Later this year, BC Ferries will embark on a multi-year initiative to modernize the aging terminal facilities at Horseshoe Bay
With this project, travel from Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay in Nanaimo will require a reservation starting in the fall; return trips from Departure Bay to Horseshoe Bay will not require a reservation. This is not a requirement for any sailings between Horseshoe Bay, Langdale and Bowen Island.
Walk-on passengers will not require a reservation when taking the Horseshoe Bay-Departure Bay route.
To offer additional flexibility and encourage travel on other sailings, BC Ferries is adjusting some of its services. Beginning in mid-May, select sailings to Bowen Island will have a passenger capacity boost of 150 people for a total of 600 as licensed by Transport Canada. For travel to Vancouver Island, there’s a new 4:30 pm sailing leaving Tsawwassen for Departure Bay starting on Thursday, June 19th, 2025.
It’s not uncommon during peak travel periods that ferry vehicle can extend out onto the Upper Levels Highway, becoming a bottleneck for those driving north into Sea-to-Sky country. To minimize this congestion, no drive-up fares are being offered for the duration of construction.
Among work being done are the removal of the elevated concrete deck, and moving the traffic control tower, resulting in a 25 percent reduction of holding space for car and truck traffic. The construction is expected to take several years according to BC Ferries.
Portions of the infrastructure at Horseshoe Bay date from the late 1960s, with the last major renovations taking place in the early 2000s.
Source: BC Ferries
Did you find a typographical or factual error in this article? Please let us know!
All comments are subject to our comment policy. Your comment may be held for moderation, censored, or removed if it does not meet our standards.