Photo: The Canadian Press

BC Ferries has released its first quarter results and says the numbers reveal it was a busy three months.

The company says passenger traffic during the quarter was the highest in 20 years while vehicle traffic was the highest ever experienced when compared with all previous first quarters.

BC Ferries' president and CEO Mark Collins says the company has focused on improvements such as adding additional sailings, offering fare discounts and introducing updated and efficient new ships.

Although more people used the ferries, the company says net earnings for the three months that ended June 30th were $17.3-million, down almost $10-million when compared with net earnings of $27-million in the first quarter of last year.