Pacific Ferries is a new contender for foot passengers travelling between Gibsons Landing and Horseshoe Bay, and they are not the only interested party.
Linda Feuerhelm, Pacific's director of marketing and media relations, said the company's goal is to provide a service for Sunshine Coast residents who feel BC Ferries isn't doing a good enough job.
"BC Ferries is supposed to be an essential service and they don't even understand what service is. Granted, we're only 46 passengers, but we're trying to alleviate the frustrations that a lot of [residents] may feel in their daily commute," said Feuerhelm.
Pacific Ferries is set to begin operations on Wednesday, January 27, starting with a promotional three days of free sailing. They will be offering sailings to foot passengers between Gibsons and Horseshoe Bay, launching from the public dock in Gibsons Landing.
Service to Bowen Island will be implemented in the following week, said Feuerhelm.
According to the company's website (pacificferries.ca), regular sailings will be twice a day in the afternoons from Monday to Friday, starting at 2:55 pm from Horseshoe Bay (3:30 pm from Gibsons) with an additional sailing Wednesday to Friday that leaves Horseshoe Bay at 7:20 pm (7:50 pm from Gibsons).
According to Feuerhelm, tickets will cost $10 to get from Horseshoe Bay to Bowen and $15 to get from Horseshoe Bay to Gibsons, but are free for the return trip.
Deborah Marshall, BC Ferries' director of media relations, said another ferry service could be economically beneficial for everyone.
"Options are good for the public and we feel if we can drive more people to the Sunshine Coast, that helps the economy on the coast and that benefits all businesses on the coast, including BC Ferries," said Marshall. "So if there's another type of service then maybe some passengers will enjoy that one as well."
Feuerhelm said plans are to expand the territory of Pacific Ferries to include the rest of the Sunshine Coast once the company has a better sense of the operational needs for this area.
"Right now we're trying to figure out what the demand is, and this is why we're offering the three days for free, so that I can sit on a boat and go, "'What can we offer you and what do you guys want?'" said Feuerhelm.
Meanwhile, a study is being run through Holland Canada Line, which runs the YVR Clipper ferry between Victoria and Seattle. The study looks at the feasibility of establishing coastal ferry routes, between the Sunshine Coast and the mainland, as well as to Vancouver Island.
Fly Burton, founder of YVR Clipper, said the company is currently looking for investors and interested parties, including existing operators and the public, to take part in establishing coastal ferry routes and a bus service between Earls Cove and Gibsons.
"We don't own vessels at this point," said Burton, "but we've confirmed it is doable with the smaller water taxi vessels or 130-passenger catamarans or hydrofoils. The market is there."
