwassen – Southern Gulf Islands (Salt Spring, Pender, Mayne, Galiano, Saturna)

• Swartz Bay – Southern Gulf Islands (Pender, Mayne, Galiano, Saturna)

• Southern Gulf Islands – Inter-Islands (Salt Spring, Pender, Mayne, Galiano, Saturna)

Later in the fall, revised sailings chedules based on community feedback will be made available to the public, and customer preferences will be sought via an online survey. From that, BC Ferries will determine the new schedules that will be implemented once the new vessels enter service in 2017. For more information on this project, please visit bcferries.com.

Under contract to the Province of British Columbia, BC Ferries is the service provider responsible for the delivery of safe, efficient and dependable ferry service along coastal British Columbia.

British Columbia Ferry Services Inc. press release