BC Ferries (BCF) says it will answer the call for more sailing capacity between Langdale and Horseshoe Bay but makes no commitment to a second ship for Route 3 in its performance term 6 (PT6) submission to the BC Ferry Commission.
In that Sept. 30 submission, BCF’s outlook for that term, which runs from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2028, states that in the “short term," it plans to have a supplementary vessel serving the route seven days a week in the summer and to increase sailings in spring and fall.
Sometime after mid-2028, BCF plans to add one major vessel to its fleet to serve “to support growth and improve resiliency." With that ship in operation, it projects “higher frequency two ship service in spring and fall” for Route 3.
The PT6 submission states that six major vessels; the Queens of Coquitlam, Alberni, Cowichan, New Westminster, Surrey, and Oak Bay are scheduled to retire in performance term 7.
“The retirement of six major vessels within the next 10 years provides BC Ferries an opportunity to build major vessels that will ensure the service delivery meets the community’s needs for decades to come,” the corporation wrote.
BCF’s 12-year capital plan will also see six existing major vessels replaced and four additional Island Class vessels built to improve capacity on inter-island routes.
An Oct. 4 press release from BCF stated “modernization and replacement of vessels, terminals and IT systems are the centrepieces of [its] Performance Term Six submission.” The PT6 document is available for review on the BC Ferry Commission website and public comments are welcomed.
The PT6 process concludes with the Commissioner establishing price caps for BC Ferries coastal routes during the four-year performance term. A preliminary price cap will be announced on March 31 of next year and it will be finalized on Sept. 30, 2023.
