It is not the only one facing recruitment challenges, according to BC Ferries spokeswoman Deborah Marshall. The state of Washington and Alaska, as well as inland ferries, have reported toll shortages increasing levels of services and services. “Higher-than-expected retirements at key positions in the ship, the impact of vaccination policies and the difficulty of recruiting international candidates due to COVID-19, and the 25-year global shortage of professional seafarers are expected to pose continuing recruitment challenges,” he said. . Adding pressure to ships, spring and autumn have become busier as more people seek travel after two years of COVID-19 restrictions. The growing trend of travelers during the traditionally slow times also affects services, as well as changes in the labor market. To mitigate this, BC Ferries has taken a number of initiatives, including a significant recruitment boost to many career reports, working with agencies such as WorkBC and others to attract qualified candidates, as well as reaching out to retired staff to bring them back in the short term. . So far, the initiatives have attracted enough crew to fill about 600 positions for the summer season, the company said. BC Ferries, meanwhile, said it was taking steps to minimize the impact on travelers, but there could be individual cancellations due to factors such as crew illness. It also asks travelers to book in advance and arrive at least one hour before departure time.
