Fee increase coming for Marine Atlantic passengers
Fuel surcharge steady, as ferries move toward more expensive fuel, says spokesperson
Users of the Marine Atlantic ferries between Nova Scotia and Newfoundland will see fee increases starting in April.
The cost of a ticket for a single adult passenger to cross between Port aux Basques and North Sydney is going up just over a dollar, to $43.46 as of April 1.
For two adults with a vehicle, the price for that route is increasing from $195.26 to $200.20.
A family of four — two adults with two children over five — with a vehicle, is rising from $234.60 up to $240.56 per crossing on the gulf.
Meanwhile, commercial users will also see an increase of nearly $17 per crossing.
The current fare for a standard tractor-trailer to cross is $640.55, but as of April 1 that price will be up to $657.10.
Bigger bump for Argentia route
The cost of crossing between North Sydney, NS and Argentia, NL is rising a little more.
As of April 1, an adult passenger will have to pay $115.34, up from $112.52.
Two adults travelling in a vehicle will pay $462.98, up from $451.48.
On the Argentia run, fare for a family of four with a vehicle will rise about $14 to $574.88.
'Sliding scale' for fuel costs
Marine Atlantic said for the time being, the fuel surcharge fee on both runs will not change.
But Spokesperson Darrell Mercer says a change is coming in 2017.
Mercer said that's due to a shift in the type of fuel Marine Atlantic is using in its ferries.
According to Mercer, an environmental treaty signed by Canada outlines a requirement for the ferries to switch to a cleaner marine diesel fuel, rather than a "bunker C" fuel mix currently being used.
"The marine diesel unfortunately is much more expensive than the bunker C, so we're on a bit of a sliding scale," he told CBC's Corner Brook Morning Show.
"Each year we have to burn more marine diesel until we become compliant, 100 per cent marine diesel by 2018/19."
Mercer warned customers that as the company continues to increase the amount of diesel used, a surcharge increase of about 5 per cent is expected next year.