Victoria, BC – In a move its leadership called a necessary “modernization” of maritime safety protocols, BC Ferries announced Tuesday that passengers embarking on any of its 25 routes will now be responsible for supplying and maintaining their own personal flotation devices. This comes after CEO Beckett Glenrose cited an “acute shortage” of federal marine assistance funds which, according to documents released last month, are currently “busy elsewhere.”
Under the new policy, travelers are encouraged to arrive at terminals equipped with Transport Canada-approved life jackets, or risk denial of boarding. Kiosks displaying laminated diagrams will instruct passengers on “proper fit and care,” while vending machines will offer single-use foam neck rings priced between $23.50 and $49.99, depending on vessel tonnage. Glenrose characterized the shift as “giving people back their dignity,” during a press conference where he modeled a child’s flotation armband for reporters.
Ministry of Transport spokesperson Linda Cuttle explained in a prepared statement that national marine safety resources have been “temporarily redirected” toward the Minister’s ongoing campaign to study Atlantic kelp drift. “We realize the optics are suboptimal,” Cuttle conceded, “but we believe this builds resilience in ferry communities by empowering individuals to choose their own buoyancy solutions.”
BC Ferries’ own Safety Advancement Taskforce issued a report in March warning of “increasing wear and tear” after a record-breaking year in which 36% of life jackets were reportedly eaten by seagulls or given out as promotional items at local regattas. The company subsequently trialed a “Bring Your Own Jacket” initiative on the Swartz Bay route, where compliance rates soared briefly before a series of wind-related incidents involving inverted pool noodles.
Passengers have expressed mixed reactions to the program. Commuter Marie-Jo Chalmers, interviewed while struggling to inflate a costume shark fin approved only for pet use, called the measure “inconvenient but maybe character-building.” Others, like Glenn Ryburn of the Canadian Lifesaving Institute, warned of “uneven flotation” and predicted that improvised devices—ranging from yoga mats to laundry hampers—could impact loading times.
Asked about enforcement, company officials said that deckhands will conduct visual inspections and provide “gentle corrections” for incorrect torso placement, while high-visibility belt tags, available for an additional fee, will certify “float readiness” to the satisfaction of insurance auditors. Should passengers fail to comply, new signage will direct them to “reflective zones” near the terminal landscaping where they may reconsider their water safety priorities.
At the federal level, transportation analysts declined to speculate on whether funding might return. Parliamentary commissioner Edgar Stimp pledged a bipartisan review after the kelp drift results are made public, once “more urgent buoyancy research” concludes in the Arctic region. Meanwhile, BC Ferries expects that customers will “adjust their expectations accordingly” with the launch of summer schedules and the new “Personal Safety, Personal Responsibility” awareness campaign, featuring mascot Captain Bobber.
Industry insiders estimate annual savings in excess of $1.3 million, with those funds slated for research into “life jacket alternatives suitable for marine dining situations” and biodegradable ferry fares. No plans exist for a refund or voucher system for existing life jacket surcharges. Observers expect compliance rates to improve or, at the very least, to sink gracefully over time.
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