B.C. Ferries is adjusting the schedule of its key route in northern B.C. to avoid collisions with humpback whales. Effective June 1, the Northern Expedition’s timetable will be modified to accommodate slower travel speeds aimed at reducing whale strikes. This decision follows a tragic incident in September 2025 when a humpback whale, known as Midnight to the Gitga’at First Nation, was struck and killed by the ferry.
The frequency of fatal humpback strikes in B.C. waters has been increasing due to the rising populations of both whales and vessels in the region. The Gitga’at Nation expressed deep sorrow over the loss of Midnight, emphasizing the mounting pressures that vessel traffic poses to marine life in their traditional territories.
While B.C. Ferries has been implementing reduced speeds in areas with high marine mammal activity, such as the Wright Sound special operation zone, on-time arrivals in Prince Rupert have been limited to 30%. Consequently, schedule adjustments are necessary, including longer transfer wait times at McLoughlin Bay for southbound Route 28A connections, with arrivals in Port Hardy and Prince Rupert delayed.
According to Sean Brillant, a senior conservation biologist with the Canadian Wildlife Federation, although slower speeds can aid in averting whale strikes, they may not entirely eliminate the risk. Brillant suggests that avoiding areas frequented by whales, alongside the use of restricted zones and detection technology, can further mitigate the threat of vessel collisions with marine mammals.