Hullo vessels arrive in Nanaimo, getting ready for August 14 service start
NANAIMO – August 14 has been announced as the first official sailing for the new Hullo downtown Nanaimo to downtown Vancouver fast foot passenger ferry service.
Hullo’s two new high-speed passenger ferries, sthuqi’ (sta – key) and spuhéls (spah – els), recently arrived home at the Port of Nanaimo Assembly Wharf, and local celebrities and media were able to go aboard the ships on Thursday, July 20, and were impressed by their spaciousness and thoughtful designs.
“It’s a tremendously exciting period for us all,” says Alastair Caddick, Hullo’s Chief Executive Officer. “Our dedicated Hullo crew has been working relentlessly to bring this highly anticipated bi-coastal service to life. We can’t wait to welcome our first guests aboard in just a few short weeks.”
Hullo unveiled its initial sailing schedule, with the first trip leaving Nanaimo at 6 a.m., with the last one leaving at 8:30 p.m. Downtown Vancouver departures begin at 8 a.m. and may depart as late as 10:30 p.m. depending on events. Hullo plans to build on these initial sailings and add more of the trips as listed over the next two months. The trip will be 70 minutes.
The vessels and crew spent the past few weeks in Victoria’s Point Hope shipyard where they underwent sea trials, vessel familiarization, training drills and Transport Canada certifications. The Hullo crew will utilize the remaining weeks leading up to launch to conduct additional personnel training, sailing the route between Downtown Vancouver and Nanaimo.
Vancouver Island Ferry Company (VIFC), the parent firm, is headquartered in Nanaimo. Attending the Nanaimo event were co-founders Rupesh Amin and Sekhar Angepat, along with Chief Operating Officer Sean Poole and CEO Caddic. Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog and city councillors, along with Port of Nanaimo Chair Donna Hais and CEO Ian Marr and other Port staff and board members were also in attendance.
By Mark MacDonald
