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Post by billt on Apr 19, 2006 10:38:48 GMT -8
How about some ideas about this. We, who live here, see today's announcement (that there may not be a summer ferry) as a preposterous gesture; handing a necessary service supplying daily groceries and amenities over to tourists and hotel-owners for their exclusive profit. How can this be???
Surely a much more reasonable interrim measure would be to run the QPR on the winter schedule throughout the summer so everyone at least gets some service.
What could possibly be the rationalle for cancelling the Islands service entirely?
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Post by billt on Apr 19, 2006 12:26:14 GMT -8
Some further info:
This morning on the 8:00 CBC news was an item from Deborah Marshall of BC Ferries that there was probably not going to be service to the Charlottes this summer.
Apparently David Hahn was on a conference call yesterday at 1:00 where the corporation agreed with local mayors and regional directors to provide reduced service rather than no service. Presumably that means the winter schedule for the summer, a good compromise from our point of view.
CBC is now trying to track down which report is correct.
We all hope sanity prevails.
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Post by Retrovision on Apr 19, 2006 12:38:02 GMT -8
Agreed. This is *our* highway system; just the same as any infrastructure within a country belongs exclusively to those who inhabit that country (for the most part  ), we, the citizens of this fine Pronvince, own our ferry "system" |
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Post by billt on Apr 19, 2006 13:11:45 GMT -8
Yet more info:
CBC Radio had a segment about the ferry from 1:30 to 2:00.
Carol Kulesha, Mayor of Queen Charlotte City, said it was agreed at yesterday's teleconference with David Hahn and others that service would continue throughout the summer on a reduced schedule, similar to the winter schedule. Additionally a barge will be available to carry the essential commercial truck traffic.
This is terrific news and restores my faith.
We still need a formal committment from BC Ferries to summer service to the 'Charlottes.
Underlying this good news is still the fact that the BC Ferries Information Officer, Deborah Marshall, told CBC this morning there would probably be no service to the 'Charlottes, some 20 hours after David Hahn "agreed" to continue service.
Sure doesn't look good............
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Koastal Karl
Voyager 
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
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Post by Koastal Karl on Apr 19, 2006 14:03:44 GMT -8
Well I think David Hahn is on the right track but what is up with Deborah Marshall. Service to the Charlottes is essential as there are residents and it's not like the inside passage which is more of a tourist route than anything. The winter schedule all year round would be the best bet.
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Post by Dane on Apr 19, 2006 14:25:42 GMT -8
Personal Observation: David Hahn and Debrah Marshalls have often appeared out of step. Watch them in person, it can be amusing.. The three times I've seen them together I have never seen Hahn not make a slight correction or change to one of her comments.
I'm suprised she still has a job at BCFS.
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Post by anonymous on Apr 19, 2006 15:54:49 GMT -8
She is the wife of a former Marine Superintendent South, who has now taken over the position of Operational Safety Superintendent.
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Post by WettCoast on Apr 19, 2006 16:10:44 GMT -8
If BCFS are unable to find another ship I would propose a schedule of something like this:
Sunday - Prince Rupert to Port Hardy - leave 6:00 am arrive midnight [18 hours vs 15 with QotN]
Monday - Port Hardy to Prince Rupert - leave 6:00 am arrive midnight
Tuesday - Prince Rupert to Skidegate & Return - Leave 6:00 am arrive Skidegate 1:00 pm; Leave at 2:00 with arrival at prince Rupert of 11:00 pm
Wednesday - Prince Rupert to Port Hardy - leave 6:00 am arrive midnight [18 hours vs 15 with QotN]
Thursday - Port Hardy to Prince Rupert - leave 6:00 am arrive midnight
Friday - Prince Rupert to Skidegate & Return - Leave 6:00 am arrive Skidegate 1:00 pm; Leave at 2:00 with arrival at prince Rupert of 11:00 pm
Saturday - Prince Rupert to Port Hardy - leave 6:00 am arrive midnight [18 hours vs 15 with QotN]
Sunday - Port Hardy to Prince Rupert - leave 6:00 am arrive midnight
Monday - Prince Rupert to Skidegate & Return - Leave 6:00 am arrive Skidegate 1:00 pm; Leave at 2:00 with arrival at prince Rupert of 11:00 pm
Tuesday - Prince Rupert to Port Hardy - leave 6:00 am arrive midnight [18 hours vs 15 with QotN]
Wednesday - Port Hardy to Prince Rupert - leave 6:00 am arrive midnight
Thursday - Prince Rupert to Skidegate & Return - Leave 6:00 am arrive Skidegate 1:00 pm; Leave at 2:00 with arrival at Prince Rupert of 11:00 pm
Friday - Prince Rupert to Port Hardy - leave 6:00 am arrive midnight [18 hours vs 15 with QotN]
Saturday - Port Hardy to Prince Rupert - leave 6:00 am arrive midnight
Sunday - Prince Rupert to Skidegate & Return - Leave 6:00 am arrive Skidegate 1:00 pm; Leave at 2:00 with arrival at Prince Rupert of 11:00 pm
and so on...
Such a schedule would not over tax the ship, and would help with the no cabins available issue.
Also, back in 1982, following the grounding of the QPR in Gunboat Channel, the QotN handled both routes with a schedule similar to this
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Post by billt on Apr 20, 2006 9:14:23 GMT -8
Now I am really confused!!
The 9:00AM news on CBC said BCF is still considering two service (non-?) delivery models for the summer season. One is reduced service to the 'Charlottes and the other is service by tug and barge and float plane. The spokesperson was not Deborah Marshall.
Someone is not on track here. The decision is said to be made next week. Whatever happened to David Hahn's committment on Tuesday to Northern local government representatives to provide limited service with QPR??
FYI: tug and barge service will not support tourism as the tug's service schedule is very flexible due to weather and tide and the unload/offload times are not 24/7. It is great for commercial traffic (although not necessarily for the trucking operators) and good enough for local vehicles but will not meet the scheduling needs of visitors.
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Neil
Voyager
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Post by Neil on Apr 20, 2006 9:35:17 GMT -8
Tug and barge is far from ideal, but it's how BC Ferries served the 'Charlottes before proper ferries, and if they make an extra effort to keep the schedules tight, they can probably provide the bare minimum service to keep the tourist industry solvent.
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Post by billt on Apr 20, 2006 16:56:29 GMT -8
I just spoke with our MLA, Gary Coons. He was also on the teleconference on Tuesday afternoon with over 30 others. He feels certain BC Ferries has committed to the third option which is to service both runs with the one boat, with tug and barge service for commercial traffic to the 'Charlottes.
Apparently one large group was lobbying for running the boat exclusively between PR and PH but BC Ferries said this option would not permit them to make their maintenance committments during the summer. Interesting answer.
The official announcement is still to be made but it looks like our course is true.
It kind of makes one wonder how the corporate executive can manage such a huge fleet of complex ships and schedules and yet not manage to communicate effectively.
Seems to speak well for the crews, yet again!
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Post by jjr on Apr 24, 2006 16:04:17 GMT -8
BC Ferries has just posted the summer schedule - basically 3 times a week Rupert to QCI and 2 times a week Rupert to Port Hardy - and all daytime sailings to boot - and all with the Queen of Prince Rupert. Makes you wonder why they have overnight sailings in the winter ...
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Post by Retrovision on Apr 24, 2006 16:47:44 GMT -8
New Schedule: www.bcferries.com/schedules/inside/
BC Ferries plans 'compromise' service to northern B.C. Last updated Apr 24 2006 02:01 PM PDT CBC News BC Ferries says it will provide service to the Queen Charlotte Islands and Prince Rupert this summer, despite the loss of one of two ferries that serve the area. The summer service to the Queen Charlottes had been in question since the Queen of the North sank in the Inside Passage last month. BC Ferries has announced it will use the remaining northern ferry – the Queen of Prince Rupert – to serve both busy tourist routes that were handled by two ferries last summer. The summer service will include two trips a week between Port Hardy and Prince Rupert, and three trips a week between Prince Rupert and the Queen Charlotte Islands. Travellers will be able to book their summer passage starting May 1. About 10,000 tourists travel the northern routes each summer. Mark Stephanson, vice-president of BC Ferries, said the corporation still doesn't know how it will accommodate them with the smaller, slower Queen of Prince Rupert �� and with fewer sailings. "Clearly, when you go from having two vessels to one, it's certainly going to have an impact. It is going to be a compromise from everybody concerned, there's no question." Stephanson says BC Ferries may also run extra float planes and commercial barges to the north this summer Copyright © CBC 2006
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Post by WettCoast on Apr 24, 2006 18:06:02 GMT -8
With this compromise service plan BC Ferries has done the right thing given the circumstances. I am, however, unsure whether or not they have done all that can be done in regard to obtaining a second vessel. I heard, for instance, one 'marine expert' saying that a fast ferry could have been used on the northern routes over the summer months. I am curious to know whether that would be possible. Certainly the wake would not be an issue in Hecate St. BC Ferries has just posted the summer schedule - basically 3 times a week Rupert to QCI and 2 times a week Rupert to Port Hardy - and all daytime sailings to boot - and all with the Queen of Prince Rupert. Makes you wonder why they have overnight sailings in the winter ... The winter schedule has to allow a lot of padding to account for 'weather delays'. They are very cautious about crossing Hecate Strait in poor weather, and likely will get even more cautious as a result of the QotN accident. Even with that padding the ship seems to be off its schedule ~50% of the tome. For that reason the ship operates day and night. Besides which, in the Dec-Jan period daylight hours are from ~8:30 to ~4:30. The QPR is scheduled to do the Inside Passage run in 18.5 hours versus 15 for the QotN. Although the trips are 'day trips' it will be 1:00 am, and well past dark, when they reach their destination. When the QPR fist started running the Inside Passage 40 years ago its scheduled run was 20 hours overnight between Kelsey Bay and Prince Rupert. In that they are taking 18.5 to do the run today, it appears that they have decided not to work the old girl too hard. I believe that the QPR has the speed to do this run in 30 or even 60 minutes less. |
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Post by hergfest on Apr 24, 2006 23:59:48 GMT -8
Kelsey Bay is also quite aways south of Port Hardy.
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Post by tyty on Apr 25, 2006 5:58:10 GMT -8
Minister defends BC Ferries recent efforts
VICTORIA (CKNW/AM980) - Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon defended BC Ferries in the Legislature Monday for their efforts to restore ferry service to the North.
Falcon says the company is doing its best to find a replacement vessel for the Queen of the North, and in the meantime it is providing at least some service with the Queen of Prince Rupert.
"It won't be perfect, but it was a result of a compromise between all of those voices at the table trying to figure out how we deal with a tough situation," said Falcon. "They have scoured the entire world looking for an alternative ferry. So, they're doing their best. We will push them to do their very best. We will meet with the coastal communities anytime they wish to meet to make sure that they are served as best we can possibly serve them."
NDP transportation critic and North Coast MLA Gary Coons accused Falcon of failing to take the concerns of northern residents seriously, saying the loss of 60 per cent of ferry service is a huge financial blow for the region.
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), we, the citizens of this fine Pronvince, own our ferry "system"
