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The service was viable 20 years ago, so since both Vancouver and Nanaimo are even bigger cities now.

The time savings compared to taking BC Ferries is huge. To get from Nanaimo harbour to downtown Vancouver on BC Ferries, with loading and unloading, driving from Horseshoe Bay into Downtown Vancouver takes 2.5 hours vs just over an hour with fast foot ferry. Further down the line, if it becomes entrenched, then one might see it as a commuting option, ie live in Nanaimo and work in Vancouver.

If the price is right, that route makes it realistic for somebody from Nanaimo to do a shopping trip or a night out, just as if you were coming in from Abbottsford. If you were going to YVR, it would be faster to do fast ferry + Canada Line.

I think it will work.