A revised BC Ferries schedule starting Monday, April 29, will mean later departure times from Horseshoe Bay, earlier departures from Langdale, and one less sailing each way.
The nine-day modified schedule goes into effect from April 29 to May 7 while berth one is closed to replace the dock's ramp abutment hinges.
"We know it takes a little longer going in and out of berth two, so we changed the schedule," BC Ferries public affairs manager Darin Guenette said. "Instead of eight sailings, it's seven."
While one afternoon sailing each way was cut, Guenette said the aim was to minimize the disruption to commuting schedules.
"Five-thirty from Horseshoe Bay was sort of our starting point for the afternoon schedule," he said.
Under the revised schedule, the first ferry will continue to depart Langdale at 6:20 a.m., but later sailings are moved to 8:40 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 1:50 p.m., 4:20 p.m., 6:50 p.m. and 9:05 p.m. On the Horseshoe Bay side, the first ferry will depart at 7:30 a.m., followed by 9:55 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 3:10 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 8 p.m. and 10:10 p.m.
The modified schedule will include two extra afternoon sailings each way on Friday, May 3, and Sunday, May 5.
"Because this is an unusual schedule with less sailings, we asked if we could lay on some extra sailings," Guenette said, adding that the extra sailings were added based on traditional traffic levels. "Otherwise we'd run into overloads."
The extra Langdale sailings depart at 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. and the Horseshoe Bay sailings at 1:45 p.m. and 4:20 p.m.
To speed up the repairs, the Sunshine Coast Regional District agreed to waive its noise bylaw and allowed prep work to be carried out at night from April 15 to 19.
A service notice providing the temporary schedule can be found at www.bcferries.com.
Regular scheduled times remain in effect for the Earls Cove to Saltery Bay route.