PORT ANGELES — Black Ball Ferry Line has eliminated a fuel surcharge it began in June for travelers on the MV Coho ferry between Port Angeles and Victoria — and has plans to ensure that any such surcharges in the future won’t be as high.

“Our intention has always been to remove the fuel surcharge for our customers as soon as we were able,” said Black Ball Ferry Line CEO Ryan Burles, who is based in Victoria.

“Our fuel costs have come down, and we are passing this on to our customers.”

The company started the fuel surcharge in June after marine diesel fuel prices crept up to about $4 per gallon, Burles said.

The surcharge added $1 to a one-way ferry ticket for one person, and $2 per each vehicle, meaning that an adult pedestrian paid $13.50 to cross the Strait of Juan de Fuca, while a driver paid $50 to take a car across.

The surcharge was eliminated on Tuesday, since the cost of a gallon of marine fuel had fallen to about $2.60, Burles said.

That brings the cost of a one-way ticket to $12.50 for one adult and $47 for a car and driver.

“The reason we jumped up that much was that we waited too long, thinking that it would come down, and it didn’t come down, so we had to do it,” Burles said.

Benchmarks

Now the company has put benchmarks into place so that it can respond more quickly if marine diesel prices edge up too high — and by responding quickly, enact a smaller surcharge than it did this summer.

If the price of marine diesel hits $3.50 per gallon, Black Ball would institute a fuel surcharge of 50 cents per adult, and $1 per vehicle, for a one-way trip, Burles said.

The fuel surcharge would be lifted when the price of marine diesel fell to below $3 per gallon, he said.

The fuel surcharge put into effect in June was the first time in the company’s history that it implemented a variable fuel surcharge.

“We have always been committed to providing our customers with good value and will continue to seek the proper balance between covering our costs and maintaining affordable prices,” Burles said.

“We thank our customers for their understanding during the past four and a half months while we have had the fuel surcharge in effect.”

The company recently cut back its schedule to winter hours. It makes two trips per day, leaving Port Angeles at 8:20 a.m. and 2 p.m., and leaving Victoria at 10:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Upcoming anniversary

Black Ball Ferry Line, formerly known as Black Ball Transport Inc. will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2009.

A celebration is in the works, Burles said.

“We hoping to have different things,” on both sides of the Strait, he said.

“It’s still in the planning stage. We will definitely celebrate it, community-wise and within the company.”

The company, which employs more than 90 people during the peak season, has used the same ferry throughout its tenure.

“It’s in pristine shape because of the hard work and care of everyone,” Burles said.

“I don’t think you’ll see a much better ship in all of North America.”

The company operates the Coho year-round, except for a two-week period in early February when the ferry is given annual maintenance.

Annually, more than 405,000 passengers and more than 120,000 vehicles make the Victoria-Port Angeles run, Burles said.

Since operations began in 1959, the Coho has transported more than 21 million passengers and 5 million vehicles.

For complete schedule and trip planning information, visit www.cohoferry.com.