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When we visited the community on June 22, we heard the importance of clarity in a few key areas to allow more meaningful input, including sailing cancellations, alternate service arrangements and project scope. To encourage active participation, we are sharing additional information on these key areas below and have extended the opportunity for online feedback until July 9, understanding that you may need more time to reflect upon the information before participating.
In addition to our in-person session, our teams have met with local government and interest holders, and will continue to reach out and meet with impacted groups.
Since our project team is in the planning stages for the project, the specific number of sailing cancellations is not confirmed. Sailing cancellations will not be in place for the full duration of the project but will be required to provide a longer consecutive work window for specific complex construction tasks. Major components will be prefabricated ahead of construction to reduce installation times as much as possible.
Recognizing the importance of our sailings as an essential service provider, we are engaging early to better understand the dates and times most important to your community. We will consider community feedback alongside operational needs and traffic budget considerations to limit the impact on the wider community.
Alternate Service During Cancellations: water taxi, parking or shuttle service
Our teams are currently exploring options for alternate service provisions for these cancellations, including a water taxi, additional parking or shuttle service.
A water taxi is planned for the sailing cancellations, with the project team anticipating the service will operate between the Nanaimo Port Authority’s Vessel Visiting Pier and the Regional District of Nanaimo’s emergency wharf directly adjacent to the Descanso Bay terminal.
Provisions for additional parking or a shuttle service are still being considered, alongside traffic data and budget considerations.
Construction is scheduled to begin in the fall/winter of 2025 to avoid the busy summer season. Work at each terminal is planned to be completed consecutively, beginning at Nanaimo Harbour, to minimize congestion on the route and to reduce the risk of coordinating with numerous contractors on the same route.
This project will life-extend the berths at Descanso Bay and Nanaimo Harbour and will include improvements for vehicle loading. The new apron at Gabriola Harbour will be wider on the vessel end and include a relocated hinge point, which will improve the loading and unloading of the upper galley deck and commercial vehicles during low tides.
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We want to hear from you!
As we noted earlier this year, the project that is planned to begin in fall 2025 is focused on life extensions, which eliminates the need for an extended closure period. We also noted that shortened berth closures, night work or schedule changes may still be necessary during the project, but timing and duration needs were still being explored.
After extensive planning, the initial impacts have now be defined and we have the following updates:
- There are NO full berth closures planned for the length of the project
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Some sailing cancellations will be required to accommodate longer working windows
- Work is planned during the off-peak travel period (October-May)
- Work will be stopped over the holidays to ensure holiday travel plans are not impacted
- Most work will happen overnight to minimize service disruptions
Now, we are asking for your help in planning for these service disruptions!
FEEDBACK: Planning of Service Disruptions
Most of the work will happen overnight, but more time is needed and sailing cancellations will be necessary (expected 5 days/week). We want to know:
- Would the community prefer to cancel the first and last sailings of the day, or the last two sailings of the day?
- Which days of the week should we maintain the full schedule, with no cancellations?
To provide your feedback on these questions, please select the 'Quick Poll' tab above.
FEEDBACK: Planning to mitigate and communicate impacts
Considerations include water taxi service during cancellations, parking options at Nanaimo Harbour, and additional traffic control and marshalling as required. We're also planning widespread communication through service notices, terminal signage, social media, this page, and by working with interest holders and partners to help spread the word.
- Who do we need to make sure we reach out to, and how would you like to be informed about the project moving forward?
To provide your feedback on these questions, please select the 'Forum' tab at the top.
Engagement will be open until July 9, 2025, and we will come back to the community with plans by the end of October 2025.
The displays used during in-person engagement are available here: Engagement Boards.
As we move forward, we are committed to ensuring that the revised plans serve the needs of our customers.
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Marine Infrastructure Life Extensions: No extended closure period required
Over the last several months, our teams have been reviewing the requirements for berth infrastructure upgrades and replacements for Descanso Bay and Nanaimo Harbour. After careful consideration, the decision has been made to shift the focus of the project from berth rebuilds to berth life extensions.
This change reflects our commitment to both sustainability and fiscal responsibility while still meeting the needs of the community. Extending the life of the current infrastructure allows us to:
- Maximize the value of the existing asset
- Reduce costs associated with a full rebuild
- Ensure continuity of service with minimal disruption to community and customers
What Does This Mean for the Community?
The revised scope will focus on targeted upgrades and maintenance and providing continued safe and reliable service.
With a focus on life extensions, an extended closure period will not be required. Shortened berth closures, night work or schedule changes may still be necessary during the project, but timing and duration needs are still being explored.
In addition, work continues to move ahead as planned with the electrification, and introduction of the new hybrid electric Island Class vessels, expected to enter service in early 2027.
Next Steps
Work on planning and mitigations during construction is now underway and we will keep you informed at every stage of the process and plan. Construction is expected to begin in fall 2025 and be completed in spring 2026.
Community Engagement
Your input remains vital to this process.
Early in 2025, we will be engaging both in community and online. This will include an update on the full project details, timelines, and preliminary plans for the alternate service. These conversations will be an opportunity for those who rely on the service to provide their input on how we can mitigate service interruptions and keep the Island connected.
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As an essential public service, it is our job to keep people moving safely and reliably. We review our capital plan regularly to ensure it’s helping us achieve those goals. Inevitably, that means some tough decisions as we must work within our budget.
During this year’s annual review, we prioritized two main aspects of our capital investment plan:
- The work required to ensure the maintenance and continued reliability of our infrastructure
- The delivery of vessels to replace our aging fleet and meet the growing capacity demands of the communities we serve, and the replacement of berths required to support new vessel introductions.
As a result, we have had to defer or adjust the scope of some of our previously planned projects to work within available funds. For more on project impacts for Gabriola Island, please read on.
Although some adjustments have been made, our plans continue to include $356 million in capital investments this year, and approximately $2.2 billion over the next four years (Performance Term Six). We also plan to pursue additional funding opportunities that would allow us to re-evaluate capital expenditures before the end of the next performance term (March 31, 2028). We will keep you updated as we continue to re-evaluate.
What does this mean for Gabriola and Nanaimo Harbour terminal?
As we note above, we have prioritized the work required to ensure the maintenance and continued reliability of our infrastructure for Gabriola Island residents and travellers. As a result, uplands work at both Descanso Bay and Nanaimo Harbour terminals has been deferred for the foreseeable future.
The Nanaimo Harbour and Gabriola Island terminal projects will focus on improvements to the marine infrastructures at both terminals.
Work also continues for the introduction of the two new fully-electric Island Class vessels to the route in 2027.
We have heard community concerns around safety at the terminals, and while no uplands work is planned for the terminals, we are committed to staying connected with our partners including Islands Trust, Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, local transit and other stakeholders, to work on operational improvements for vehicle staging, lighting, traffic control and communication.
Thank you for your understanding as we work to balance the work required to ensure the maintenance and continued reliability of our infrastructure.
