The new Hullo ferry line is increasing the number of sailings it runs between Nanaimo and Vancouver, with extra scheduled for the Labour Day long weekend.
From Aug. 31 until Sept. 4, Hullo will be offering eight daily sailings between Nanaimo and Vancouver.
That’s up from four daily sailings that were available when the ferry service first launched on Aug. 16.
After the long weekend, Hullo will offer six daily sailings for the remainder of September.
Before Hullo launched, the ferry line was originally planning to offer eight sailings every day. There’s no word yet if that total will be reached consistently after September.
Hullo adds that a shuttle service travelling between its Nanaimo terminal and downtown Nanaimo is expected to launch at the end of September.
The company is working with the City of Nanaimo to discuss ways of bringing a city bus to the terminal.
“We understand the demand that arises on long weekend travel, so our goal is to provide an additional friendly and fast option for travel between the mainland and Vancouver Island,” said Hullo CEO Alastair Caddick in a release Thursday.
The company says it’s considering adding additional late night sailings this fall, with details expected to “come soon.”
Hullo had a rocky start in August, delaying its start by two days due to technical issues and weather.
Since then, Caddick says feedback from passengers has been encouraging.
“We thank all of our guests for their feedback and support, as we continue to optimize our service to meet the needs of our communities,” he said.
Adam Chan
