Ferries are about to get a bit more expensive.
Due to sustained prices of fuel being high, BC Ferries have decided to increase the current fuel surcharge that was last increased in June by 1.5%.
The Metro Vancouver to Vancouver Island routes will now cost an additional 70 cents for an adult walk-on and $3.15 for a small vehicle and driver.
A smaller surcharge is being applied to the inter island routes as well. Those new surcharges will amount to an average of 40 cents for an adult walk-on and $1.70 for a small vehicle and driver.
BC Ferries say that for the past 18 years, they’ve used a system of applying a fuel surcharge/rebate depending on whether the cost of fuel is high or low.
They claim that the company does not benefit financially from the surcharges they introduce to their passengers.
In an attempt to reduce fuel consumption, BC Ferries is making investments in cleaner, lower cost fuels, such as liquefied natural gas to replace the use of ultra-low sulphur diesel. The company also introduced battery-equipped ships designed for future full-electric operation.
Fuel surcharge on routes between Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island for a driver and vehicle will now be:
- $49 Saver fare will be $1.90
- $80 At Terminal fare will be $3.15
- $87.50 Prepaid fare will be $3.45
On shorter routes up and down the coast and between Gulf Islands, the fuel surcharge varies by route.
The following are examples provided by BC Ferries for a driver and vehicle:
- Routes from Vancouver Island to Salt Spring Island will be $1.70
- Route from Buckley Bay to Denman Island will be $1.20
BC Ferries say they want to assure the public that they will closely monitor the cost of fuel and will apply a rebate or surcharge, or neither depending on the fluctuation of fuel costs.
