BC Ferries says it’s wrapped up a record-breaking summer, carrying more passengers and vehicles, while delivering one of its most reliable peak seasons.

“This summer showed what’s possible when preparation meets dedication,” said Melanie Lucia, Vice-President, Customer Experience.

“From our crews on board the vessels to our teams at the terminals and offices behind the scenes, every part of our organization pulled together to deliver safe, reliable service for millions of travellers. Our customers are at the heart of everything we do, and we’re proud of the record season our teams made possible.”

Despite 572 mechanical issues across the fleet during the season, BC Ferries says the ability to repair and get the ships sailing again meant an improvement in overall on-time performance compared with last year.

Between May 15 and August 31, BC Ferries carried 9.4 million passengers and 3.7 million vehicles across all routes, up 2.2% and 2.0% respectively, compared to the same time last year.

On the busiest corridors between Vancouver Island, Metro Vancouver, and the Sunshine Coast, 4.7 million passengers and 2.1 million vehicles travelled with BC Ferries this summer.

In total, crews delivered 28,956 round trips system-wide, including over 1,000 additional sailings on major routes.

Despite that, BC Ferries says service reliability improved over last year. Between May 15 and August 31, on-time performance increased to 80.4%, a 3.7% improvement over last year.

There were some challenges with the aging fleet - the Queen of New Westminster (now over 60 years old) alone experienced 29 mechanical issues over the course of the summer.

The company has taken steps toward renewing the fleet and upgrading critical infrastructure.

Four new hybrid-electric Island Class vessels are on track for delivery next year.

A contract was awarded to build four New Major Vessels, expected to replace aging ships on the busiest routes starting in 2029.

For more information, visit BC Ferries.