8 MARINE TRANSPORTATION

PASSENGER TRANSPORTATION

FERRY SERVICES

Most major ferry operators in Canada belong to the Canadian Ferry Operators Association (CFOA); however, there are wide differences in ownership, services and vessel type. Ownership ranges from small, private operators to provincial governments and federal Crown corporations. Terminals and docking facilities are owned, leased and operated by ferry companies, municipalities, private companies and federal and provincial governments. Vessel types range from small cable ferries to large cruise-type vessels and fast ferries. Operations range from seasonal to year-round service.

Table A8-11 in the Addendum provides details on the major ferry services. Most major ferry services also have their own Web sites with information on routes and rates.

An estimated 38.7 million passengers and 16.5 million vehicles used Canadian ferry services in 2005. These 2005 traffic figures for all CFOA members (2006 figures not yet available) give a good indication of the relative size of CFOA operations. British Columbia Ferry Services Inc. is by far Canada’s largest operator. It carried more than 21.7 million passengers and 8.5 million vehicles in 2005. British Columbia’s Ministry of Transportation and Highways and Fraser River Marine Transportation, also operating inland ferry services, carried another 6.7 million passengers and 3.2 million vehicles. In Quebec, La Société des Traversiers du Québec carried 5.2 million passengers and 2.7 million automobile equivalent units (AEU).

In Atlantic Canada, federally supported ferry services are now limited to those provided by Marine Atlantic Inc., a federal Crown corporation, and by Northumberland Ferries Ltd. and C.T.M.A. Traversier Ltée, which are private-sector operators. On the west coast, the federal government provides an annual grant to British Columbia that is directed to BC Ferries.

In 2005, Marine Atlantic Inc. carried 418,105 passengers and 224,356 vehicles between Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia. Northumberland Ferries Ltd. and C.T.M.A. Traversier Ltée carried 518,457 passengers and 217,081 vehicles. The remaining CFOA members, including provincial operators in Newfoundland and Labrador, Manitoba, Ontario and New Brunswick, accounted for approximately 4.7 million passengers and 2.0 million vehicle crossings.

CRUISE SHIP INDUSTRY

Large cruise vessels calling at Canada’s ports are owned by foreign-based companies. Sailing under foreign flags, these vessels offer two basic types of extended cruises: the luxury cruise and the “pocket” cruise, which typically carries fewer than 150 passengers.

After the Caribbean and the Mediterranean, Alaska cruises through British Columbia’s scenic Inside Passage are the third most popular in the world. Vancouver and, increasingly, Seattle serve as “home ports” for passengers to embark and disembark. In 2006, Vancouver’s share of this traffic decreased by 7.9 per cent to 837,823 passengers. This was mainly because the Port of Seattle was able to attract cruise ships by opening new facilities (7.1 per cent more passengers in 2006) and because world events negatively affected travel and tourism.

In eastern Canada, luxury cruise vessels regularly travel up the eastern seaboard from New York to call in at Halifax, Charlottetown and other east coast ports before entering the St. Lawrence River to stop at Quebec City and Montreal. Shorter cruises also sail out of New York or Boston for Halifax, Saint John and other Atlantic ports. Many ports, including Saint John, have been investing in new facilities to serve cruise passengers.

Other Canadian ports, including Victoria, St. John’s and Sydney, also benefit from calls by cruise lines.

^{Source: Canada Port Authorities}

Major Events in 2006

Infrastructure

Marine Politage

Industry Structure

Passenger Transportation

Freight Transportation