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.
Schedule from Nanaimo Port Authority:
Departs at 6 a.m., 10 a.m., 4:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. The final sailing may be subject to special events.
Schedule from the Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre:
Departs at 8 a.m., noon, 6:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., final sailing may be adjusted to accommodate special events.
The company plans to add additional 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 have been named sthuqi’ (sta – key) and spuhéls (spah – els). They 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 and then moved 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 Hullo crew will utilize the remaining weeks leading up to launch to conduct additional personnel training, sailing the route between downtown Vancouver and Nanaimo,” the company said in a statement.
Hullo vessels can each carry up to 354 passengers and offer wi-fi. There are three class levels: comfort, premium and business.
A first-time booking fee will reduce the costs of tickets by $10.
The usual adult fare will be: $39.99 for comfort class, $49.99 for premium class, and $59.99 for business class.
