Ferry crossing
BC Ferries runs 9 to 10 sailings a day from Penelakut Island (Telegraph Harbour) to Chemainus, the first at 06:05 and the last at 22:25. The crossing takes between 30 minutes and 1 hour 5 minutes, depending on the sailing, and no fare is charged in this direction, as the return is paid at Chemainus.
Sailing times
As published by the operators. Times shift with the season and are suspended in heavy weather — confirm at the terminal before you travel.
From BC Ferries's published timetable, which runs until . The next one starts , and the page switches to it that day.
Times from BC Ferries' printed seasonal timetables, read into this site on . Seasonal timetables change; confirm with the line before you travel.
69 sailings a week in all. Pick a day to see only its sailings.
| Departs | Arrives | Runs on | Crossing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 06:05 | 06:35 | Daily | 30m |
| 07:20 | 08:10 | Daily | 50m |
| 09:20 | 09:50 | Mon–Thu, Sat–Sun | 30m |
| 10:10 | 11:15 | Fri | 1h 5m |
| 11:00 | 11:30 | Mon–Thu, Sat–Sun | 30m |
| 12:10 | 12:40 | Fri | 30m |
| 13:05 | 14:00 | Mon–Wed, Sat–Sun | 55m |
| 13:45 | 14:15 | Fri | 30m |
| 15:30 | 16:00 | Mon–Thu, Sat–Sun | 30m |
| 15:40 | 16:10 | Fri | 30m |
| 16:50 | 17:40 | Mon–Thu, Sat–Sun | 50m |
| 17:00 | 17:50 | Fri | 50m |
| 18:50 | 19:20 | Mon–Thu, Sat–Sun | 30m |
| 19:00 | 19:30 | Fri | 30m |
| 20:25 | 20:55 | Mon–Thu, Sat–Sun | 30m |
| 20:35 | 21:05 | Fri | 30m |
| 22:15 | 23:05 | Mon–Thu, Sat–Sun | 50m |
| 22:25 | 23:15 | Fri | 50m |
Published fares
Every fare the operators publish on this crossing, for passengers and vehicles.
| Class | Operator | Fare |
|---|---|---|
| Adult passenger 12+ | BC Ferries | No charge |
| Child passenger 5-11 | BC Ferries | No charge |
| Class | Operator | Fare |
|---|---|---|
| Motorcycle | BC Ferries | No charge |
| Standard vehicle up to 20ft | BC Ferries | No charge |
Fares on this crossing are returns, paid at Chemainus: one ticket covers the trip there and back. Fares as published by the operators, in CAD, last checked . Fares move with the season and, on the busiest routes, with the sailing — check the operator's price for your day before you travel.
Cut-offs at Telegraph Harbour depend on how you travel: foot passengers may check in until three minutes before departure, vehicles only until five. Read the BC Ferries schedule closely too, because on certain dates a sailing on this loop is set aside for dangerous-goods cargo and carries no passengers. A single fare on the Chemainus loop pays for the round trip. The ferry lands in the town of Chemainus itself, roughly 30 minutes' drive south of Nanaimo.
Before you sail
The rules and the practicalities the timetable cannot tell you.