A record number of vehicles were ferried around coastal B.C. this past spring.

BC Ferries released first-quarter results today, Aug. 18, and reported that vehicle traffic this spring was up 42 per cent from the previous year to reach its highest-ever levels for that time of year.

Passenger traffic overall was up 74 per cent from the first quarter last year but was 6.3 per cent lower than pre-COVID-19 levels; however, vehicle traffic in the first quarter this year was up 3.8 per cent from before the pandemic.

Revenues and earnings were also up, the ferry company noted in a press release. Revenues for the first quarter of 2022 increased $35.7 million from the previous year, which BC Ferries attributed to higher traffic volumes as well as retail sales. Removing 含羞草研究社榮afe restart含羞草研究社� pandemic recovery funding from the calculations, BC Ferries含羞草研究社� revenues were up $93.2 million from the previous year.

The company含羞草研究社檚 net earnings for the quarter were $7.9 million, up from $4.7 million, and operating expenses were $242.1 million, up from approximately $211 million. BC Ferries reported that the higher expenses were mainly due to more sailings 含羞草研究社� which came with higher labour costs and greater fuel consumption 含羞草研究社� and higher fuel costs.

BC Ferries reported $26.5 million on capital expenditures in the first quarter, which included 含羞草研究社渜uarter-life含羞草研究社� upgrades to Coastal class vessels, shoreline work at the Tsawwassen terminal, IT upgrades, and other projects.

含羞草研究社淲e are emerging from the pandemic grateful to the federal and provincial governments for pandemic relief funding, and to BC Ferries含羞草研究社� employees for their commitment to put safety first, operate in the public interest, and ensure ferry travel is as reliable as possible,含羞草研究社� said Jill Sharland, the company含羞草研究社檚 interim president and CEO. 含羞草研究社淕oing forward, our focus remains on ensuring the well-being and safety of our employees and our customers.含羞草研究社�

BC Ferries acknowledged recent sailing cancellations due to crew shortages, but calculated that the cancellations represent fewer than one per cent of ferry trips.

含羞草研究社淭he company apologizes to its customers for these service interruptions and continues to take all reasonable steps to reduce the impact to the travelling public,含羞草研究社� the release noted.

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