BC Ferries route 30 Tsawwassen - Duke Point

Route 30: Tsawwassen - Duke Point
Type of Route	Major
Terminals	Tsawwassen Duke Point
Alternative Terminals for Duke Point	Departure Bay
Main vessel based out of Tsawwassen	Queen of Alberni
Refit replacement vessel out Tsawwassen	Queen of New Westminster
Main vessel based out of Duke Point	Coastal Inspiration
Refit replacement vessel out Duke Point	Coastal Renaissance
Sailing takes	2 hour
First and last sailing for all vessels	5:45 am (Monday to Saturday only, Daily from late June to labour day weekend excluding December 25 and January 1) 10:15 am (Sunday only labour day weekend to late June including December 25 and January 1) 5:45 pm (Saturday only, labour day weekend to late June including December 25 and January 1) 10:45 pm (Sunday to Friday only, Daily from late June to labour day weekend excluding December 25 and January 1)

Route 30 is a ferry runs that is under contract from Province of British Columbia to BC Ferries. This is major route in BC Ferries route network.

Route details

When the Queen of Alberni is undergoes maintenance, the Queen of New Westminster will sail in it's place. The Queen of New Westminster docks bow first in Tsawwassen and stern first in Duke Point.

This route sails through the Strait Of George.

Points of interests

• Straight of Georgia.

Number of sailings

• 4 sailing only on December 25 and January 1 which are 10:15 am, 12:45 pm, 3:15 pm and 5:45 pm from both terminals
• 6 sailing per day during weekends in the period of late June to labour day weekend excluding December 25 and January 1.
• 8 sailing per day during Summer season and weekdays from Labour Weekend to late June excluding December 25 and January 1.

How to determine the vessel for the sailings?

On the 15 minutes past the hour the Queen of Alberni departs Tsawwassen while the Coastal Inspiration departs Duke Point. While the 45 minutes past the hour the Coastal Inspiration departs Tsawwassen while the Queen of Alberni departs Duke Point.

History

In 1991 BC Ferries created the Mid Island Express to try to get cargo carries to go to Tsawwassen with one vessel servicing the route during the first few months of route starting. In August 1991 a second vessel joined the route in order to reduce wait times. The vessels where Queen of Alberni and Queen of New Westminster. Between 1991 to 1997 the Nanaimo terminal was Departure Bay and 1997 moved to Duke Point. Queen of New Westminster was based out of Tsawwassen until 2008 and Queen of Alberni was based out of Duke Point. While Queen of Alberni was out for her mid-life she was placed by Queen of Esquimalt until her retirement which her role was taken over by Queen of Cowichan. In 2008 Queen of Alberni was moved to Tsawwassen with Coastal Inspiration taking over service out of Duke Point. BC Ferries was never planning on putting Coastal Inspiration on permanently basis but she was found to handle commercial vehicles traffic in best manner for the route compared to the Queen of Cowichan.

Pilot Project

A late night commercial sailing Monday to Thursday will be occupying with Queen of New Westminster will be opened to all limited number of under height vehicles due the vessel only using the main vehicle deck from September 7 to October 7. This was canceled due the breakdown of the Spirit of Vancouver Island in September 2020.

Future of route

A single new major vessel replaces the Queen of Alberni on the route.

References

• https://www.bcferries.com/schedules/mainland/tsdp-current.php