A central coast tourism group says their industry’s bottom line will be impacted if the province replaces a B.C. ferry with a smaller one.
Bella Coola Valley Tourism says the decision to replace the Queen of Chilliwack with a smaller vessel as a cost-saving measure is poorly thought out.
They say the Queen of Chilliwack accommodates 115 cars and can easily handle overheight vehicles and RVs.
The vessel has covered the Bella Coola and Port Hardy route for the past 16 summers.
They claim the new boat — the Nimpkish — can only transport 16 cars and only a few overheight vehicles.
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Tourism officials say the Nimpkish cannot sail to Vancouver Island, so passengers will have to transfer mid-route to-and-from Bella Coola.
The sailing times will be between 22 and 36 hours, up from the current 12 or 13 hours.
Ferries says the route lost $7.35 million before taxpayer contributions last year.
According to BC Ferries, only 500 vehicles travelled from Port Hardy to Bella Coola on Route 40, and just over 600 vehicles travelled the opposite direction last year.
Utilization of the route last year was under 30 per cent.
“These are tough decisions to make an affordable, efficient, sustainable coastal ferry system that protects basic services,” said BC Ferries in a statement issued to Global News.
The current Queen of Chilliwack ferry.
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