General news articles on BC Ferries

[WettCoast]

Something from the www I found this evening while searching for something else...

Fuel saving technology rejected
06 Feb 2008, 20:00

British Columbia ferry operator BC Ferries has rejected a new technology that could save it $800,000 per annum, according to reports.


BC Ferries welcomed the newbuild MV Coastal Renaissance in Vancouver last month
"We have decided that any fuel savings that may result are not worth the increased operational risk," Greg Peterson, director of fleet performance, was reported saying.

The technology is a docking aid called MoorMaster, built by Cavotec in New Zealand, that uses large vacuum pads to hold vessels in place at berth.

Five C-class ferries currently use engine power to remain in position while at dock during their 20-minute turnarounds for loading and unloading.

Bob Gentles, a retired engineering manager with BC Ferries, reportedly calculated that a saving of $800,000 per annum could be achieved from the C-class ferries on their regular routes if MoorMaster was used.

BC Ferries has three new Super C-class vessels on order, with the first having arrived last month, and the German built ferries have diesel-electric engines.

It has been argued that these engines can be throttled back, instead of powered down like on other ferries, which would remove one of the concerns that BC Ferries had about stopping its vessels entirely while using a technology like MoorMaster.

BC Ferries has felt the pinch of higher fuel costs in recent years and has implemented a number of other fuel-saving technologies, giving it a 5.1% fuel saving in 2006/2007 from three years prior, according to its annual report.

It has a formal fuel reduction targets in place for this year of 1%.

The company has also come under criticism for the volume of its emissions, estimated to be 4% of British Columbia's greenhouse gas emissions in 2005.

Despite receiving provincial government funds via contract, BC Ferries is exempt from local legislation requiring crown companies to become carbon neutral by 2010 but is part of wider targets in the province to reduce emissions by one-third by 2020.


Guy Wilson-Roberts | Wed Feb 6 20:00 GMT 2008

www.sustainableshipping.com/news/2008/02/70637?gsid=3da3ae39ca558bb8b73da3e6ead2e6eb&asi=1

[Neil]

This following editorial really makes me laugh. The CanWest papers have always led the chorus of voices decrying government control over various enterprises, telling us that the only efficient businesses are private businesses. Government control was bad, bad, bad, for BC Ferries; and privatization would lead to an efficient business model, free from meddling by those nasty politicos.

Now BC Ferries is operating like your typically rapacious private concern, raising rates like bandits, and the Vancouver Province is saying, 'hey, wait a minute, this isn't right, we need (wait for it- revolutionary thought, here) some good old governmental political interference to set things right!'

Well, as the old saying goes, 'be careful what you wish for'....


Public transportation agencies must be more accountable
The Province
Published: Monday, February 18, 2008
We understand how a record of political bickering and bureaucratic dithering led governments across Canada to remove organizations that run such transportation services as airports, metro transit systems and even ferry fleets from their direct control.

It is why the federal government created the Vancouver International Airport Authority in 1992, and why in 1999 the B.C. government set up TransLink. It's also why, in 2003, Victoria formed a commercial company, B.C. Ferry Services, to run our coastal ferry fleet.

The trouble is that, in removing these strategically-important organizations from direct ministerial control, the same governments seem to have removed -- or at least greatly reduced -- their accountability to taxpayers.

The most blatant example of this is the recent vote -- behind closed doors, of course -- by TransLink's new board of directors to give themselves big pay raises.

We the public can't register our displeasure with these raises by voting the directors out of office, because they were appointed to their jobs, not elected.

This lack of accountability also seems to be the hallmark of another monopoly, B.C. Ferries, where fares are rising far faster than the rate of inflation.

When ferry users complain to Victoria about these hikes, the typical response is that B.C. Ferry Services is a stand-alone company -- and it's not the government's problem.

Last week, Province columnist Brian Lewis highlighted plans by Vancouver International

Airport to expand its aviation fuel-tank storage capacity on Sea Island by 36 million litres.

The public review for this project -- close to the environmentally-sensitive Fraser River estuary and the Sea Island community of Burkeville -- smacks of tokenism.

Two open houses were sparsely advertised in just two community newspapers, resulting in a total of only 30 people attending, according to a report in one of the papers.

Neither meeting provided open microphones so that those attending could hear other people's concerns and responses.

And the public feed-back form on the YVR website asks just one question: What colour should the new fuel tanks be, green or white?

It is time for Victoria to step in. It must find a way for these "independent" transportation authorities to have their feet held to the fire.

They serve the public and must answer fully for what they do.

© The Vancouver Province 2008

[Low Light Mike]

This article's got a bit of a few issues, so I'll post it here.

*** there is an interesting bit of info re the Coastal Renaissance, and her Route-2 schedule.

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www.canada.com/vancouverisland/nanaimo/story.html?id=7165582f-5425-4e38-827c-35cec3bab468

New ferry schedules don't link

Valerie Wilson
Daily News
Tuesday, February 26, 2008


A new sailing schedule will mean Gabriola Islanders can arrive in Nanaimo earlier and stay a little later each day.

Starting June 25, the first sailing of the day will leave Gabriola Island at 5:40 a.m., instead of the current 5:45 a.m. The final sailing of the day will leave Nanaimo at 11:20 p.m., instead of 10:55 p.m.

The reason for the change differs, depending on who you ask.

Erik Andersen, president of the Gabriola Ratepayers' Association, says a service notice to the Island's ferry advisory committee indicated the changes will allow Islanders to start their day earlier and give them more time to conduct business and socialize in Nanaimo in the evening. It also indicated Gabriolans travelling from Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay on the 9 p.m. sailing would have time to connect with the final sailing to Gabriola.

But at the same time the sailing schedule changes for Gabriola were announced, the ferry advisory committee also got notice that with the introduction of the new ferry Coastal Renaissance, the final sailing of the day leaving Horseshoe Bay for Nanaimo will shift to 9:35 p.m.

"Here's where the dysfunctionality (of the B.C. ferry system) is evident," said Andersen. "The benefit of connectability in the morning and the evening got wiped out. That was all within two minutes."

Company spokesman Mark Stefanson said on Monday that while the time changes on the Gabriola-Nanaimo route offers some advantage to customers, the main reason for the change is to accommodate a meal break for crew members working aboard the Quinsam.

The current schedule often results in having to pay employees overtime because they have to work through their meal breaks, he said.

Stefanson, however, said the masters aboard the Quinsam use their discretion when preparing for the final sailing of the night to Gabriola. He encouraged residents travelling to Nanaimo on the final sailing leaving Horseshoe Bay to contact the vessel's chief steward, and ask if the ship can contact the Quinsam to let them know they have residents aboard hoping to make the final sailing home to Gabriola. "We can't guarantee it every time," he said about the Quinsam waiting for connecting customers. "It's basically a judgement call."

[e-mail]
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[Neil]

Do people have a bit of a warped sense of entitlement when they live on Gabriola Island for the peace, atmosphere, artistic aspects, feeling of separation from the 'rat race', or whatever....

..... but still feel they should be able to spend a full day on the mainland, catch the last ferry from Horseshoe Bay, and be back on Gabriola that night?

[Dane]

This 9.35pm sailing better bring in more ridership, because it is an expensive change. Rte 2 crews already have 30 minutes of guaranteed OT every shift, longer in the summer, and this change will take them to a full hour on a normal afternoon watch.

[Neil]

This is not a significant change. The last several summers have had the last departure from both sides on route 2 at 9:25- now it's ten minutes later.

[Dane]

hornbyguy said:

This is not a significant change. The last several summers have had the last departure from both sides on route 2 at 9:25- now it's ten minutes later.

Yes - read my above post. This is factored into the Ops of Rte three, but now we're going from 1/3 of the year to a full year. Given one of the greatest expenses is human resources, it certianly will be felt, particularly with larger Coastal Class crews. I am not criticizing the decision, yet, at least, but it needs to pay off in ridership or be changed back.

[Nickfro]

dane said:

This is factored into the Ops of Rte three, but now we're going from 1/3 of the year to a full year.

I firmly believe that this will only be maintained for the busy summer period. After the end of September (which is as far as their upcoming schedules go right now) I'm certain that they will go back to the traditional schedule of departures every two hours. However, they haven't kept the summer schedule to the end of Sept before. . .it usually ends the weekend after Labour Day. Someone in my office comes from Comox for a couple of days every couple of weeks. I do recall him saying that the ferries in September were still quite busy and, more importantly, behind schedule. So perhaps they are extending the summer schedule period just for that reason before going back to the traditional sched.

A couple or replies about this matter have also been contributed in the 'once we get these new girls runnin' thread.

[Hardy]

So lets look at this from another perspective.

With the heavier loads this time of the year, would more people be happy with an earlier scheduled departure that will realistically be leaving LATER due to heavy traffic? IE print an unrealistic schedule, and have 'late' sailings which will bring down the ON TIME percentage ... or

Do we modify the schedule to a more realistic looking thing allowing more turn around time and 'recovery time' if a previous sailing was behind schedule and then just deal with the staffing costs?

I think that when you look at the history and all the facts, the decision to schedule the sailings at a later time is not quite as sinister as if first appears.

[Dane]

hardy said:

So lets look at this from another perspective.

With the heavier loads this time of the year, would more people be happy with an earlier scheduled departure that will realistically be leaving LATER due to heavy traffic? IE print an unrealistic schedule, and have 'late' sailings which will bring down the ON TIME percentage ... or

Do we modify the schedule to a more realistic looking thing allowing more turn around time and 'recovery time' if a previous sailing was behind schedule and then just deal with the staffing costs?

I think that when you look at the history and all the facts, the decision to schedule the sailings at a later time is not quite as sinister as if first appears.

I don't think anyone thinks it's sinister?

It just seems like a plan that needs to demonstrate it is recovering the lost money.

The summer schedule goes until Sep 30 for Rte 2, the question will be I suppose what is done after that. The lenghtening of the schedule for the summer is normal, and of course generates revenue in excess of that in the rest of the year to recover the additional costs.

[Hardy]

BCF News release (08-015) - posted 28 Feb/2008

For Immediate Release
08-015 February 28, 2008
BC FERRIES OFFERS COASTSAVER FARES
THROUGH THE ENTIRE MONTH OF MARCH
Enjoy big savings when travelling between the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island
VICTORIA – BC Ferries announced today that it is offering its popular CoastSaver fares on all sailings between Tsawwassen and Duke Point throughout the month of March. Customers will also have access to CoastSaver fares on the 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. sailings between Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay every Sunday morning.
CoastSaver fares provide passengers with savings of up to 40% on designated sailings. During the month of March, customers will save $15 per passenger vehicle and $5 per individual passenger on more than 475 sailings.
“The CoastSaver program offers our customers a real choice when it comes to fares and sailing times,” said Dan Wong, Vice President of Corporate Relations. “Those who have the flexibility to adjust their travel plans can realize significant savings. This month, CoastSavers will feature our Tsawwassen – Duke Point run, a relaxing and scenic alternative route between the Lower Mainland and the mid-Island.”
Customers planning their Easter long weekend or Spring Break trips will find CoastSaver sailings between Tsawwassen and Duke Point particularly attractive, with fewer crowds and a more relaxed travel environment during the busy season.
For the full CoastSaver Sailing schedule, visit www.bcferries.com and choose your time to save.



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link at: www.bcferries.com/news/files/08-015coastsaverfaresthroughmarch.pdf

[Hardy]

Definitely seems to be the proof that we needed that BCFS is pushing people onto Rte-30 to bolster it's numbers. I know that they have been having a lot of the FS sailings concentrated on this route before, but to only offer two sailings on Rte-1 one day per week as the "remainder" definitely shows a bias towards increasing ridership on Rte-30.

The nudge-wink relationship with trucking and THAT industries increased costs has been long-standing, and is one of the reasons that Rte-30 has been viewed as a TRUCK route. I have found the earlier departures coupled with the cheaper fares have made the drive back over the 'Hat tolerable even for those mornings that I need to start out in Victoria ....

[Low Light Mike]

Here's something that I got in my daily "Google alerts".

I don't subscribe to this particular news-source, so I couldn't see the full article. But the headline and lead-in was interesting, so I'll cut/paste that here, and see if anyone on this forum can fill in the rest of the story:
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BC Ferries slices worker for poster threatening to ‘pie’ CEO

Canadian Employment Law Today (subscription) -
Toronto,ON,Canada

BC Ferries employee Art Farquharson found out what may seem funny to one person may be taken quite seriously by others, especially in the workplace. ...

[Dane]

www.canada.com/northshorenews/news/story.html?id=3cc9ff06-0416-4451-8629-c18d292288e9&k=56410

Asbestos in the air stops ferry work
Union worries for safety of up to 100 workers

James Weldon, North Shore News
Published: Friday, February 29, 2008
UNION officials are raising the alarm after the discovery of asbestos forced a work stoppage Wednesday on a ferry in Lower Lonsdale's Vancouver Drydock.

As many as 100 workers who have been helping to refurbish the Queen of New Westminster could have been exposed to the cancer-causing agent in recent days, they said. The ship has been at the facility since last fall.

"They definitely know there was asbestos and there are people who were exposed to it," said Toby Charette, president of Marine and Shipbuilders local 506, which represents some of the workers who were on the vessel. "There are quite a few people on that job."

A team of specialists is combing over the ferry to determine the extent of the problem and the severity of the exposure, which was reported to WorksafeBC late Wednesday afternoon.

"They're going through the whole thing," said Charette. "Nobody's going back on the vessel till they know exactly what they're dealing with."

Whether or not it poses a threat to the wider community is unclear.

"It's a very small amount as it is right now," said Charette. "Could it have floated off the vessel? Yes it could have. How far I do not know."

The fact asbestos was found on the ship comes as no surprise, he said. Where it was found is a different matter. Work crews were given a rundown of locations the substance was expected to be before work started, and specialists went over the boat looking for possible trouble spots. Those areas were sealed off, and removal teams were brought in to clean them up.

But in recent days, a team of welders uncovered an area outside the sealed portion that looked suspicious. A test conducted on the spot came back positive. When the results arrived, work was shut down.

The concern now for the union is that the dozens of workers who were toiling in the unsealed part of the ship may have been exposed unknowingly. They were wearing breathing gear, but that would not protect them from any asbestos that might have settled on their clothing or in areas around the site.

"It's not close to enough, because of the way asbestos is. It goes all over the place," said Charette. "There are proper procedures . . . that include showering and containment and everything like that."

The 130-metre BC Ferries ship, built in 1964, usually runs between Tsawwassen and Duke Point. It was brought to the dry dock in the fall of last year for upgrades.

[Low Light Mike]

re the New-West asbestos story:

Thanks for posting that, Dane. That's pretty scary.

I really hope that there's no health-damage to any of those workers. People who work hard to support their families shouldn't have to worry about whether they were contaminated or not. By that, I mean that it's unfair (as in "life's not fair); and that goes for any workplace injury or death.

I know that any type of illness or injury or death is a bad thing, but workplace-hurts are a soft-spot for me. I feel lots of empathy for that kind of thing.

So I hope the best for those guys, and hope that the work-site is cleaned up and that those guys can get some sort of assurance that they weren't contaminated.

It would be pretty awful to have to worry about that....for years to come.

So this story is a good example of why these workers are unionized. Good on the Union for raising that alarm.

I can't comment on whether the BCFS company or the shipyard company did "all that they could do" to prevent this. The news story suggests that planning-precautions were taken.

Regardless of blame, I hope that everyone's health turns out ok.

[Dane]

To add to your comments, the story is from the North Shore News where it made the front page - and very recently the stories of shipyard workers who died from shipyard asbestos has also been "front and centre" in North Vancouver as a local (in)famous/very long-time politician recently died of cancer believed to have been a result of asbestos from his former employer at the foot of Lonsdale.

Hopefully the issue has been contained and it was a small amount. I had been of the impression the lifting/re-engining rebuild would have taken away all the asbestos in the vessel, and I am curious if BC Ferries was of the same mind?

[WettCoast]

The asbestos exposure of todays shipyard workers is in all probability a tiny fraction (less than 1/100,000th) of what shipyard workers would have been exposed to back at the time the V/B's and other ferries were being built 40 or 50 years ago. We know better now then we did then. What we don't know is which products that we are using today that we think are safe will ultimately be shown to be serious health hazards just like asbestos.

[Taxman]

flugelhorn said:

Here's something that I got in my daily "Google alerts".

I don't subscribe to this particular news-source, so I couldn't see the full article. But the headline and lead-in was interesting, so I'll cut/paste that here, and see if anyone on this forum can fill in the rest of the story:
==================

BC Ferries slices worker for poster threatening to ‘pie’ CEO

Canadian Employment Law Today (subscription) -
Toronto,ON,Canada

BC Ferries employee Art Farquharson found out what may seem funny to one person may be taken quite seriously by others, especially in the workplace. ...

I have my eyes peeled for this one on the database (it hasn't been added yet). The one advantage of UBC is we have practically every online journal. I will summarize it when it gets posted (if it gets posted).

[Scott]

I have my eyes peeled for this one on the database (it hasn't been added yet). The one advantage of UBC is we have practically every online journal. I will summarize it when it gets posted (if it gets posted).

I can get access to a lot of the same online full text journals and newspapers through my Burnaby Library account from home as well.

[DENelson83]

Thank you, [redacted]...

BC Ferries slices worker for poster threatening to ‘pie’ CEO
...
"Farquharson may have thought a notice he created encouraging someone to hit CEO David Hahn with a pie was a joke, but his employer took the threat of violence, and his union the unauthorized use of its bulletin board, seriously."

That'll certainly earn that guy the Wrath of Hahn... ;D

[DENelson83]

From canada.com:

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Eager fans line up in Nanaimo for new ferry's maiden trip

Canwest News Service

Sunday, March 09, 2008

NANAIMO - The newest addition to the B.C. Ferries fleet, the Costal Renaissance, departed on its first official maiden voyage from Departure Bay on Saturday, drawing plenty of ferry fans eager to take the first ride on the new vessel.

Some passengers, like Courtenay's Dave Nelson, weren't even getting off once it reached the mainland.

"I've been assured it's a smooth sailing," said Nelson as he eyed the vessel before boarding.

He drove from Courtenay just to sail from Nanaimo to Horseshoe Bay and back again.

One B.C. Ferries worker said that people even came over on the Queen of Cowichan from Vancouver just to take the Coastal Renaissance back.

Other ferry fans also dropped by to witness the ship's maiden voyage.

"I came just because I wanted to see it," said Nanaimo's Elaine Tomyn.

B.C. Ferries spokeswoman Deborah Marshall said that although it wasn't a full load of passengers with 946 people onboard, the crew said there were about 300 more people than they usually get on a Saturday afternoon this time of year.

The long-awaited vessel's official maiden voyage was launched by a brief ceremony attended by crew members and dignitaries, including Tourism, Sport and the Arts Minister Stan Hagen.

The Renaissance will begin usual daily service on the route Sunday making four round-trips daily, starting with the 6:30 a.m. sailing leaving Departure Bay.

© Canwest News Service 2008

[Curtis]

You've Got Your 15 Words of Fame Now, Dave.
Funny enough, I just found this exact article through google. Just before I read this topic.

[Ferryman]

Alright here's something I've found interesting....

www.bcferries.com/schedules/mainland/hbna-current.html

Perhaps this schedule is wrong, for there to show an 11:30am sailing from both sides on May 20th. The RBI is showing the Coquitlam doing the 11:30am trip from Departure Bay. But there is no mention of an 11:30am sailing out of Horseshoe Bay on the RBI.

**OPPS! I guess it helps to read the schedule again a little bit slower to catch the month abbreviation with "Mar" and "May"

The Coquitlam is the extra vessel on Route 2 until the summer now. The Cowichan isn't shown on any other route besides Route 30 until the Inspiration enters service.

In the summer time, the Cowichan is shown as the extra vessel on Route 2. The Coquitlam will also be the extra vessel on Route 3, all according to the RBI.

No sign of the Queen of New Westminster or Esquimalt doing anything over the summer, yet.

[Low Light Mike]

ferryman said:

No sign of the Queen of New Westminster or Esquimalt doing anything over the summer, yet.

I expect that summer-2008 on Route-1 will be exactly the same as Summer-2007, re ship-deployment.

The only difference in the major-routes overall for July-August will be the subtraction of the Esquimalt and New Westminster, and the addition of the Renaissance and Inspiration.

That's how I'm seeing it.

[Low Light Mike]

Here's something from thetyee.ca

tinyurl.com/ytufhr


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BC Ferries Leaks Money, Riders
Losses five times higher than a year ago. Falling passenger numbers have critics sounding alarms.
By Andrew MacLeod
Published: March 11, 2008

TheTyee.ca
Unless there's a course correction soon at British Columbia Ferry Services Inc., in a few years British Columbians may look back at a corporate crash and wonder what the people now at the helm were smoking.

The quasi-private, publicly owned company released its quarterly report last week for the period that ended on Dec. 31, 2007. The company expected to lose money in the quarter, but it lost about five times as much as it did during the same period last year.

At least part of the story is a fall in the number of vehicles and passengers.

"I'm not surprised at all the trend is going downwards," said NDP ferry critic Gary Coons. "Fares are just skyrocketing. The minor routes are feeling a huge crunch. Somewhere along the line it's going to crash."

Fares have increased by as much as 55 per cent since 2003 on some routes, will rise again April 1 and are expected to double again by 2012.

Traffic on the major routes between the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island has been steady and had roughly the same volume in 2007 as in 2005. The northern routes, which went several months without a replacement for the Queen of the North after it sunk, obviously had a large decline.

There's been a large drop as well, however, on the ferry service's "other" routes which serve many communities on the Gulf Islands and along the coast. Vehicle trips fell by 46,300 and passenger trips by 116,100 in a year. Compared to two years earlier, passenger trips on the routes are down by 2.4 per cent.

Nobody from B.C. Ferries was available to discuss the figures.

Number of factors

At the end of February, however, B.C. Ferries filed its Management's Discussion & Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended December 31, 2007 with the Canadian Securities Administrator's SEDAR filing system.

The drop in passengers is no big deal, it said.

"Ferry traffic levels are affected by a number of factors, including transportation costs, the value of the Canadian dollar, weather, global security, levels of tourism, disposable personal income, the local economy and population growth," the discussion said.

"During the last two fiscal years, traffic levels were negatively affected by the loss of capacity on our northern routes, an unprecedented number of severe wind and snow storms in November and December 2006, and the implementation of three fuel surcharges."

Compared to five years ago, it said, the numbers are "trending upwards" and added, "Over the next few years, we anticipate modest traffic volume increases on all our routes."

Five years ago, it should be noted, tourism numbers dropped throughout North America following the attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York. While the industry has since rebounded, ferry traffic has not.

Tourism consultant surprised

The drop in passengers should have been anticipated. A 1997 B.C. Ferries study found that on the minor routes a bump in fares of 10 per cent would decrease the number of users by three per cent. On the major routes the decrease would be five per cent.

Observers, however, aren't so sure, given the weak recent performance.

"I'm a bit surprised they haven't seen stronger growth," said Frank Bourree, a tourism consultant with Chemistry Consulting Group Inc. in Victoria. The tourism industry has been generally strong in the past two years. "Tourism numbers have been strong onto Vancouver Island."

Part of the explanation may be changes to the tourism industry in general. "We had a record last year, but it's a different kind of tourist," he said. The number of Americans visiting has dropped by 35 per cent from five years ago, and that's likely to continue with new passport rules coming into effect.

The void for the ferries has not been filled by British Columbians travelling. Many people in the Lower Mainland think ferry tickets are too expensive, he said. "There's been some price perceptions over there." Still, with the new German-built ships arriving, more people may make the trip. "I think with the new ships coming on line in Nanaimo they're going to attract a lot of attention and reduce some of the wait times," he said. "You might get some new trial."

Rising fares blamed

Fares have already risen in the order of 55 per cent on many routes over the past five years. With fares set to rise again on April 1, the NDP's Coons said, passenger numbers will get worse. "I predict ridership's going to go down."

Peter Larose, the director of policy and planning for the Council of Tourism Associations of B.C., said the organization is concerned about future fare increases. COTA made a submission to ferry commissioner Martin Crilly when he was considering B.C. Ferries 2008-2012 plans for price caps and service levels. "We didn't want to see a substantial increase in fares and certainly didn't want to see a reduction in service."

As a business organization, he said, COTA is sympathetic to the ferry company managing its affairs with an eye on the bottom line. But with fares set to double, he said, it will escalate the effect on passenger levels and tourism patterns. "That has to have some form of impact," he said. "You're starting to impact travel behaviours significantly there."

He also pointed out the biggest drop has been on the secondary routes, especially in the off season. Many locals are cutting their trips and staying home, he said.

Locals staying put

Coons has visited 29 ferry-dependent communities in recent months to hold town hall meetings and discuss ferry service. He's heard a lot about the service and the rising cost, he said. "It's a pretty horrific thing happening in the smaller communities."

The government needs to fund the system better, he said. The cost should be shared among all British Columbians, he said, the same way improvements to the Sea-to-Sky Highway or Kelowna's William R. Bennett Bridge are. "It's a marine highway. They have to treat it the same way as other transportation links."

B.C. Ferries' financial situation could make that hard to do. The quarterly results show the company lost $7.8 million in the three months ending Dec. 31, 2007. That compares with $1.8 million in the same period a year earlier.

The company has debt of at least $750 million, taken on since the B.C. Liberals privatized the former Crown corporation in 2003. The privatization, however, guards the company from having to say exactly how much it owes, said Coons. "I've heard it's closer to 1.5 or two billion they're in debt. That's a real concern."

Dropping traffic levels and reduced revenues will make balancing the books that much harder, he said.
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