Vancouver Park Board votes to support electric ferry to Sunshine Coast, Bowen Island | CBC News
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Vancouver Park Board commissioners have voted to support a passenger-only electric ferry that would run from the city’s Coal Harbour neighbourhood to Bowen Island and the community of Gibsons on the Sunshine Coast.
The proposal, which first emerged last year, is to run the electric ferries from the dock at Harbour Green Park to Bowen Island, which would be a 40-minute trip, and then a separate ferry to Gibsons, which would be a 70-minute trip.
CIRQL Ferries, which is behind the proposal, says the electric passenger-only route would provide an alternative to existing B.C. Ferries routes to both destinations — which both operate out of Horseshoe Bay, around a 20-kilometre drive away in West Vancouver.
The proposal received unanimous support from park board commissioners, which means City of Vancouver staff will now move forward on negotiating an agreement with CIRQL.
Callum Campbell, the CEO of the company, told CBC News before the vote that CIRQL Ferries would assume responsibility for constructing the necessary infrastructure and changing the structure of Harbour Green Dock.
“What we’re looking to do is kind of reconfigure that dock, almost like Lego blocks,” he said.
“It would provide a new viewing platform, and it would provide a spot for our charge barge — essentially the place where we charge the vessel and where passengers would board our ferry,” he added.
A B.C. company says it’s two years away from running a new ferry service out of downtown Vancouver. Greenline Marine plans to run high-speed, all-electric ferries to Bowen Island and Gibsons As Chad Pawson reports, it has the support of all three levels of government.
While Campbell had indicated last year that the service could be operational by 2027, he said Monday that the company was now aiming for 2028, as they look to construct the vessels needed.
“The boats carry 150 people and 20 bikes and four wheelchairs. It’s all in one lounge,” he said.
“It’s really intended to be that natural extension of all those [transportation] modes that we already see. We are hardwired for bikes from day one.”
Park board commissioners said supporting a decarbonization of transit and allowing commuters to skip the trip to Horseshoe Bay were reasons to support the proposal.
Commissioner Scott Jensen said the proposal showed a vision for a “new modern transportation system,” and said he hoped it would lead to bike rentals and other small business opportunities nearby.
“Currently, if you want to get to these locations, you’re either taking a ferry, which is located quite a distance away, or you’re paying a higher premium and taking a floatplane,” he told a Monday park board meeting.
“This is going to be providing an opportunity for people to hop on, hop off.”
Support from Sunshine Coast
On the Sunshine Coast, the proposal drew praise from Gibsons Mayor Silas White.
White said the passenger-only service could be beneficial for those commuting to Vancouver, but also for tourism.
“People being able to come over here for day trips is even more exciting, because it’s more than just, kind of, sustaining a service we already have,” he said.
B.C. Ferries CEO Nicolas Jimenez said a combination of issues caused delays and cancellations over the Easter long weekend, but that the ultimate problem comes from running the service with a fleet of aging vessels.
Darren Inkster, a councillor in the neighbouring town of Sechelt, said CIRQL’s passenger-only ferries would provide an alternative option when B.C. Ferries vessels are fully loaded with cars in the summer.
He pointed to existing concerns over the reliability of B.C. Ferries service to and from Horseshoe Bay, with Sunshine Coast residents frequently encountering long delays and vehicle lineups.
“We just need more predictable transportation for people that need to get to Vancouver for personal, business and medical reasons,” he said.
Gibsons tickets to cost $30
CIRQL’s Campbell had said last year that the proposal would cost $60 million, but told CBC News those costs had increased — though he wouldn’t say by how much.
“This reflects increased scope related to terminal works, however the overall venture remains financially viable,” he said in an email.
Campbell said the ticket price to Bowen Island would be $20, and the ticket price to Gibsons would be $30.
The CEO added that the company has estimated 1,000 people a day, in total, would ride the ferries. He said people’s interest in Hullo Ferries, a passenger-only service from downtown Vancouver to Nanaimo, showed the desire for more alternatives to B.C. Ferries.