Easter weekend 2025 marks the official beginning of “BC Ferries, Fuck Up Season”!
BC Ferries has faced several challenges in recent years, including breakdowns, staffing shortages, and delays, which have impacted service reliability. Below is a list of the main troubles based on available information, focusing on incidents and issues from 2021 to 2025:
- Staffing Shortages:
- Crew Shortages Leading to Cancellations: In 2023, 40% of BC Ferries’ cancellations (1,163 sailings) were due to crew shortages, more than double the 522 cancellations in 2022. This was attributed to a global shortage of professional mariners, higher-than-expected retirements, and vaccine mandate effects.
- High Absenteeism: Absenteeism doubled from 5-6% to 11% in 2022, exacerbating cancellations, particularly during peak summer seasons.
- Recruitment and Retention Challenges: A 52% increase in employee turnover over 2021-2023, an aging workforce, and low wages relative to market standards made hiring difficult. The company launched its largest recruitment campaign in 2023 to fill over 500 positions.
- Impact of Omicron and Vaccine Mandates: In 2022, the Omicron variant, combined with vaccine mandates, led to reduced crew availability, causing potential service disruptions, especially on inter-island routes.
- Low Morale and Overtime Disputes: In 2023, the BC Ferry and Marine Workers’ Union reported low morale and disputes over overtime pay, reducing workers’ willingness to cover extra shifts, further impacting staffing.
- Vessel Breakdowns and Mechanical Issues:
- Aging Fleet and Maintenance Delays: In April 2025, BC Ferries cited an aging fleet and unexpected repairs reducing dry dock availability, leading to service adjustments. A mechanical failure stranded passengers for hours between Langdale and Horseshoe Bay.
- Queen of Cumberland and Salish Raven: In March 2023, ongoing repairs to the Queen of Cumberland and staffing issues on the Salish Raven caused multiple cancellations, including eight sailings on a single day.
- Vessel Out of Service: In 2023, a major vessel was out of commission for weeks, affecting the Island-Mainland route, highlighting maintenance challenges.
- Delays and Cancellations:
- Frequent Cancellations: In 2022, over 170 sailings were canceled in a 28-day period due to staffing issues, contributing to operational difficulties.
- Service Reliability Decline: By 2023, service reliability dipped to 98.3% in the summer (from a historical 99.7-99.8%), with 99.1% in the fall, causing significant disruptions for travelers.
- Specific Route Impacts: In 2022, cancellations affected busy routes like Tsawwassen-Duke Point and Horseshoe Bay-Departure Bay, stranding passengers.
- Impact on Communities: Cancellations disrupted access to essential services like medical appointments for ferry-dependent communities, increasing public frustration.
- Other Contributing Factors:
- Global Mariner Shortage: A 25-year global shortage of qualified mariners, combined with competition from other ferry services (e.g., Washington State, Alaska), strained BC Ferries’ ability to hire skilled workers.
- High Inflation and Operating Costs: Rising costs pressured wages and fares, with a $229 million increase in the 12-year capital plan reported in 2023.
- Public and Worker Frustration: Cancellations led to public anger, with some travelers taking out frustrations on staff, adding stress to front-line workers.
- Mitigation Efforts and Criticism:
- Hiring Initiatives: BC Ferries hired 1,200 employees in 2023, offered bonuses ($5,000-$10,000) for referrals and new hires, and reclassified seasonal workers to casual roles to improve retention.
- Government Penalties: In October 2023, the B.C. government announced fines for BC Ferries for cancellations due to crew shortages to improve accountability.
- Union and Public Criticism: The BC Ferry and Marine Workers’ Union criticized low wages and lack of relief workers, while opposition parties like BC United called out the government for mismanagement and executive bloat.
Don’t forget about traffic jams, missed airport connections, long lines, extra fees, and high priced food!
These pictures were taken from about 5 blocks back from the ticketing terminal going to Salt Spring Island on Easter weekend! Have a good holiday and stay in Vancouver, BC.