The cost of taking a ferry out of Nanaimo is about to go up again, but it has nothing to do with BC Ferries.
The Nanaimo Port Authority is increasing passenger fees for the first time in ten years. The 10-cent increase to 25-cents will kick in October 1st.
The fees are applied to fare on the ferries to and from Departure Bay and Duke Point, and float plane tickets.
The NPA’s David Mailloux says over that decade the expenses they face have steadily climbed. “We’ve had to gear up with new equipment for safety and security reasons; so this is actually a ‘catch-up’ at a pace of about 1 penny a year,” he says.
Mailloux also says the NPA now has 2 patrol boats on call around the clock, and they need to be retrofitted for firefighting.
The Port is also planning to instal something called a Marine Domain Awareness System, which will allow real-time monitoring of the harbour. The NPA says that will improve security and environmental protection.
