BC Ferries report highlights significant problems ahead
A new report suggests there could be rough waters on the horizon for BC Ferries when it comes to revenue, sky-rocketing costs and labour shortages.
The document is a revision of a report submitted just six months ago to the BC Ferries commissioner.
“The original plan was informed by the latest financial and economic data as well as forecasts available six months ago,” BC Ferries Chief Financial Officer Jill Sharland said in a statement. “We have updated the four year plan so the commissioner has the best information available on which to base her indicative price cap decision.”
The revised report highlights the changing economic climate and predicts a looming recession will reduce discretionary travel and lower previously forecasted revenue by $14 million in the fiscal year 2024.
BC Ferries revises four-year plan, cites financial and staffing challenges
BC Ferries has reassessed its latest four-year plan to include new challenges the service is facing, the company said.
A 41-page report has been submitted to the independent BC Ferries Commissioner, updating the corporation’s previous plan which was provided six months ago.
The report outlines challenges including a forecasted mild recession in 2024, an expected decline in ferry traffic, staffing issues and increased maintenance costs.
This has led to 15 projects being cancelled and mid-life upgrades being pushed back, the report said.
The bargaining unit that represents navigating and engineering officers said the challenges the company has acknowledged are something the workers have known for “quite some time.”
BC Ferries Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay sees long delays due to pulled vessel
If you’re hoping to travel on the Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay BC Ferries route Friday, patience, or at the very least a reservation, is highly recommended.
Following Thursday’s delays on the route due to one of the corporation’s largest vessels being pulled from service due to repairs, multiple sailing waits are in place on either side of the Salish Sea, with the next available standby space not free until the afternoon.
The ferry corporation says as the Spirit of Vancouver Island was moved to drydock after Thanksgiving, they are down to two vessels on the route
Ferry workers’ union pushes back against claims ‘absenteeism’ behind service cancellations
The president of the union representing BC Ferries workers says the company’s comments that employee absenteeism led to a handful of service cancellations over the weekend are a “slap in the face.”
Several Sunday afternoon and evening sailings were cancelled to and from Salt Spring Island, prompting BC Ferries to call in a water taxi to shuttle some travelers off the island and leaving other passengers stuck waiting with their vehicles.
BC Ferries spokesperson Deborah Marshall said while the company has hired enough workers to return to normal service levels, COVID-19 and other factors are hitting the workforce hard and there is an 11 per cent rate of absenteeism compared to the regular five or six per cent.
Unvaccinated BC Ferries workers not to blame for ongoing cancellations: Union
With 150 unvaccinated BC Ferries workers being invited to return to their jobs after the lifting of vaccine mandates, the union representing them is not optimistic that will make much of a difference in ongoing sailing cancellation problems.
Between Wednesday, June 22, and Thursday, June 30, people with reservations for 14 sailings on the Queen of Coquitlam will be forced to make alternative plans due to cancellations.
It’s just the latest in a string of scrapped sailings and frustrations are mounting as the busy summer travel season is already underway and demand is high.
BC Ferry & Marine Workers’ Union President Eric McNeely says the staffing crunch is much, much bigger than 150 people.
“We’re looking at almost three years’ worth of retirements occurring and the recruitment hasn’t kept pace with that. And also we’re having members who are leaving to more competitive marine carriers, in some cases 12 or 15 year employees are deciding now’s the right time to go somewhere else,” McNeely said.
BC Ferries warns of more summer service disruptions
Just ahead of the busy summer travel season B.C. Ferries is warning of sailing cancellation brought on by staffing shortage. Global News Mornings speaks with B.C. Ferry and Marine Workers Union President Eric McNeely about the staffing crunch.
Union says burnout, morale an issue as BC Ferries continues to cancel sailings
Father’s Day featured another series of BC Ferries cancellations, once again due to staff shortages.
It made for a hectic night for those trying to travel between Victoria and the Lower Mainland.
“Normally, this time of year summer vessels are preparing to run more and more and [this year] we’re looking at less and less sailings,” said BC Ferry and Marine Workers’ Union President Eric McNeely.
But McNeely says there could be a bit of relief now that the federal vaccine mandate that applied to ferry workers has been suspended.
BC Ferries says it’s currently in the process of reaching out to its roughly 150 staff members currently on unpaid leave due to the vaccine mandate. It says it should know more in the coming weeks about how many of them intend to return to the work place and how that will impact service in the busy travel season ahead.
Lack of crew leads to weekend sailing cancellations on B.C. Ferries
Ongoing staffing issues will mean ferry cancellations again this weekend. Travellers can expect the 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. sailings from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay to be cancelled on Sunday, as will the 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. from Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen. B.C.
Ongoing staffing issues will mean ferry cancellations again this weekend.
Travellers can expect the 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. sailings from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay to be cancelled on Sunday, as will the 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. from Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen.
B.C. Ferries suggested seeking alternative service from Tsawwassen to Duke Point and Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay.
The corporation said it continues to actively recruit employees to fill vacancies.
A specific number of crew members is needed ensure safety, B.C. Ferries said in a statement.