The new walk-on Hullo fast ferries will set sail Aug. 14, with four daily departures each way from downtown Nanaimo and downtown Vancouver.
Bookings can be made starting next week for the 70-minute trip.
“It’s a tremendously exciting period for us all,” Hullo chief executive Alastair Caddick said. “Our dedicated Hullo crew has been working relentlessly to bring this highly anticipated bi-coastal service to life. We can’t wait to welcome our first guests aboard in just a few short weeks.”
The initial schedule will be expanded in the next two months, the company said.
For now, ferries will leave the Nanaimo Port Authority at 6 a.m., 10 a.m., 4:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., and depart from the Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre at 8 a.m., noon, 6:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m..
The final sailing at each end may be adjusted to accommodate special events, said the company, adding it plans to add more sailings in the future.
Out of Nanaimo, future sailings are planned at 8 a.m., noon and 5:30 pm.
From Vancouver, future sailings are expected to be at 10 a.m., 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
The passenger ferries, named Sthuqi’ (sta – key) and Spuhéls (spah – els), arrived in B.C. in June after being built for the Nanaimo-based Vancouver Island Ferry Company by Damen Shipyards in Vietnam.
They were transported on a largo cargo ship to Victoria’s Odgen Point. From there, they sailed to Point Hope Maritime before moving to their home base at the Nanaimo Port Authority.
While at Point Hope, the ships and crew went through sea trials, vessel familiarization, training drills and Transport Canada certifications.
The company said in a statement that the Hullo crew will use the weeks leading up to the launch to conduct additional personnel training, sailing the route between downtown Vancouver and Nanaimo.
Hullo vessels can each carry up to 354 passengers and will offer Wi-Fi.
Adult fares will be $39.99 for comfort class, $49.99 for premium class, and $59.99 for business class.
A first-time booking fee will reduce the cost of tickets by $10.
