BC Ferries enforces travel ban on traveller following recent incident

The British Columbia Ferries Corporation is recommitting to its employee safety program this week, acting in response to a string of incidents in October of behaviour that is well beyond the scope of a frustrated traveller venting about delays or other travel related themes.

In an announcement from Thursday, BC Ferries advised that it had banned one now former passenger for one year after an October 15th incident at the Langdale Terminal which saw a traveller leave their assigned lane and drive aggressively towards an employee forcing the employee to have to jump out of the way to avoid injury.

BC Ferries also noted a few other incidents in mid October to give them cause to remind passengers that legal action will be taken for any incident that puts an employee at risk.

In an October 17th incident a passenger threatened the use of a handgun at the Horseshoe Bay terminal while an October 22nd incident saw a passenger assault an employee on the Coastal Celebration.

“We are committed to providing our employees and passengers a safe and respectful environment. The vast majority of our passengers treat our employees courteously. Abusive conduct or comments, or behaviours that put our employees or the public at risk, are not tolerated. These behaviours result in a denial of service, travel ban and the involvement of police agencies.” -- Mark Collins, BC Ferries’ President & CEO. 

Noting that their employees have a right to work environment that is free from harassment or harm, BC Ferries reiterates their right to refuse passage and note that when needed they contact local law enforcement when assistance is required.

More on BC Ferries advisory can be viewed here.

For more items of interest on BC Ferries on the North Coast and Haida Gwaii see our archive page here.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.