This unique FREE service offers the convenience of picking Boaters up at their marina and bringing them to Upper Ganges Village Shopping Centre, with Country Grocer the largest grocery store of the Gulf Islands; an amply provisioned Liquor Store, a Pharmasave and Uptown Pizza. After shopping the Shuttle will return you to your marina! All this for FREE! Service is provided between 10 AM -6 PM, seven days a week. Just call for pick up or have your marina call 250-538-2398. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLWsfJXsKrg

BC Ferries announced today the launch of an online engagement platform for community input to help shape future plans for Swartz Bay terminal. The online engagement effort is part of a broader community engagement program BC Ferries announced earlier in May, which includes meetings with key stakeholders and pop-up sessions at the terminal in late May and early June. This program runs through to fall 2018 and will gather community feedback to better understand the important role the terminal plays in communities’ and customers’ travel experience, and the regional transportation network. Following the pop up sessions and online engagement, BC Ferries will report back to the community on what we heard. The feedback provided through all engagement efforts will inform design concepts for the terminal, taking into account BC Ferries’ and the community’s collective needs. BC Ferries will come back to the community and customers with possible design options, and collect feed…

Please be advised that BC Ferries will have a contractor onsite at Long Harbour Terminal between Tuesday, February 6 and Thursday, February 8, 2018 to upgrade the drainage system. This work is not expected to affect sailing operations. Work will include excavation in the 48-hour customer parking lot, which must be vacant by Monday, February 5, 2018 to allow for setup. As construction vehicles will be operating at the terminal, customers are asked to follow the direction of staff and traffic control contractors. Equipment being used may increase the normal sound levels within the terminal between the hours of 7:00 am and 5:00 pm. All efforts will be made to minimize noise. BC Ferries would like to thank our customers and neighbours for their understanding as we complete the necessary work.

Discover yourself on Salt Spring Island! We have so much to share from music to arts, farm to table bounty, ocean adventures, connection to nature and wellness. When can you get here?         .embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }  

Tomorrow marks the implementation of Transport Canada regulations that restrict passengers from remaining in their vehicles on closed car decks. BC Ferries understands this change impacts customers that need to remain in their vehicles. BC Ferries wants to help where possible. Customers needing to remain in their vehicles should identify themselves at the ticket booth when they arrive, so BC Ferries can try and accommodate their request. BC Ferries’ staff at the terminals and on board the vessels will assist customers wherever possible with the new policy to ensure a smooth implementation. On larger vessels that have both an upper and lower vehicle deck, customers will be able to remain in their vehicles on the upper vehicle deck only. For customers with special circumstances that need to remain in their vehicles on these vessels, BC Ferries recommends they arrive at the terminal early, so staff can make every effort to accommodate their request. “We recognize …

BC Ferries announced today that as of January 22, 2018, the company will introduce a smoke-free environment on board all of its vessels and at its terminals. This coincides with National Non-Smoking Week, which runs from January 21 to 28, 2018. Last year, the Province amended regulations for no smoking buffer zones around any doorway, intake or open window to any public or workplace from three metres to six metres. Due to the physical space available from doors on the outer decks of BC Ferries’ large vessels and on the vehicle decks of smaller vessels, the new regulation means all vessels will need to become smoke-free environments. In reviewing our policy on smoking in remaining areas, BC Ferries is choosing to introduce a smoke-free environment on all BC Ferries properties, including vessels, terminals and other operations, to support the health and wellness of our passengers and employees. “BC Ferries made the decision to provide a smoke-free environment for th…

On October 11, 2017, BC Ferries will harmonize its safety practices with Canadian ferry operators relating to Transport Canada regulations that prohibit passengers from remaining in their vehicle on any closed deck on a vessel that is underway. Since 2007, BC Ferries has been complying with Transport Canada regulations by maintaining a continuous car deck patrol. BC Ferries and Transport Canada recently re-examined the policy and in an effort to coordinate safety practices will change the application of the regulation. On larger vessels with both an upper and lower vehicle deck, customers will still be able to remain in their vehicles on the upper vehicle deck. Customers with special circumstances may make a request at the ticket booth to be placed on the upper vehicle deck. Where this is possible, BC Ferries will try and accommodate your request. “The regulations relate to safety, and the safety of our passengers and employees is a core value for BC Ferries,” said Cap…

BC Ferries’ newest vessel replaces Queen of Nanaimo starting Thurs., Aug 3 - BC Ferries announced today Salish Raven, the third of three new Salish Class ships will start service on the Tsawwassen - Southern Gulf Islands route on Thurs., Aug 3. Its inaugural sailing will depart Tsawwassen at 2:45 p.m. The company has worked diligently to fast track the ship into service to ensure smooth sailing for the remainder of the summer. “The 53-year old Queen of Nanaimo, which is set to retire from the BC Ferries’ fleet this fall, experienced a mechanical problem with the starboard controllable pitch propeller last week and repair plans continue for that the vessel,” said Mark Wilson, BC Ferries’ Vice President of Engineering. “Engineers have been unable to determine the root cause of the problem with the Queen of Nanaimo as yet, so we are focusing our crew resources into getting the new ship, Salish Raven, into service sooner than we had originally planned.” Sa…

Please be advised that the Queen of Nanaimo is currently operating 83 minutes behind schedule due to responding to a marine emergency. The vessel heard a Mayday distress call on their radio and aided in rescuing 7 people from a boat that ran aground. We appreciate your patience and apologize for any inconvenience you may experience as a result of this sailing delay. We request customers with reservations to check in at the terminals in accordance with the scheduled sailing times to maintain their reserved status.

In celebration of Canada’s 150th birthday, Boating BC Association has identified 150 of the most scenic and picturesque boating locations that the province has to offer. Ranging from lakes and rivers on Vancouver Island to Northern BC and the Southern Interior, the 150 destinations listed encompass every region in the province and are only a snapshot of the thousands of lakes and rivers in beautiful British Columbia. Out of the list of 150, the number one boating destinations will be determined and unveiled through social media. Voters can cast their vote for the ‘Top Boating Destination in B.C.’ by participating in the online polls on Boating BC’s social media pages. “We are so excited to celebrate Canada’s 150th this year with our list of the most breathtaking boating locations,” said Boating BC President, Don Prittie. “There is no better way to see Canada than on a boat, and this year, we’re giving British Columbians the chance to determine which spot should be crow…

2017-06-28 Update as of 10:30 am: QUEEN OF NANAIMO RETURNS TO SERVICE - Tsawwassen - Southern Gulf Islands: BC Ferries is pleased to advise that repairs to the Queen of Nanaimo are complete and the vessel will return to service tomorrow on the Tsawwassen – Southern Gulf Islands route in advance of the Canada Day long weekend. BC Ferries would like to thank our customers for their patience during the service interruption. Last week, the Queen of Nanaimo was temporarily removed from service as one of the vessel’s controllable pitch propeller systems stopped responding correctly due to an unknown system failure. The fault proved difficult to locate as the system is a combination of pneumatic, mechanical and hydraulic components. The ship’s engineers, along with internal and external specialized technicians, methodically replaced key components and made adjustments to both hydraulic and pneumatic control systems to rectify the fault. The cause of the failure was not a single iss…

BC Ferries welcomed its second Salish Class vessel, Salish Eagle, into service today with a small public event on board the 9:10 and 10:50 a.m. inaugural sailings from Tsawwassen – Southern Gulf Islands and we were there to capture photos and videos to share with our Salt Spring community. President & CEO Mark Collins cut a ceremonial ribbon to mark the first official car on board the new vessel. Salish Eagle is the second of three new Salish Class vessels that are dual-fuel and capable of operating on either natural gas or ultra-low sulphur marine diesel. BC Ferries’ use of natural gas for these vessels will result in the reduction of an estimated 9,000 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per year, the same as taking approximately 1,900 passenger vehicles off the road annually. Passenger amenities on board Salish Eagle include: a Coastal Café; Passages Gift Shop; comfortable lounge seating with panoramic views; children’s play area; spacious outdoor seating on a…