Building from the ground up: Darcy Morgan’s Hullo story

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Being born and raised in rural Nanaimo, I started in my dad’s footsteps as volunteer firefighter in 1997 and later got all my structural firefighting, hazmat and first aid certifications. The marine industry was never a thought for me until  I applied to BC Ferries in 2010. I worked as a terminal attendant, equipment operator, OFA and terminal supervior.

In 2015, I got a union scholarship for the Bridgewatch Rating Program, did a summer term on the Coastal Renaissance and then moved into a watch position on route two, the Queen of Cowichan. I stayed there until June 2023, when I left for Hullo.

Hullo offered something new and fresh. It felt like a chance to help build something from the ground up and create a service that’s vital for the mid -island. The idea really hooked me, and does to this day.

I really enjoy my job and work with a very diverse group. Some folks have 25 years in the industry and some have 25 minutes. I get to share what I know and watch new people grow, while also learning from everyone I come into contact with.

Most people don’t realize how long our days can be. Our average shift is about 13 hours. If you take the 7 am sailing to Vancouver and come home at 5:30 pm, it’s the same crew bringing you back. We work fewer days a week, but the days themselves are quite long.

My job is also different from the big ferries most people know. Conventional ferries run around 12 to 20 knots. Our service speed is closer to 34. Things come at you fast. You’re close to the water and you’re moving quickly, so the focus and intensity are really high.

Our deckhands do everything. They moor the ship, deal with emergencies, serve coffees, help people who feel sick, handle medical calls and deal with security issues. They’re incredibly well rounded. People don’t always see or appreciate how many different hats they must wear in a day.

Working for a small, start-up company can have its challenges. With collaborative approaches between workers and management, creative solutions can be found. Most challenges are firsts. People really tend to step up, and make sure to keep things moving, finding creative ways to mitigate sick calls and keep boats running as to not interrupt a passenger’s day.

Our biggest challenge right now is scheduling. We run a lot of late-night event sailings for concerts and hockey games which creates a unique challenge of moving crew and sailings around to meet the demand. Being that a lot of events are scheduled on the go, scheduling for the future can prove difficult.

For the customers who rely on us, keeping communication open is key. Weather, technical issues, staffing, whatever it is, people just want updates. We’re already doing a great job in that area but it can always get better.

I never thought I’d end up in the marine industry, but once I started, it just felt right. Hullo’s given me a chance to grow, to lead and to help build something that matters to the community. I’m proud to be part of it. And I’m still a volunteer firefighter: now I’m the assistant fire chief at East Wellington Fire Department on Jinglepot Road.

Darcy Morgan, Chief Officer (Mate) Hullo Ferries

When the coast guard isn’t there, we are

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Ferry crews don’t set out to be first responders, but when trouble hits the water, they often are.

It doesn’t happen every day, but when it does, training and quick action save lives.

Recently, two passengers went overboard on back-to-back days on the Tsawwassen–Swartz Bay route. Crews launched rescue boats within minutes. Another ferry and the Coast Guard hovercraft helped, and both people were brought out of the water safely.

In March, Hullo Ferry crews launched their rescue boat to reach people stranded on Snake Island near Nanaimo after their vessel ran aground. Working with RCMSAR, everyone made it back safe despite rough seas.

From overturned canoes to motor boats taking on water, our members use their skills and training to ensure everyone gets home safe.

Every crew runs regular drills for fire, evacuation, man overboard and medical calls. They know their rescue boats inside out. When the alarm goes, they don’t hesitate. That takes skill, discipline and dedication. It’s the kind of quiet professionalism that keeps people safe.

When the unexpected happens at sea, it’s our members who step up. That kind of skill and dedication deserves recognition every day.

MEDIA RELEASE | Hullo files for mediation instead of meeting union at the table

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For immediate release
September 5, 2025

NANAIMO — Hullo Ferries’ management is stalling instead of bargaining after the company filed for mediation in response to the union’s conditions for resuming talks.

“Last week the employer declared impasse after tabling a single ‘take it or leave it’ proposal. Since then, they’ve backpedaled on declaring an impasse and now filed for mediation,” said BCFMWU President Eric McNeely.

The union says Hullo’s strategy is clear: avoid meaningful talks until after the busy travel season.

“Our members show up every day, navigating vessels, helping passengers, responding to emergencies, keeping the ships that customers rely on in good repair. Hullo treats them like they’re disposable. That’s unacceptable.”

“If Hullo really cared about reliability for passengers, they’d treat the workers who keep them moving with respect,” said McNeely. “When workers are underpaid and disrespected, they’re asking workers to subsidize the service. That’s not sustainable over the long term.”

“Our members gave us a 91 per cent strike mandate because they want a fair first contract,” McNeely said. “We are ready to bargain directly, any time.”

BCFMWU will keep members updated on next steps as the mediation process unfolds.

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MEDIA CONTACT
Rachel Garrick | Communications Officer | BC Ferry & Marine Workers’ Union
| 604-561-3703 | rachelgarrick@bcfmwu.com

The BC Ferry & Marine Workers’ Union represents more than 4,500 ferry and marine workers across British Columbia. From deckhands and terminal workers to engineers and stewards, we keep the coast moving.

 

MEDIA RELEASE | Hullo ferry workers vote ninety-one per cent in favour of job action

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NANAIMO — Ninety-one per cent of Hullo Ferry workers have voted in favour of job action following the employer’s refusal to bargain fairly for a first collective agreement.

“This result shows just how united Hullo workers are,” said Eric McNeely, president of the BC Ferry & Marine Workers’ Union (BCFMWU). “They know their worth and they’re ready to fight for it.”

The strike vote comes after the employer declared an impasse immediately after the union tabled a counter-proposal last week. Hullo workers have been waiting for nearly a year for a contract, seeking fair wages, predictable schedules and job security.

“Our members want to keep serving passengers under conditions that respect the skill and training their jobs demand,” said McNeely. “Ferry travel requires moving people safely through terminals, navigating busy shipping lanes, safety drills, emergency response and ship maintenance to ensure hundreds of people get across the strait safely every day. That professionalism deserves respect in their first agreement.”

The union has scheduled a meeting for the bargaining unit’s nearly 80 members on Wednesday night to discuss the results and next steps. McNeely emphasized the union remains open to negotiation.

“Workers keep this service running safely every day. They want to keep doing that,” said McNeely. “We hope the employer will come back to the table and bargain fairly.”

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MEDIA CONTACT Rachel Garrick | Communications Officer | BC Ferry & Marine Workers’ Union | 604-561-3703 | rachelgarrick@bcfmwu.com
The BC Ferry & Marine Workers’ Union represents more than 4,500 ferry and marine workers across British Columbia. From deckhands and terminal workers to engineers

MEDIA RELEASE | Hullo Ferries declares bargaining impasse, forcing workers to take strike vote

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For immediate release August 29, 2025

NANAIMO — Hullo Ferries has declared an impasse in bargaining, forcing the union to take a strike vote.

“We don’t want to disrupt service, but our members can’t wait forever,” said Eric McNeely, president of the BC Ferry & Marine Workers’ Union. “Our members would rather be serving passengers than preparing job action. But after nearly a year of waiting for an agreement, they’ve been left with no choice.”

In nearly a year without a contract, and despite tabling a fair wage and benefits proposal months ago, the employer has made only one counter proposal. Instead of bargaining seriously, the company has now declared impasse, refusing to move forward unless workers accept its terms.

“Declaring impasse after so little movement is a sign the employer isn’t serious about reaching a fair deal,” said McNeely. “Our members keep passengers moving every day. They deserve respect and a fair contract.”

“Hullo Ferry workers want stability for themselves and the travelling public. The solution is simple: the employer needs to come back to the table and bargain in good faith.”

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MEDIA CONTACT Rachel Garrick | Communications Officer | BC Ferry & Marine Workers’ Union | 604-561-3703 | rachelgarrick@bcfmwu.com

Vital guardians: Crews are the heart of BC Ferries

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Recent life-saving rescues have shown, once again, just how vital our crews are to coastal safety.

In January, a passenger went overboard near Tsawwassen. Thanks to the training, teamwork and fast action of the crew, that person was pulled from the water and brought to safety.

In March, Hullo Ferries crew helped rescue stranded boaters near Nanaimo.

In another incident, crew members spotted a rowboater in distress off Salt Spring Island and jumped into action. Their calm, skilled response helped bring that person aboard without injury.

The Life Saving Society of B.C. and Yukon recognized BC Ferries with a Water Safety Excellence Award for these rescues, recognizing BC Ferries as a “vital guardian of the waters.” But credit belongs to the crews who stepped up in the moment. They’re the real heroes—the heart of BC Ferries—and we’re proud to stand with them.

BCFMWU is the largest maritime union in Canada, representing more than 4500 members

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We acknowledge the homelands of the Indigenous Peoples of this place we now call British Columbia, and honour the many territorial keepers of the Lands on which we work.