Metro Vancouver & Interregional Passenger Ferry Service Discussion

[WarrenC12]

Buses are already jammed at the major terminals in my experience.

Passenger only would have to be Hullo style routes downtown to downtown.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Buses are already jammed at the major terminals in my experience.

Passenger only would have to be Hullo style routes downtown to downtown.

But it's a trade-off between having downtown access and the route into the dock which seems why they went with Swartz Bay instead of downtown Victoria in their report. They could probably include bus tickets during the reservation process so they could know how many buses to throw at each ferry arrival.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

But it's a trade-off between having downtown access and the route into the dock which seems why they went with Swartz Bay instead of downtown Victoria in their report. They could probably include bus tickets during the reservation process so they could know how many buses to throw at each ferry arrival.

Ultimately they are at the mercy of Translink IMO. Without Skytrain-style transit like YVR has, using BC Ferries without a car will always be a big PITA and a deterrent to travel.

That said they could also straight up double the cost of car access. That would shift demand.

[Migrant_Coconut]

And SkyTrain'd need half-hourly ferry service to be viable. Otherwise the first 2-3 trains are jam-packed and then the rest sit empty until the next ship arrives.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

And SkyTrain'd need half-hourly ferry service to be viable. Otherwise the first 2-3 trains are jam-packed and then the rest sit empty until the next ship arrives.

Yes and no, depends on the terminal. There are multiple routes departing and arriving all day.

The beauty of a skytrain branch is they can control the timing, send a few trains in a row, etc.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Yes and no, depends on the terminal. There are multiple routes departing and arriving all day.

The beauty of a skytrain branch is they can control the timing, send a few trains in a row, etc.

Maybe, but that's still a lot of capex for not much ridership. Convoying or not (probably needs a few pocket tracks to make it work), I can't see Tsawwassen or Horseshoe Bay coming ahead of Newton, let alone UBCx or the Purple Line.

[jollyburger]

I wonder what their dock placement is for the YVR/Sea Island idea. Maybe they can combine it with the new cruise ship terminal

[madog222]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

I wonder what their dock placement is for the YVR/Sea Island idea. Maybe they can combine it with the new cruise ship terminal

I think the ideal location would be at the South Terminal beside the float plane docks. That's assuming the prospective vessel can transit the middle arm outflow through Sturgeon Banks, no idea of the limitations there. That also has the issue of no direct Skytrain connection.

Another option would be on the North Arm directly north of Templeton Station, beside the outlet mall. Voyage time would be significantly increased over a South Arm terminal but perhaps that's a worthwhile tradeoff for the Skytrain connection.

Sorry, no way you're getting a cruise ship terminal anywhere in this area.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Monorail? It'll be peanuts compared to what YVR'll have to pay for a runway expansion.

[jollyburger]

Spuhels is also down in Victoria for maintenance at the dry dock.

Once choppy labour waters involving a popular passenger-only ferry service appear to have calmed down.

Due to a lack of progress in formulating an inaugural between Hullo Ferries and the BC Ferry & Marine Workers Union (BCFMWU), mediated contract discussions between Oct. 6 and 8 “went quite well,” according to union president Eric McNeely.

He said significant progress has been made in part due to the presence of an experienced mediator supplied from the B.C. Labour Relations Board.

“We are getting close to a first collective agreement. Our expectation is that we should be able to have that closed up before Christmas, that’s the hope that members get a negotiated agreement as opposed to going to a strike.”

McNeely said brokering an initial foundational contract takes are more time intensive than those built on prior relationships and agreements with established contract language.

He said the highly regulated marine sector also provides additional time to iron out.

Due to commitments faced by the assigned mediator, the next round of talks are scheduled until Dec. 3 to 5.

“We’re optimistic that the three days in the beginning of December will result in a collective agreement that we can take to our membership to ratify,” McNeely said, noting key issues such as compensation and scheduling still need to be addressed.

https://nanaimonewsnow.com/2025/11/03/we...ctive-contract-talks-with-hullo-ferries/

[jollyburger]

Says it isn't a priority with the Nanaimo route their main focus.

Hullo looks at launching Victoria ferry service in a few years

Xander France, head of external affairs and partnerships with Hullo Ferries, wholly owned by the privately held Vancouver Island Ferry Company, said it will likely be late 2027 or 2028 before the company starts to explore the possibility of setting up a Victoria link to the Lower Mainland.

https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/local...ia-ferry-service-in-a-few-years-11856134

[jollyburger]

Passenger ferry service between Vancouver and Bowen Island, Sunshine Coast gains momentum

A proposed passenger-only electric-ferry service connecting downtown Vancouver with Bowen Island and the Sunshine Coast is picking up speed, with a report going before the Vancouver park board next week.

Park board staff has identified a “preferred concept” for the proposed project, which would use the public dock at Harbour Green Park at the north end of Bute Street. It would include a “charge barge,” a publicly accessible viewing platform, and a dock for short-term recreational use.

The park board is expected to vote on the proposal Monday. If approved, it would allow Vancouver staff to negotiate an agreement with Victoria-based Cirql Ferries.

https://vancouversun.com/news/poaaible-p...ce-vancouver-bowen-island-sunshine-coast

[Migrant_Coconut]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

Says it isn't a priority with the Nanaimo route their main focus.

Seeing as even the Nanaimo route doesn't seem to be turning a profit, I'm not sure if they'll even get to '28. Kudos on lasting longer than anybody else though.

[officedweller]

The problem with a Victoria route is that all the business people and politicians take HeliJet.

I haven't been down to Coal Harbour Green Park in many years,
but isn't the dock configured like this:

EDIT:

The ferry proposal offers a chance to renew the aging infrastructure at no cost to the park board.

https://www.google.com/maps/search/vanco..._ep=EgoyMDI2MDQwOC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

[Vantage]

A ferry from Vancouver Harbour to Victoria Harbour would be over twice as long (~140km) vs Vancouver Harbour to Nanaimo Harbour (~65km). Making an extremely liberal estimation that the ferry will travel at 40 knots the entire trip (it won't because it will have to slow in Vancouver, Active Pass, and Victoria Harbour) it would take around an hour and 55 minutes. just including travel time. Realistically you are probably looking at close to 3 hours from checking in to disembarking. At that point, if time is money, I'm not sure why you would be taking the ferry. It will be expensive too to travel all that way by ferry.

Ferries are slow, there's a reason why the BC ferries only goes between Tsawwassen and Swartz bay, it's because it is the shortest distance (less time on a slow, inefficient vehicle)

[Tvisforme]

Originally Posted by Vantage

...Ferries are slow, there's a reason why the BC ferries only goes between Tsawwassen and Swartz bay, it's because it is the shortest distance (less time on a slow, inefficient vehicle)

Slower, sure, but inefficient? Do you have a suggestion for a more effective way to move hundreds of vehicles and thousands of passengers across the water without building a prohibitively expensive bridge?

[Vantage]

Originally Posted by Tvisforme

Slower, sure, but inefficient? Do you have a suggestion for a more effective way to move hundreds of vehicles and thousands of passengers across the water without building a prohibitively expensive bridge?

Yeah inefficient is probably not the best word. Poor time efficiency, but that is getting redundant.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Originally Posted by Tvisforme

Slower, sure, but inefficient? Do you have a suggestion for a more effective way to move hundreds of vehicles and thousands of passengers across the water without building a prohibitively expensive bridge?

I still think an Airlander 10 route has its merits...

[logan5]

Originally Posted by Vantage

A ferry from Vancouver Harbour to Victoria Harbour would be over twice as long (~140km) vs Vancouver Harbour to Nanaimo Harbour (~65km). Making an extremely liberal estimation that the ferry will travel at 40 knots the entire trip (it won't because it will have to slow in Vancouver, Active Pass, and Victoria Harbour) it would take around an hour and 55 minutes. just including travel time. Realistically you are probably looking at close to 3 hours from checking in to disembarking. At that point, if time is money, I'm not sure why you would be taking the ferry. It will be expensive too to travel all that way by ferry.

Ferries are slow, there's a reason why the BC ferries only goes between Tsawwassen and Swartz bay, it's because it is the shortest distance (less time on a slow, inefficient vehicle)

You don't need an hour to check in to a ferry. #Even harbour air you can get there 15 minutes before the flight.

[madog222]

Originally Posted by logan5

You don't need an hour to check in to a ferry. #Even harbour air you can get there 15 minutes before the flight.

That extra hour is mainly from when the vessel is operating at less then full service speed.

The time ends up being not much shorter than taking the Tswwassen - Swartz Bay ferry plus public transit on both ends while costing multiples more.

I see a big part of Hullo’s Nanaimo route success in being how it offers a good middle ground in both time and cost between BC ferries + public transit and Helijet / Harbour Air.

Originally Posted by madog222

The geography really plays against service to Victoria harbour even if it is a better destination on paper.

This service at 70 min takes 3.5 times longer than Helijet/Harbour Air and is 2.5 times faster than taking public transit bus & BC Ferries.

The V2V service took 6 times longer than Helijet/Harbout Air but only 30min faster than taking public transit bus & BC Ferries.