The cost of taking a trip over to the mainland is about to increase this summer, as BC Ferries adds a fuel surcharge to their fares.
The company is implementing a 1.5% surcharge as of June 1st to make up for rising costs of fuel.
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For adult passengers on the Metro Vancouver – Victoria route, this means an additional $0.25, while vehicles will be charged $0.85 extra.
BC Ferries states that surcharges and rebates are applied based on the cost of fuel under a mechanism that is independent of fares.
“We now have five vessels operating on liquefied natural gas, a cleaner and less expensive fuel source than the ultra-low sulphur diesel we use for our other vessels. LNG is approximately 50 per cent less expensive than diesel, and its use result in fuel savings that are passed on to our customers,” said Mark Collins, BC Ferries’ President and CEO.
“Despite fuel switching and other initiatives to burn fuel more efficiently, a fuel surcharge is now necessary. Fuel is our second largest expense.”
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BC Ferries is looking to implement diesel-electric battery hybrid vessels in the future to avoid having to implement price hikes like these.
The 1.5% surcharge is being implemented on all routes except the Port Hardy – Prince Rupert, Prince Rupert – Haida Gwaii and Port Hardy – Central Coast routes.
According to BC Ferries, these routes have a “separate mechanism pertaining to the cost of fuel” which is why they will remain exempt from increase costs at this time.
