BC Ferries said it has reached a major milestone in its Horseshoe Bay/Langdale Infrastructure Program and additional staging lanes will be open for the summer.
Most of the Horseshoe Bay elevated deck structure has been decommissioned. Despite the additional space, travelers sailing to Departure Bay will still need to book ahead.
“We know customers have adapted to a number of changes while this work has been underway, and we appreciate the patience they’ve shown throughout the project,” said Melanie Lucia, vice president of customer experience. “The improvements we’re seeing in on-time performance and the return of terminal capacity ahead of summer are meaningful benefits for the customers and communities that rely on these routes every day.”
BC Ferries said operational changes during construction contributed to on-time performance that was 9.5 per cent higher than the previous year between October 2025 and April 2026.
“This is the most significant milestone we’ve reached since construction began,” said Stephen Jones, vice president of engineering. “Completing this phase of work while maintaining full service and vessel capacity required significant planning and coordination. The operational changes introduced to support construction helped us keep the terminal functioning efficiently during a very complex project, and we expect customers to see further benefits as additional terminal capacity returns ahead of the busy summer season.”
Reservations are not required for sailings from Departure Bay to Horseshoe Bay, but BC Ferries recommends booking in advance. Reservations are also not required for travel to Langdale or Bowen Island. Foot passengers do not need reservations on any route.
BC Ferries said work will continue at both the Horseshoe Bay and Langdale terminals after the busy summer season.
BACKGROUND: Required advanced booking to start for Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo
