B.C. Ferries is adjusting the schedule of its key route in northern B.C. to prevent collisions with humpback whales. Commencing on June 1, the Northern Expedition’s timetable, connecting Prince Rupert, Haida Gwaii, and Vancouver Island, will be modified to accommodate slower travel speeds aimed at reducing whale strikes. This decision follows a tragic incident in September 2025 when a humpback named Midnight was struck and killed by the ferry. The Gitga’at First Nation mourned the loss of Midnight, an integral part of the local ecosystem.
The company has been implementing reduced speeds in areas with high marine mammal activity, such as the Wright Sound special operation area on B.C.’s North Coast, after consultations with local First Nations and adherence to internal standards. However, these adjustments have led to only 30% on-time arrivals in Prince Rupert, necessitating updates to the published schedules. Notable changes include extended transfer wait times at McLoughlin Bay for southbound Route 28A connections, resulting in approximately a 50-minute increase. Although arrivals in Port Hardy and Prince Rupert may be delayed, the onward connections remain unaffected.
Even though reduced speeds can lower the risk of whale strikes, they may not entirely eliminate them, according to Sean Brillant, a senior conservation biologist at the Canadian Wildlife Federation. Brillant emphasized the importance of avoiding vessel presence in whale-populated areas and highlighted the benefits of restricted zones and detection technology in mitigating vessel strikes.