Rising fuel prices have prompted BC Ferries to increase the fuel surcharge from 1% to 2.5% starting June 1st.
Overall cost increases will be $2 for a vehicle and 45 cents for adult foot passengers on the main Vancouver to Vancouver Island routes, and 25 cents for an adult and $1.05 for a vehicle and driver on a variety of inter-island routes.
This is the second increase this year, on March 1st, a fuel surcharge of one per cent was added to ticket prices to offset the rising price of fuel.
“BC Ferries closely monitors the cost of fuel and applies a rebate or surcharge, or neither, under a regulatory process that is set by the BC Ferries Commissioner,” the transportation company said in a statement.
Also on June 1st, a 2.5 per cent fuel surcharge will also be implemented on the Port Hardy – Prince Rupert, Prince Rupert – Haida Gwaii and Port Hardy – Central Coast routes.
Currently there is neither a fuel surcharge nor rebate on those routes.
The company has been instituting rebates and surcharges over the last 18 years. A fuel rebate was in place on the Vancouver – Vancouver Island routes for much of the pandemic but was removed on November 3rd, 2021. That rebate amounted to 10 cents for foot passengers and 30 cents for a vehicle.
The company says it does not benefit financially from surcharges or rebates.
In March, BC Ferries warned of scheduling issues heading into the summer. As crew shortages plague the company, the organization is now warning its customers to brace for more delays and altered sailing schedules into the peak summer season.
Hiring challenges are fueled by vaccination policies, troubles recruiting international candidates due to COVID-19, and a shortage of professional mariners, according to BC Ferries.
See more: BC Ferries warns labour shortage could impact sailing schedule into the summer
BC Ferries says it’s working to minimize any impact to the travelling public, implementing extra initiatives including internal training investments and a significant recruitment push via career fairs and WorkBC.
According to the organization, these tactics have supported filling 600 positions required for the summer. It says some potential service interruptions may be “predictable” and “mitigated” by changing sailing times.
