FAQs

The Snug Cove terminal on Bowen Island is the island’s only point of access for vehicle traffic and commercial goods deliveries. The terminal life extension project will include strengthening and replacing ramp components, restoring and replacing berth structures as required (such as wingwalls, dolphin chains etc.), and installing new monitoring systems among other crucial upgrades.  

The project is important because the existing Berth has experienced significant vehicle and foot traffic: 15-16 trips per day and 5,666 trips annually since the construction of the ramp, apron and headframe structures in 1985, and the pontoon and wingwalls in 2000. The structure is approximately 38 years old and as such the completion of this project is required to ensure continued safe and reliable operations.

Vancouver Pile Driving Ltd. has been awarded the contract for this project.

The project is expected to begin on January 8, 2024, and is expected to be completed by April 7, with regular service returning on April 8, 2024.

While most work is occuring during the event to avoid service disruptions, daily berth closures and four full-day berth closures will be required to complete the necessary work. The schedule below outlines which sailings will be cancelled to allow construction work to occur. 

January 8 - March 27 (inclusive)

Daily cancellations: take place Tuesday – Sunday 

• Mondays: unaffected
• Tues through Thurs : last 2 roundtrip sailings cancelled
• Fridays: last roundtrip sailing cancelled 
• Sat: first and last roundtrip sailings cancelled
• Sun: last 2 roundtrip sailings cancelled
   

March 28 - April 4 (inclusive)

• No project-related sailing cancellations will occur during this time. Please see the modified schedule online at www.bcferries.com/routes-fares/schedules/seasonal/HSB-BOW

April 5 and April 7, 2024

• April 5: 
  • 10:30 pm from Horseshoe Bay cancelled 
  • 11:00 pm from Snug Cove cancelled
• April 7: 
  • 5:50 am from Horseshoe Bay cancelled 
  • 6:20 am from Snug Cove cancelled  
  • 6:50 am from Horseshoe Bay cancelled 
  • 7:30 am from Snug Cove cancelled  
  • 8:00 am from Horseshoe Bay cancelled  
  • 8:35 am from Snug Cove cancelled  
  • 9:05 am from Horseshoe Bay cancelled 
  • 9:40 am from Snug Cove cancelled  
  • 10:15 am from Horseshoe Bay cancelled 
  • 10:50 am from Snug Cove cancelled  

Full berth closures: four weekends throughout the project 

• Sat: January 20 (full day)
• Sat and Sun: February 3 and February 4 (full days)
• Sat: March 9 (full day)
• Sat: April 6 (full day)
• Sunday: April 7 (half day)

BC Ferries is making every effort to minimize disruption of service, however, a modified schedule and three berth closures will be required during the course of the project. Mitigation measures have been put in place for all sailing cancellations to ensure customers experience the least impact possible on their day-to-day schedules.

These measures include:

• Alternate service via 40-passenger (primary) and 12-passenger (secondary) water taxis
• Discounted daily parking at Horseshoe Bay surface lot and parkade; complimentary parking during full berth closures
• Shuttle service from Snug Cove to Transit park & ride location.

Water taxis (Mercury Transport) will be available during any regularly scheduled sailings that are cancelled during the project, including berth closures.

Water taxi schedule January 8 - March 27

From January 8 - March 27 (inclusive) the last two sailings will be cancelled on Tuesday - Thursday and on Sundays to allow for project construction work to occur. Therefore, water taxi service will be provided at 9:30 pm and 10:30 pm on Tuesday - Thursday and on Sunday departing Horseshoe Bay.

Scheduled water taxi departure times from January 8 - March 27 are as follows:

Please Note: There will be no water taxi service from March 28 - April 4 (inclusive) as there will be no project-related sailing cancellations during this time.

Water Taxi Schedule April 5 & 7, 2024

For general customer questions please reach out to our Customer Care team (1-888-223-3779)

Shuttle bus service will be available in the evenings during daily berth closures and throughout the day on full-day berth closures. 

The shuttle service between Snug Cove (Bowen Island Library) and the Transit Park & Ride location (1421 Adams Road) will be free of charge and will coincide with water taxi sailings. The shuttle will make an additional stop at the Royal Canadian Legion (1265 Scarborough Rd).

 Shuttle bus schedule during daily berth closures - January 8 - March 27

*From Jan 8 - March 27, sailings will be unaffected on Fridays preceding full-day berth closures, resulting in no water taxi/shuttle bus service on January 19, February 2, and March 8, 2024.

Please note: There will be no shuttle service from March 28 - April 4 (inclusive).

Shuttle bus schedule April 5 & April 7

Tickets are not required to access the water taxi and passengers do not need to check in at the terminal ahead of water taxi sailings. However, ticketing agents at the terminal will be available to help with any inquiries regarding the water taxi service.

Throughout the terminal construction project, discounted and complimentary daily parking rates are available at the surface parking lot and the parkade at Horseshoe Bay.

• surface lot (usually $22/day) is available at $10 per 24 hours
• parkade (usually $19/day) is available at $10 per 24 hours throughout the project

For discounted parking: Discounted parking is available throughout the project, including daily cancellations. To receive the discounted parking rate, please visit the ticket meter and scroll through the screen to find the Bowen Island section. Please note the discounted rate is not available on the website or mobile app.

For complimentary parking: Complimentary parking will be available during full-day berth closures. Customers parking their cars for full-day closures may also be reimbursed for the day before and after each full-day closure. 

• Up to three complimentary days for each one-day closure 
• Up to four complimentary days for two-day closure

To receive reimbursement for complimentary parking:

• Purchase a parking ticket from the meter in the surface lot or parkade (locations noted above). Note: reimbursements are not available via website or app purchase
• Submit your parking ticket as proof of receipt to a Terminal Customer Service Agent at the Horseshoe Bay terminal for reimbursement (located behind the foot passenger ticket booth at Horseshoe Bay)
• Refunds will be available between 7:45 am to 9:30 pm 7 days a week
• Refunds can be claimed up until April 15, 2024

Please note: You must submit your original parking ticket from the meter for the parking refund. Our customer service agents will retain your original ticket as part of the refund process.

BC Ferries established the project schedule after engaging with the community, local committees and council members, both in-person and online. 

We have carefully assessed the timing of the project work to ensure we minimize the impact that may be caused to our customers. This included scheduling the majority of construction work to occur during the late evening and night. 

BC Ferries is investing approximately $3.7 million to refresh aging infrastructure at Snug Cove on Bowen Island and maintain safe and reliable operations.