Pubdate: Wed, 23 Aug 2017
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2017 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact:  http://www.theprovince.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Author: Scott Brown
Page: 4

B.C. FERRIES TO BECOME SMOKE-FREE

Passengers will no longer be able to spend voyages inside
vehicles

The days of taking a smoke break on the outdoor deck of a B.C. ferry
will soon be over. On Jan. 22, 2018, all B.C. Ferries properties,
including vessels and terminals, will become smoke-free.

Last September, the B.C. government amended regulations for no-smoking
buffer zones around any doorway, intake or open window to any public
or workplace from three to six metres. The ferry corporation says that
due to physical space limitations, the new rules mean all vessels must
become smoke-free.

The company, which has also launched a comprehensive employee
smoking-cessation program, says it's choosing to introduce a
smoke-free environment at its other operations to support the health
and wellness of passengers and employees.

"B.C. Ferries made the decision to provide a smoke-free environment
for the travelling public and our employees on-board our ships and at
our terminals," Mark Collins, B.C. Ferries president and CEO, said in
a news release. "This new policy supports the health and wellness of
our customers and employees, as it helps control their exposure to
second-hand smoke. We continue to focus on improving our customers'
experience, and providing the safest working environment for our crews."

The policy will apply to tobacco, marijuana and e-cigarettes.

Meanwhile, in October, B.C. Ferries passengers will no longer be able
to spend sailings inside their vehicles on any lower deck. On larger
vessels with both an upper and lower vehicle deck, customers will
still be able to remain in their vehicles on the upper vehicle deck.

In a news release, B.C. Ferries says it's making the change in order
to "harmonize its safety practices with other Canadian ferry operators
relating to Transport Canada regulations that prohibit passengers from
remaining in their vehicle on any closed deck on a vessel that is underway."

The company had been complying with Transport Canada rules by
maintaining continuous cardeck patrol.

The vessels affected by the new car-deck rule generally operate on the
Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay, Tsawwassen-Duke Point, Horseshoe Bay-Departure
Bay, Horseshoe Bay-Langdale, Powell River-Comox, Tsawwassen-Southern
Gulf Islands, Port Hardy-Prince Rupert and Prince Rupert-Haida Gwaii
routes.

The policy also applies to the vessel that will operate the Port
Hardy-Bella Coola route.
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MAP posted-by: Matt