Mill Bay
Voyager 
Long Suffering Bosun
Posts: 2,887 
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Post by Mill Bay on Jul 8, 2008 22:28:45 GMT -8
Again, this is not just a problem of ferry fares... it's a problem of the ferry fares and other costs of transportation not being in line with actual ability of the travelling public and feight industries to afford them at an economical rate.
The Northern View
Haida Gwaii residents protest increasing ferry costs
By Brooke Ward - The Northern View
Published: July 08, 2008 11:00 PM
Island residents throughout British Columbia hoped to make waves within the B.C. Ferries Corporation last week with a “Rock the Boat” ferry rally and peaceful protest on July 4, aimed at sending a message of solidarity amongst coastal communities and voicing their frustration primarily over increasing ferry fares.
While a list of demands circulated by head organizer Michelle Easterly
included things like free parking at ferry terminals linked to public transit, environmental discounts for high occupancy vehicles and the right to choose whether to use the new convenience card or continue to use the old paper tickets, the main demands were clearly stated: stop spending so much money on corporate marketing and administrative costs, put that money into essential services and roll back fares on the “marine highway”.
North Coast MLA and Ferry Critic Gary Coons supported coastal residents with his participation in the demonstrations on Denman and Hornby islands but his support was closer to home too, with Coons sending his regrets and best wishes to the protestors on the Haida Gwaii.
“I want to ensure all those concerned about our marine highway that I and Carole James realize that the social and economic contract with coastal communities has been broken by Gordon Campbell and this Liberal government,” he said.
“We support a return of B.C. Ferries to a crown corporation model that realizes the importance of ferries as an essential service,” he continued, adding that he has been pushing for a moratorium on any fare increases until a legislative committee is developed to review the Coastal Ferry Act.
“Although we can not commit to rolling back fares until we have full access to the finances of B.C. Ferries, we understand that our ferries cannot be privatized and must be affordable,” said Coons.
“We will ensure that government subsidies are at a level to maintain a reliable, affordable and safe ferry service… We must ensure the economic viability of ferry dependent communities.”
Haida Gwaii residents have seen user costs increase by as much as 11 per cent this year, with total increases expected to exceed 100 per cent over 2003 levels by 2011.
“Here on the Queen Charlotte Islands, the ferry is how we access doctors and medical services in Prince Rupert,” said Sandspit resident and rally organizer Bente Sutherland, expressing only more frustration over the added fees experienced by Moresby Island residents for whom the 25 minute ride on the MV Kwuna is their only link to the rest of the islands.
“We need to use it to get to the local hospital, to go to the bank and for high school students to get to school,” said Sutherland.
“This is an essential part of our highway and it’s important for us, especially on Moresby Island [that it be considered such],” she continued, adding that many residents are choosing to leave the islands rather than eat the increasing costs.
“There are people who have to go to Graham Island for work because we’re in an economic depression and it’s getting to the point where the ferry is so expensive that once you factor in the cost, it’s just not economically viable to commute.”
And while their numbers don’t add up to the masses that congregated on the southern islands, the concerns are very much on par and the message being sent is significant, says Sutherland.
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Post by DENelson83 on Jul 9, 2008 9:03:46 GMT -8
Does the BC Government still subsidize part of the ferry system? 'Cuz if not, it'd better start doing so again, and if it does, it needs to ramp that subsidy up.
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Neil
Voyager
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Post by Neil on Jul 9, 2008 15:29:30 GMT -8
The BC Government has no say in what BC Ferries does as much as the government did during the bad times of the NDP. It was because of the NDP's playing around with BC Ferries and the lack there of why BC Ferries was privatised, although it is still a government owned corporation, but managed as a seperate entity. Sorry, Paul, but I would maintain that with every fare increase, and with every newbuild that goes overseas, you see the hand of the provincial Liberals, because of the operating parameters they put in place for BC Ferries. Politics doesn't disappear when you morph public enterprises into 'private' business models, despite what the corporatists might tell us. As for the NDP remark... hoo boy, guess we can agree to disagree on that one... |
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Post by kerryssi on Jul 9, 2008 16:44:46 GMT -8
My information is that BCFS is very much under the control of the Campbell government. They made a serious mistake when they decided to make BCFC the whipping boy for the province and try to distract the people from the outrageous costs taking place in other projects by raising fares on the ferry's. They knew this would distract people from the huge cost over runs on the Vancouver conference center, the whistler highway, closing health and senior care centers, huge subsidies to rapid transit and bus services.
The fast cats were never an NDP fiasco. The ships were a tried and true design used world wide for many years. The problem came when the NDP handed over construction to BCFC. They changed the design and added 100 tons to the ships, started building before the plans were finalized, etc. The NDP intention was to build them here and revitalize the shipbuilding industry then sell ships offshore. The inept bungling of BCFC destroyed that plan and the fast cats. The liberals were offered over $100,000,000.00 for the ships which they refused, they then accepted $ 25, 000,000.00 from Washington group. The sole intention of the liberals was to embarrass the NDP. They shafted Washington group by insisting the ferries not be run in B.C. That is where Washington intended to run them, in competition with BCFC.
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Post by kylefossett on Jul 9, 2008 19:37:27 GMT -8
I am going to ignore the above discussion about the fastcats. I don't have the time right now to respond other then the fact that the liberals let them go for so cheap to make the ndp look bad.
now the issue that started this thread. passengers left behind at galiano. won't happen this weekend as there is a 1655h sailing and a 2040h sailing from sturdies bay to tsawwassen each and every saturday from now until september
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jul 9, 2008 19:42:13 GMT -8
now the issue that started this thread. passengers left behind at galiano. won't happen this weekend as there is a 1655h sailing and a 2040h sailing from sturdies bay to tsawwassen each and every saturday from now until september Yes, the schedule tells me that too. What is your opinion on how the company handled the left-behind, and on how travelers can minimize their own risk of being left behind? You are the veteran gulf island summer traveler, are you not? |
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Post by kylefossett on Jul 10, 2008 0:03:09 GMT -8
now the issue that started this thread. passengers left behind at galiano. won't happen this weekend as there is a 1655h sailing and a 2040h sailing from sturdies bay to tsawwassen each and every saturday from now until september Yes, the schedule tells me that too. What is your opinion on how the company handled the left-behind, and on how travelers can minimize their own risk of being left behind? You are the veteran gulf island summer traveler, are you not? easy to not be left behind. don't be one of those slow walkers that waits until the ferry is half loaded before you head towards the boat. buy your ticket early. i have never had to worry about being left behind because of the crowds. because i board at long harbour the boat is empty although i have seen people turned away there too. these people are the ones that think the boat will wait for them to take a few pictures with the family. when the schedule says it leaves at a certain time then be ready at that time even if it is running 30 minutes late. just noticed neil's comment about bc ferries letting saltspring and mayne island fill the boat. i have been onboard or boarding as they have cut off to make sure there is room for passengers at the next stops. |
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Post by Variable Pitch on Jul 12, 2008 5:32:37 GMT -8
In the TC today, isn't this old news?? (At least to members on this forum)
Queen of Esquimalt sold to buyer in China
Carla Wilson, Times Colonist
Published: Saturday, July 12, 2008
One of four B.C. ferries on the market has been sold.
The Queen of Esquimalt has been purchased by a buyer in China, B.C. Ferries spokeswoman Deborah Marshall said yesterday.
The company announced in January that it was selling four of its oldest vessels: the Queen of Tsawwassen, the Queen of Esquimalt, the Queen of Saanich and the Queen of Vancouver.
Negotiations are underway for the other three ferries, Marshall said. No other details are being released until the vessels are sold, which the company anticipates will happen by the fall, she said.
Built in Victoria in 1963, the Queen of Esquimalt is a V-class ship, and sister ship to the Queen of Vancouver and Queen of Saanich, as well as the Queen of Victoria, which was sold in 2001 to the Dominican Republic.
When it first went into service, the 130-metre long Queen of Esquimalt carried passengers between Swartz Bay and Tsawwassen and has been used recently as a relief vessel.
In 1982, the vessel was cut in half and an extra vehicle deck and new engines were installed.
B.C. Ferries is adding four new ferries to the fleet -- three Super C class ferries that carry 370 vehicles each, and one intermediate-class vessel that carries 120 vehicles.
cjwilson@tc.canwest.com
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2008 7:59:20 GMT -8
a buyer in china hey they will probably use it as a ferry to.
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Post by Guest 101 on Jul 12, 2008 10:54:51 GMT -8
Hahn replied on his radio show - on another thread that she went for "north of a million"
All I can say is that , with the Queen of Sidney sold for around $100,000 a few years back - then Hahn has to be the sales person of the year - because the prices doesn't even come close to what her pure scrap metal value - it is 7 times more....so what is in that vessel to make her so expensive....?
Nothing was said about spare parts....maybe she is loaded up with spares....who knows - but it would be very interesting to see how they can sell her for that sort of figure - which Hahn is quoted as saying.... she is currently having work done to her...what sort of work..I wonder and will she go out on her own keel or via a heavy lift vessel?
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Post by ferrytraveller on Jul 13, 2008 15:17:02 GMT -8
she is suppose to sail on her own power with the coastals wave breaker fitted on her bow. All the car deck windows and vents are being welded shut.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jul 13, 2008 17:19:38 GMT -8
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jul 20, 2008 16:11:14 GMT -8
Here's the next in the Times-Colonist series on BCFerries history. =================== www.canada.com:80/victoriatimescolonist/news/comment/story.html?id=3c49fa97-5101-45a7-9a9b-0dd33726f15eStrikes, government inaction led to the birth of B.C. Ferries
Provincially owned 'fast ferries' sped the demise of Canadian Pacific service Dave Obee Reuters Sunday, July 20, 2008 They were called fast ferries, but the fast ferries of 1958 should not be confused with the ones that were launched four decades later. The two fast ferries announced by Premier W.A.C. Bennett on July 17, 1958, were designed to provide a new link between the north end of the Saanich Peninsula and the Canadian side of Point Roberts on the Lower Mainland. The new service was designed to provide a convenient, stable link between Vancouver Island and the mainland. Bennett made his announcement after Canadian Pacific's 10 steamships had been tied up because of a strike for two months, and on the same day that Black Ball's two ferries linking Nanaimo and Horseshoe Bay were to be stopped by a strike as well. In June, Bennett had invoked the Civil Defence Act, which enabled the province to seize the Black Ball ferries to keep them running. He was still fuming that the federal government, which had jurisdiction over the CP ships, had not made a similar move. "The government of B.C. is determined that in the future, ferry connections between Vancouver Island and the mainland shall not be subject either to the whim of union policy nor to the indifference of federal agencies," Bennett said. The premier was probably not just poking the federal government with his comment. He had been angry for years that CP refused to increase and improve its money-losing ferry service on the coast. "The government has given lengthy consideration to the problem of ferry connections between Vancouver Island and the mainland -- even to the extent of resorting to the Civil Defence Act when these connections were threatened by strike," the premier said. "Our experience since taking over the ferry operations has been of the best so far as far as the staff, officers and crew. The public, however, has been placed in a most awkward position by repeated statements from union leadership hinting at the possibility of cessation of service and by delay caused by overworked ferry facilities." Bennett promised that there would be two ferries, maybe more, on the new government-operated service. Tenders would be called as soon as plans were drawn, he said, and the work would provide additional winter work for B.C.'s shipbuilding industry. He said the new service would be run by the B.C. Toll Highways and Bridges Authority, but admitted that he did not have the answer to one key question. "I have no idea of the cost," he said. Local shipbuilding companies were more up to speed on these things. They said the cost would likely be $3 million apiece. Bennett said the mainland terminal would have good access because of the Deas Island Tunnel and the freeway to be built north and south of the tunnel. Government officials said they wanted vessels similar to the Kahloke or the Chinook, the two Black Ball ferries used between Horseshoe Bay and Nanaimo. Bennett's announcement was greeted warmly by just about everyone. The mayor of Victoria, the president of the Chamber of Commerce, the leader of the opposition Co-operative Commonwealth Federation and Harold Husband, the president of Victoria Machinery Depot, were all thrilled to hear the news. So were labour leaders and officials at Washington State Ferries. Canadian Pacific and Black Ball brass refused to comment. Community officials raised concerns about the impact on the Saanich Peninsula. Brahm Wiesman, a capital region planner, said increased ferry traffic would put more pressure on the Patricia Bay Highway, which was two lanes wide at the time. Saanich was also starting to plan for a major new shopping centre where the Pat Bay and Trans-Canada highways met. A new ferry terminal at Sidney would have an impact on that as well, because the amount of traffic to and from the Peninsula would increase. In an editorial, the Colonist welcomed Bennett's announcement, but said that the ferry service should be regarded as an extension of the Trans-Canada Highway system. In that case, the federal government should provide half of the capital cost. Harry Young, the business editor at the Daily Colonist, said in a column that the new service could pay its own way if it had the right vessels and the right terminals. He suggested following the Washington State Ferries model, with loading and unloading at the bow and stern. That meant that in 10 minutes a vessel could move 100 cars out and 100 more cars in. He noted that Washington State and Black Ball ferries were running with crews of about 18 people. The CP ships needed up to 110 crew members on board, he said. The Victoria Daily Times also commented on the ferry announcement, and took the chance to take a couple of shots at CP's ferry service. "The days of the 'luxury liner' from Victoria to Vancouver are over," it said. "So are the days of the ship which requires a large working force." The Times said it was possible that the CP service would have to be curtailed if the government's new line proved to be a success. "What is needed is relatively inexpensive and speedy service between the two points by an age which transportation for cars as an essential of life." The government pressed ahead with its plans for a new ferry service even after the employees of Black Ball and Canadian Pacific were ordered back to work, and ferry service was restored. The first two "fast ferries," named Sidney and Tsawwassen, were based on the Coho, built by Black Ball in 1959. They went into service on June 15, 1960. That fall CP ended its Vancouver-Victoria run, unable to compete with the government's service. In 1961 the province bought Black Ball's Canadian vessels, giving it the route between Nanaimo and Horseshoe Bay. It took more than a decade, but CP finally gave up on Nanaimo service. Fifty years after strikes cut off the mainland, Bennett's navy is still going strong -- but it is now known as B.C. Ferries. © Times Colonist (Victoria) 2008 =========================== |
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Post by Variable Pitch on Jul 20, 2008 17:09:53 GMT -8
Such a good article Mike...
18 crew vs. 110 on the Canadian Pacific ships, just amazing. As much as I would have loved to have traveled on those beautiful liners in the grand old days, it is sad to think that a company (or union) would be so arrogant. And when faced with a true competitor they would not budge, ultimately in the end to their demise. I guess it would have happened sooner or later, but I think that their "mindset" at the time sealed their fate and thus the evolution of BC Ferries.......
If only we had a time machine............
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Post by ferryrider42 on Jul 20, 2008 17:50:43 GMT -8
Ferry Service will continue to run Brentwood Bay route
By Christine van Reeuwyk - Peninsula News Review
Published: July 17, 2008 1:00 PM
The little ferry that could really can — within the existing system. Vancouver Island’s most beautiful shortcut will stay as part of the BC Ferry Service plan after the company looked at outsourcing the route.
“We did conclude the alternate service provider process,” said Deborah Marshall, public relations for BC Ferry Service. BC Ferries issued requests for proposals to run the route last year. “Two parties responded,” said Marshall.
“We asked both those parties to submit a proposal, one party did,” Marshall added. “We went through a thorough analysis of that proposal.” That analysis determined the value for money would be better if BC Ferries maintained the route.
“The other proposal failed to offer a cost advantage or a better level of service,” Marshall said. That opinion was confirmed by an independent firm and the decision to keep servicing the Mill Bay to Brentwood Bay route was made official at the June board of directors meeting.
It’s a decision that sits well with at least one of those who fought to keep the route in existence.
“It’s surprising, and yet not, to those who have been concerned about the ferry all these years … it’s a relief for sure,” said Pam Alcorn, who has become the unofficial spokesperson for Brentwood Bay citizens for the small ferry route. Alcorn was part of the committee that kicked up a fuss in 2000 when it appeared the route might be axed from the system. Alcorn was part of the Ferry Fairies — who used the slogan “the little ferry that could” — when she lived in Brentwood Bay. Alcorn has since moved to the Mill Bay side. She still loves the little route and can see it from her new home.
“It’s a wise decision ... There was a lot of concern on the part of many people of what might happen,” Alcorn said. “Transportation is about moving people ... it’s important for infrastructure.”
To keep the route and the MV Mill Bay within the system will offer reliability, said Alcorn. The Fairies also found, during research, that to operate it outside that system would be more expensive.
“Transportation needs to be about [things] other than profit,” Alcorn said. It needs to be about environment, supporting local business and safe travel.
“It’s a safer alternative to the Malahat [Highway],” Alcorn said. “There are people who are not comfortable traveling the Malahat.”
The future will be all about keeping communication open, and BC Ferries accountable to residents and local businesses, as well as keeping the cost down.
“I know there’s concerns about the increased fares,” Alcorn said. “That’s a concern, but at least we have it.”
reporter@peninsulanewsreview.com
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Post by Nickfro on Jul 23, 2008 14:27:15 GMT -8
The top story on Global BC News yesterday was about more Ferry Fare hikes. The video clip for that report can be found here. Click on Global Headlines and then on Ferry Fares. I'm also posting this in the Time for Another Fare Hike thread, where any discussion about this should probably get posted. |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jul 23, 2008 17:54:02 GMT -8
The Island-Tides newspaper from July 24, 2008 has a good article on the July-5th overload-turnaway re Queen of Nanaimo at Sturdies Bay. (Island Tides' web format makes it difficult to cut-paste. I've spent 10 minutes editing out the hard-returns in the text, for the benefit of you viewing pleasure....) =============== www.islandtides.com/assets/IslandTides.pdfUnprecedented ‘leave-behinds’ on Galiano–Tsawwassen ferry Patrick Brown --------- On Saturday evening, July 5, between 30 and 50 travellers were left behind at Sturdies Bay, Galiano Island, as the Queen of Nanaimo departed for Tsawwassen. They blocked the ramp and asked the ship’s Captain to speak to them. He came down to the car deck and did so; and then he called Galiano’s RCMP officer to disperse them. They were angry, they were not taking no for an answer—they had good reason to be angry. Overloads are not unusual in the BC Ferries system, but this was different. Many of the crowd had reservations. The car deck of the Queen of Nanaimo could be seen to have room for the reserved vehicles. And there would be no more ferries to the mainland that night; it would be possible to take a later ferry to Swartz Bay, but that was clearly not where anyone wanted to go; they would be marooned on Vancouver Island till morning, with accommodation unlikely and expensive. One BC Ferries employee from Galiano volunteered to join the ship, but two personnel would have been needed to bump the license-level up to permit another 166 passengers. Why? How could this have happened? How can it be prevented in the future? To minimize costs, BC Ferries dispatches each vessel with the minimum allowable number of crew. This number, generally more than would actually be necessary to sail, dock, and staff the ship, is set by Transport Canada depending on the number of passengers which would have to be evacuated from the ship in case of a collision, fire, or similar disaster. Ferry riders are all familiar with the announcement that says, ‘our crew are Transport Canada certified. In the event … they will tell you exactly what to do’ (with lots of emphasis on ‘exactly’). There have to be enough of them to show you exactly how those evacuation chutes work. This is the same approach that Transport Canada takes with aircraft; the number of stewardesses depends on the number of passengers aboard if it crashes, not on how many it takes to fly the plane. How Many Seamen Does It Take To… Each ship can be operated under one of several Transport Canada licenses, and the license used for each shift is chosen depending on the maximum number of passengers expected on board at any point during the shift. The licenses for the Queen of Nanaimo are, currently: A License, Maximum 977 passengers, 27 crew B License, Maximum 750 passengers, 22 crew C License, Maximum 584 passengers, 20 crew D License, Maximum 450 passengers, 19 crew E License, Ship movement only, 0 passengers, 11 crew Estimating How Many Passengers: For the main route ferries travelling between, say, Swartz Bay and Tsawwassen, estimating the number of passengers expected is relatively simple: BC Ferries has comprehensive passenger statistics, going back years, on how many passengers travelled on each trip on any given day. To check on their estimate, all they have to do is look out the window to ascertain how many cars are in the terminal, and how many walk-ons are in the waiting room. The same approach to the calculation can be used for Route Nº9 as the Queen of Nanaimo prepares to leave Tsawwassen for the Gulf Islands. But coming the other way Route Nº9 is more complicated; harder to estimate than any other route that BC Ferries operates. The Queen of Nanaimo leaves from Long Harbour on Salt Spring Island and at about forty minute intervals calls at Otter Bay on Pender Island, Village Bay on Mayne Island (where she also picking up Saturna transfers), and finally Sturdies Bay on Galiano Island, before setting out across the Strait of Georgia to Tsawwassen. The Queen of Nanaimo is home-ported on Salt Spring Island and all the crew come from there. They must be notified at least a couple of hours before the new shift starts, either in the morning or in the middle of the afternoon. So the Long Harbour Marine Superintendent must estimate, by early in the afternoon, the maximum number of passengers that may be on the boat on that evening’s trip. He has his historical records, of course, but the only information he has on that particular afternoon’s traffic is the number of car-and-driver reservations to Tsawwassen that have been made up to that point in the afternoon from Long Harbour, Otter Bay, Village Bay, Lyall Harbour and Sturdies Bay. In some cases this is several hours before the ferry calls at these terminals. He does not know how many unreserved vehicles there might be, or, how many passengers there might be in each the vehicles, or how many walk-on passengers (footsies) there will be. He will estimate all these figures, add whatever fudge factor he is comfortable with, and use the total to decide what license the Queen of Nanaimo will sail under and how many crew to call in for that shift. People Capacity Takes Precedence Over Cars Space: Most of the time, he will be right. On the evening of July 5, he wasn’t. As a result, when the Queen of Nanaimo reached Sturdies Bay, she already had on board the maximum number of passengers (584 for a C-license), even though she had room on the car deck for the vehicles that had reservations from Galiano to Tsawwassen (she has a vehicle capacity of 192). Why did this happen? Foot passenger or extra car passengers are exempted from reservations and terminals may sell them tickets as they arrive at the tickets booth. With three ports before Galiano this may result in the passenger quota (in cars or on foot) being almost filled before arriving on Galiano. It appeared that a large number of extra passengers had boarded the ship at the previous three terminals, and by the time they were aboard, it was too late to call out extra crew, particularly since the numbers would have gone over the top after the vessel left Salt Spring where the crew live. Weddings, and Higher Fares: The company’s records showed that the Saturday evening boat from the Islands to Tsawwassen in the summertime does not usually carry a large number of passengers. In retrospect, BC Ferries noted that three weddings had been held on the Islands that Saturday afternoon, and cars crammed with wedding-goers may have accounted for many of the extra passengers. Since there is no reservation system for passengers, the company could not have known that there were more than usual on July 5. BC Ferries says that it tries to stay aware of any Island event that may lead to a passenger overload, it has even put on special ferries for the Saturna Lamb BBQ. BC Ferries ask that that organizers of events (including weddings) that could result in an extra crowd should advise the Long Harbour Marine Superintendent ahead of time, at 250-537-1478. Interestingly, another factor in the passenger overload may be the steep rise in ferry fares; it is possible that more people are deciding to come on foot instead of bringing their cars. A factor not present in BC Ferries historical calculations. Islands’ ground crew have made the suggestion that Route Nº9 must become a reservation route only, including all passengers. Until that happens, those on the ground think that it is a false economy, and very bad publicity for Islands’ businesses, to risk the lowest license possible on summer weekends. ================ |
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Mill Bay
Voyager
Long Suffering Bosun
Posts: 2,887
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Post by Mill Bay on Jul 25, 2008 22:52:29 GMT -8
BC Ferries crew rescues man from the Strait of Georgia
Friday, July 25 - 10:51:25 PM
Jill Drews
NANAIMO (NEWS1130) -
A man has BC Ferries to thank after being rescued by crew members of the Queen of Cowichan this evening. The 6:55 pm Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay sailing [was diverted] so the vessel could assist the Coast Guard in rescuing a man overboard in the Straight of Georgia.
Deborah Marshall with BC Ferries says the mayday call came in just before six that help was needed to save a man overboard.
"We launched our rescue boat, it was in the water about ten minutes later and we did recover a hypothermic man from the water. It's my understanding he was from a 30 foot pleasure craft, power boat, that was two thirds submerged in the water by the time our crew arrived on scene."
She says ferries are often used in rescues like this one.
"We provide about 500 sailings per day up and down the coast of British Columbia so often we are the first vessel of opportunity on scene. I know last month, I think we were involved in three rescues within about ten days."
Marshall says the man was conscious when he was rescued leading her to believe he will likely be alright.
(Oh... and don't forget to raise the fuel surcharge to cover the extra fuel costs of rescuing somebody.
Better yet, just bill him for the fuel.)
BC FERRY RESCUES BOATER
Jul 25, 2008
A BOATER IS OKAY AFTER AN HEROIC EXPERIENCE IN THE WATERS OFF HORSESHOE BAY LATE THIS AFTERNOON.
IT ALL STARTED AROUND 5:30 WHEN A MAN AWOKE TO HIS BOAT TAKING ON WATER.
WEARING A LIFE JACKET, HE JUMPED INTO THE WATER AND WITH A CELL PHONE, CALLED 911.
THE JOINT RESCUE COORDINATION CENTRE IN VICTORIA LAUNCHED SEVERAL VESSELS, BUT IT WAS THE QUEEN OF COWICHAN THAT FOUND THE MAN FIRST.
FERRY CREWS PLUCKED THE MAN OUT OF THE WATER AND HE WAS TRANSPORTED TO A COAST GUARD HOVERCRAFT. HE WAS TAKEN TO
HOSPITAL TO BE TREATED FOR HYPOTHERMIA.
- NIKKI EWANYSHYN
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Post by Low Light Mike on Aug 9, 2008 20:36:58 GMT -8
from QCI Observer newspaper. BC Ferries doesn't look good in this article.... =============== www.qciobserver.com/Article.aspx?Id=3421'Stupid, not convenient', say Port councillors about ferry schedule The late Thursday-night ferry sailing to the mainland is "a way of life" on the Charlottes and it is hard to believe that the BC Ferry Corp. would change it with no consultation, Port Clements mayor Cory Delves said this week. Port council members learned of the schedule change at their Aug. 5 meeting from Queen Charlotte mayor Carol Kulesha, who has been exchanging emails with BC Ferries on the issue. According to the BC Ferries website, there will be no more Thursday night sailings as of Oct. 1. It will be replaced by a sailing departing Skidegate at 6 am Fridays, arriving in Prince Rupert at 1 pm. The Thursday departure is the most popular sailing of the week during the winter season, council members said. Changing it to leave early Friday morning will be especially inconvenient for Port and Masset residents, who will have to wake up in the middle of the night in order to arrive at the terminal at least 90 minutes before departure time. The pre-weekend sailing is the one that students usually take to attend sports tournaments, and is also well-used by islanders travelling for medical appointments. "That's when the kids go off," said councillor Wally Cheer. "Dragging your kids out of bed at 3 in the morning - that's stupid." "It is definitely not convenient," agreed councillor Urs Thomas. Council members voted to write to BC Ferries urging the company to restore the sailing. "I don't know what else we can do other than be fairly forceful in our disappointment," Mr. Cheer said. The regular Monday and Tuesday mid-morning departures remain the same in the new schedule. In an email exchange with BC Ferries, Ms Kulesha first expressed disbelief at the news the Thursday sailing had been canned. "This is the most important sailing of the week - people take it to do business and health services in PR on Friday and return on the weekend with the least amount of time missed from work.... Tell me this is an error." Two days later, Ms Kulesha received a reply from employee and community relations advisor Matthew Burns, saying that the change was no error. Mr. Burns gave two reasons for the decision: the dock modifications which will be done this winter to accommodate the new Northern Expedition, and a revised Rupert-Skidegate crossing time of seven hours. "It is our hope that this change to schedule will allow for greater predicability in our schedule and allow for us to meet our advertised schedule on a more consistent basis," Mr. Burns wrote. In a reply which she copied to several islands leaders, Ms Kulesha replied that much more explanation was needed. "You need to explain why a seven-hour crossing excludes a midnight sailing and why you are having on-time problems when we have to line up hours in advance of sailing. A 6 am sailing means passengers need to be at the Skidegate terminal at 4 am. This is horribly inconvenient as well as dangerous for winter driving from Masset," she wrote. "You are telling us that without consultation you have made a permanent change to the most popular weekly sailing. This is not good community relationship building." ================= |
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Post by Curtis on Aug 11, 2008 23:35:27 GMT -8
Just searching up news on google when this came up... [/size] By Sue Frause
Even though I'm a Washingtonian, if I had to choose between the Washington State Ferries (WSF) and the BC Ferries, the Canucks win by a kilometer. Granted, BC Ferries has had its share of mishaps. In 2006, the Queen of the North sunk while cruising the Inside Passage on its 18-hour journey between Port Hardy and Prince Rupert. One hundred and one passengers were on board, and two are still missing and presumed dead. Human error was blamed for the sinking. Two years later, the Queen of Oak Bay lost power and plowed through dozens of boats at a marina in West Vancouver while attempting to dock at the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal.
Those incidents aside, I still like BC Ferries better. First off, they're clean. Real clean. As a Whidbey Islander since '75 and frequent ferry user, I've never been overly impressed by the tidiness of WSF's boats. Sometimes, they're downright filthy. The BC boats shine in comparison. Secondly, BC Ferries offers far better food, such as the White Spot burgers with that yummy Triple-O sauce.
Earlier this summer, I took BC Ferries from Tsawwassen, B.C., to Swartz Bay on Vancouver Island. I was most impressed with the Seawest Lounge, available on the three large ferries traveling between Vancouver Island and the mainland. It's sort of like an airport lounge for business-class travelers. For ten loonies (equivalent to ten bucks), you get big, comfy chairs; free coffee, tea or juice; appetizers, including cheese, crackers, fruits and veggies; magazines; local and national newspapers; widescreen TV with the latest news; and a lounge attendant. It was money well spent during the 90-minute sailing, and I would have totaled up more than $10 buying food, magazines, and newspapers.
Recently I took the M/V Chelan that sails between Anacortes, Wash., and Sidney on Vancouver Island — it's one of Washington State Ferries' most scenic routes. And for $16 one way as a walk-on passenger, it's a beauty of a bargain. But the boats on that run aren't nearly as comfortable as the BC Ferries. And what about the on-board cuisine? I had Sun Chips going and Wheat Thins coming home.
Not a White Spot burger in sight.[/quote] www.crosscut.com/food/16610/BC+Ferries+offer+better+fare/
I can only chuckle when I see an article like this. It's like comparing a car to almost the same car with a few missing features. |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Aug 15, 2008 20:34:01 GMT -8
Here's another article re the Queen Charlotte ferry schedule change. www.qciobserver.com/Article.aspx?Id=3428================= Ferry complaints flood MLA North Coast MLA Gary Coons has been flooded with complaints from islanders about the ferry schedule change, and says BC Ferries should have consulted before cancelling Thursday night sailings for the winter season. "It is outrageous that the company is planning to eliminate the Thursday night sailing, especially without informing people on Haida Gwaii or asking communities how it would affect them," Mr. Coons said. "If this is how their 'active public consultation program' that they talk about on their website works with communities, it is a complete failure." BC Ferries has changed the sailing to leave at 6 am Friday mornings starting Oct. 3. Islanders have said that means leaving their homes in the middle of the night in order to be at the terminal between 4 and 4:30 am, and also missing most of the day in Prince Rupert - a day that could have been used for medical/dental appointments, or sports and cultural events. On Thursday (Aug. 14), Mr. Coons fired off letters to Matthew Burns, the employee and community relations advisor at BC Ferries in Prince Rupert and to Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon about the issue. "I urge you to pressure BC Ferries into working with island communities on this ill-advised decision," Mr. Coons wrote to Mr. Falcon. "The Thursday sailing has been a staple of this run for decades. It is grossly unfair for BC Ferries to cancel the most important sailing of the week. If the company had bothered to follow its own guidelines around public consultation, they would have heard islanders reject this proposal out of hand. If it is absolutely necessary to move sailings around, I have no doubt that islanders would be willing to negotiate around some of the other runs. However, members of the communities that rely on this run for their livelihoods, for their health and for their recreation were not given the opportunity to have their voices heard before the BC Ferries autocrats decided to rearrange their lives." Mr. Coons also passed along some irate comments about BC Ferries service from a Tow Hill Road resident. The customer blasted the BC Ferries feedback system, the cancellation of the Thursday night sailing and the two-hour check-in time, among other complaints. "Why does it take longer to check in to a rural ferry than an airport for international travel?" the customer asked. "If I arrive on time, I site, quite literally, for 1.5 hours in a freezing car watching employees slowly arrive, smoke cigarettes and dick around. Trust me. I'm watching, because there's f-all else to do in the freezing darkness. If the BCF check-in system is so incompetent that they can't check your ID and reservation for regular, pre-booked and pre-paid travel within half an hour before boarding, then maybe it's time to look in the mirror and figure out how to fix performance rather than download terrible inconvenience on your passengers." BC Ferries customer relations thanked the customer for the comments and said they would be passed on to an entity called the Northern Services Management Team. ============ |
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Post by Northern Exploration on Aug 16, 2008 6:47:10 GMT -8
Like I have said before, a decent coffee van would aleviate some of the angst waiting. As a footie there barely is enough places to sit not alone a hot drink to help with the wait. And Bear Cove is in the boonies so no Timmies across the way to stock up at the last minute. Staying at a hotel where the restaurant isn't open that early, there is no place to fill a thermos even, unless you get up even earlier and make a pot in your room. As a footie you also have to wait for the shuttle van to take you to the terminal. Being early also meant you were one of the first in line since the staterooms used to be assigned on a first come first serve basis. So if you wanted an outside view on the QoftN and one where the view wasn't blocked by superstructure you had only a few choices of rooms. The NorAd's different arrangement helps with the view and I don't know now though whether the rooms are reservable or still first come first serve.
Maybe BC Ferries is afraid they will lower onboard food sales if they offer more at the terminal.
I can see loading vehicles is time consuming and as well since the ferry can face rough water balancing the load can be important. The NorAd as well has its challenges having only one door and needing to shuttle some vehicles around. However, this appears to be more of a "this is always the way we have done it mentality," and may be easier for employees, rather than a customer focused system.
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D'Elete BC in NJ
Voyager
Dispensing gallons of useless information daily...
Posts: 1,671
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Post by D'Elete BC in NJ on Aug 18, 2008 11:21:17 GMT -8
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Post by kittie on Aug 25, 2008 14:06:54 GMT -8
Further on the subject of the QCI schedule change, we've heard that BC Ferries will only have the 42-year-old Queen of Prince Rupert running on the northern routes this winter. The NorAd will spend the entire winter in dry dock. Anybody know if this is true or WHY the Nor Ad needs to spend more time in dry dock???
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Post by WettCoast on Aug 25, 2008 17:21:04 GMT -8
It is true. The NorAd will be off from early October until the start of April. I understand that she will have more work done. Perhaps her winter sea keeping characteristics are playing a part in this decision, also. They may also be wanting to extract the last breath out of Miss Rupert before they let her go.
I also understand that in the winters of 2009-10, and beyond, the Northern Expedition will be the principal off season vessel. The NorAd will be laid up.
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