A consultation program on possible ferry service privatization will start shortly in northern Vancouver Island.

B.C. Ferry Services says it is looking at privatizing six of its routes: Mill Bay-Brentwood, Comox to Powell River, Powell River to Texada Island, Port Hardy to Prince Rupert, Queen Charlotte Islands to Prince Rupert and Port Hardy to mid-coast.

All the routes need new ships, and replacing vessels on the northern routes alone would cost at least $200 million, so it makes sense to see if someone else can pick up the tab, said company vice- president Mark Stefanson.

The final decision is about four years away. If the privatization plan is approved by the ferries commissioner, BC Ferries will test the waters to assess interest from private operators.

The requirements would be stringent, said company president David Hahn.

“I would argue they have to have experience in operating ferries. They will have to have financial strength and the ability to post bonds and guarantees, and a record of quality of service in how they treat customers and maintain ships and facilities, and they have to do it at a lower price than BC Ferries.’’

Hahn said the Mill Bay ferry, requiring fewer investment dollars, may attract more interest than northern routes needing expensive deep-sea vessels.

The province passed legislation last year transforming B.C. Ferry Corp. into an independent company. Under the act, the company must investigate whether there are cheaper ways of providing service.

Over B.C. Ferry’s 60-year agreement with the province, it is probable that as vessels have to be replaced, all routes will be looked at to see if privatization is an option, Hahn said.

B.C. Ferry and Marine Workers’ Union president Jackie Miller said BC Ferries and Washington State Ferries were created because of problems with private models.

“At the end of the day, I think we will see BC Ferries return to the public trust with a huge debt as a result of these failed experiments,’’ she said.

About 250 employees work on the northern runs, about 100 on the Powell River runs and about 15 on the Mill Bay run, she said.