BC Ferries backlog stretches into Saturday as vehicles pack Tsawwassen and Duke Point

Drivers heading to Vancouver Island via BC Ferries on Friday faced potentially waiting until Saturday to catch a boat.

As of 2 p.m. Friday, August 14, sailings from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay (Victoria) were full through to the 6 a.m. departure Saturday — an eight-sailing wait. The Duke Point route (to Nanaimo) showed similarly full conditions through Saturday's 10:15 a.m. sailing.

Drivers heading off the island had shorter waits: a two-sailing wait at Swartz Bay and a three-sailing wait at Duke Point. The 6 p.m. sailing out of Swartz Bay had 15 per cent deck space available, while the 5:45 p.m. departure from Duke Point had 8 per cent remaining.

BC Ferries notes that "full" sailings may see space free up depending on no-shows, vehicle sizes, and crew efficiency loading vehicles. Deck space figures include reservations, and customers are required to check in 60-30 minutes before their booking.

Traffic at ferry terminals appeared lighter than capacity would suggest, as online cameras don't show crowded terminal areas. The backlog reflects both summer travel patterns and the tight booking windows on peak routes.

Drivers should check bcferries.com for real-time capacity and sailing updates before heading to either terminal.