Steven Heywood
Black Press
Travel on BC Ferries could soon be smoke-free and passengers prohibited from remaining in lower car decks while at sea.
BC Ferries media spokesperson Deborah Marshall confirmed in an email Dec. 20 that they will be implementing Transport Canada regulations to limit passenger access to closed vehicle decks while ships are underway.
“Closed decks are the main car decks,” Marshall stated. “Customers will continue to be permitted to stay in vehicles on the upper (opened) car decks.”
Marshall said BC Ferries will make a formal announcement on this change in early January.
BC Ferries is also reviewing its smoking policy.
Marshall said they are aiming at a smoke-free environment on all vessels in the future.
“The province recently changed regulations regarding smoke-free zones from three to six metres away from a door or open window. This proves challenging on a ship.”
Currently, BC Ferries vessels have designated smoking areas on outside decks only.
An official announcement on BC Ferries ‘smoking policy change is expected to come in the new year.