B.C. Ferries to charge five per cent fuel surcharge starting June 16

File photo: The B.C. Ferries vessel Queen of Surrey passes Bowen Island while traveling on Howe Sound from Horseshoe Bay to Langdale, B.C., on Friday, April 23, 2021. Photo by Darryl Dyck, The Canadian Press /PNG

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It’s going to be more expensive to travel by ferry in B.C. this summer.

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B.C. Ferries is implementing a temporary five per cent fuel surcharge in response to global fuel price volatility, mainly driven by the war in Iran.

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The extra fee will apply to all routes and will begin on June 16. It’s intended to help manage fuel costs now and reduce the risk of larger fares later, B.C. Ferries said in a statement.

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The company added that this charge isn’t related to upgrading the fleet.

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“We know that any added cost matters to our customers, and we don’t take that lightly — especially for the people, communities and businesses that rely on our services every day,” said Dallyn Willis, chief financial officer at B.C. Ferries.

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“Like others across the province, we’re feeling the direct financial impact of high global fuel prices. We’ve used the fuel deferral account to absorb those increases for as long as possible, but given the sharp and persistent rise in these costs, we’ve reached a point where a temporary fuel surcharge is needed. We’re taking this step to carefully manage those pressures in the most measured, gradual and responsible way possible while fuel prices remain elevated.”

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He said that since early March global fuel prices have increased more than 40 per cent, driven largely by instability and conflict in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

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Customers who book a reservation before June 16 will not be impacted, unless they make changes to their booking, such as the sailing date, time, vehicle or passenger details.

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If any changes are made, the fuel surcharge will be added and will need to be collected, Shiryn Sayani, a spokesperson for B.C. Ferries, said in an email.

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Those who paid only a reservation fee at the time of booking instead of the full fare will also pay the fuel surcharge if travelling after June 16.

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If fuel prices stabilize, or decline for a sustained period, the surcharge will be reduced or removed, the company said.

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