There will be No end run around travel restrictions aboard a BC Ferry

The Northern Adventure at Fairview Bay Terminal

With yesterday's announcement by the British Columbia government of COVID related travel restrictions between Health Authorities, the opportunity to travel to Vancouver or Vancouver Island from Prince Rupert will be limited, with only those with an essential need to travel to those areas allowed to make transit on board a BC Ferries vessel.

For travellers with BC Ferries waiting to board the Northern Adventure at Port Hardy today, there will be a few questions to answer prior to taking a spot on board the vessel for the trip north to Prince Rupert. 

That as the Ferry Corporation follows the new travel orders put in place on Friday, and ensures compliance of them by the travelling public.

As part of their announcement posted to the Ferry Corporation website, BC Ferries highlighted the six routes to be part of the Travel restrictions order, all five that transit between Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland, as well as the Port Hardy to Prince Rupert route.

"In keeping with the essential travel restriction order and guidelines issued by the Province of British Columbia, we are reminding all customers that travel should be for essential purposes only. Face masks are mandatory at our terminals and on board our ferries. Our priority is the health and safety of our customers and employees, and we will strictly adhere to provincial and federal orders and guidelines. 

We’re asking customers to continue to heed Dr. Bonnie Henry's advice to be kind, be calm, and be safe. Staff at terminals and on board are working hard to adjust to changing circumstances and to implement protocols and procedures that keep everyone safe, healthy, and moving. BC Ferries does not tolerate any abuse, including verbal abuse, towards its employees. A customer who abuses an employee will be denied service." -- From the BC Ferries Travel Advisory update

When travellers arrive at BC Ferries terminals they will be asked if their travel is essential. If it is not, they will be denied passage based on the Order. 

Customers travelling on routes that operate within the same regional zone will be reminded that they should be avoiding non-essential travel at this time.  

The full announcement from BC Ferries can be reviewed here.

The list so far from the British Columbia government as to what will be considered essential travel can be reviewed below:

For updates on how BC Ferries will be approaching the travel restrictions follow their website or twitter feed.

More notes on marine travel on the North Coast can be found from our archive page.