BC Ferries is urging travellers to plan ahead as demand ramps up for the Easter long weekend, while also rolling out new digital tools aimed at making trips more predictable.

The company says customers should book as early as you can or consider travelling during off-peak sailings.

Starting today, a new waitlist feature is being introduced as a pilot project on the Comox to Powell River route.

Travellers can join a queue for sold-out sailings and will be automatically booked and charged if space becomes available, based on their position on the list.

Also, sailing alerts, already available on routes including Comox-Powell River and Nanaimo-Horseshoe Bay, will expand to Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay and Tsawwassen-Duke Point, allowing them to book on a first-come, first-served basis.

BC Ferries says both tools are designed to make better use of available capacity by quickly filling spots created by cancellations, while also giving customers more flexibility in securing their preferred travel times.

Travellers are also being reminded that advance booking remains mandatory for vehicle traffic between Nanaimo and Horseshoe Bay.

Ongoing construction at the Horseshoe Bay terminal has reduced available vehicle staging space, and the reservation requirement has been put in place to help manage congestion and improve traffic flow.

For full details, visit BC Ferries.