BC Ferries to reveal vessel renewal plan

BC Ferries is set to unveil its latest update on renewing its aging fleet of vessels on Tuesday afternoon.

But not everyone is impressed with how it’s playing out.

Gibsons Mayor Silas White says it’s frustrating that the new ferries, once their built and in service, will be on the major routes from the Lower Mainland to Victoria and Nanaimo.

Not in communities like his on the Sunshine Coast or other smaller routes.

“As a ferry-dependent community, this plan is very focused on the major routes of going between Nanaimo and the Vancouver area, and Victoria and the Vancouver area. And we do continue to feel neglected,” White told 1130 NewsRadio on Monday.

He says that while places like Victoria and Nanaimo feed on all the tourism that BC Ferries brings to their communities, it’s a little different for places like Gibsons, Sechelt, and Powell River, where it’s more of a case where residents depend on the ferries to get back and forth.

“I’ve asked BC Ferries directly about the opportunity for boats that are more purpose-built for our route, which would be smaller, and they’d be quicker to load. We could go to hourly service again,” he explained.

White says he’s been told that the renewal will not include vessels for the Sunshine Coast due to the ferry service’s ongoing budget constraints.

BC Ferries president and CEO Nicholas Jimenez will share details about the contract to build four new major vessels. The Leader Spirit will have all the details on air and online just after 1 p.m.

You can watch The Leader Spirit 24/7 live or listen live to 1130 NewsRadio Vancouver to keep up to date with this story. You can also subscribe to breaking news alerts sent directly to your inbox.