General news articles on BC Ferries

[WettCoast]

An article from the QCI Observer re declining traffic on northern routes...

Ferry traffic down

There are fewer passengers and vehicles traveling on the northern ferries this season, despite the addition of the new Northern Expedition to the fleet.
Mark Stefanson, BC Ferries vice-president of communication, said the number of passengers on the Prince Rupert-Skidegate route is down 6.6 percent compared to last year for the months of April, May and June, while the number of vehicles has fallen by almost 10 percent.
On the Port Hardy-Prince Rupert route, passengers are down 11.6 percent for the April-June period this year compared to last year, Mr. Stefanson said. The number of vehicles plunged 5.8 percent.
"It's the overall economic condition," he said. "We're seeing traffic off on all our routes. Obviously, it's more serious in the north."

www.qciobserver.com/Article.aspx?Id=4001&Archive=1

[WettCoast]

And yet another from the QCI Observer

Another Northern Expedition on the water

By Dianne King - The Northern Expedition just circumnavigated Graham Island in 18 days.

There's no coincidence that this kayak, paddled by Jørg Knorr, a German engineer has the same name as the brand new BC Ferry. Mr. Knorr works at the shipbuilding plant in Flensburg, Germany that built the last three BC Ferries, including the newest one on the Port Hardy-Prince Rupert run.
Mr. Knorr is a veteran kayaker, having navigated his way through German, Swedish, Danish and Finnish waters back home. He was joined here by his son Hannes, 21, enjoying a pause before beginning university. This was a very meaningful trip for both, as Mr. Knorr usually paddles alone. This voyage allowed them both to explore common horizons.
On an earlier circumnavigation of Vancouver Island, Mr. Knorr met a couple from Seattle who introduced him to the book 'Boat Camping in Haida Gwaii' which became his bible for the trip. Along with a GPS, a compass and the road map of the Islands he prepared for his journey which began on July 18, a journey he estimates at 460 nautical miles.
The first leg took the two south down the east coast of Moresby Island to Skungwaii.
Weather conditions influenced their decision to return the way they had come to Skidegate rather than up the west coast. However, they had time to stop at Rose Harbour where Goetz Hanisch entertained with guitar music and hospitality.
The weather was outstanding, with one exception. The paddlers were between Ingraham Bay and Otard Bay. Mr. Knorr underestimated the waves in the bay and the breakers were higher than he had judged. Once through them, the paddlers were committed to continuing as the return would have been equally as dangerous.
With four to five foot waves and a strong wind pounding them from ahead, it was an endurance test to proceed but they had little choice. Their GPS broke and low-lying fog only allowed them to see the two rocks ahead of Tian Islet. It took 3 1/2 hours before they could land.
Further along the way, they met Masset resident Fraser Earl on Hippa Island and compared kayaking voyages.
All in all, the pair spent 36 days paddling with a two day layover before embarking on the
Graham Island tour. This is not Mr. Knorr's longest trip. That was 2000 nautical miles, an 8 1/2 week passage took him to Finland through the Aland Islands, similar in geography to these, of which only 60 are inhabited of the 6,500 between Denmark and Finland in the archipelago.
When asked if he would return to complete the west coast of Moresby Island, Mr. Knorr said that was not as important to him as the glorious experience he'd just had with his son.
'I enjoy to paddle here," he said. "It's not important". Then he added, "Anyway I drank from St Mary's spring and you know what that means."
If you would like to see photos of his trips (he carries four cameras with him) check
www.kajaktraum.com" www.kajaktraum.com

article created September 2, 2009 2:08 PM

www.qciobserver.com/Article.aspx?Id=4063

[Low Light Mike]

Sept 2, 2009 21:33:29 GMT -8 WettCoast said:

And yet another from the QCI Observer

Another Northern Expedition on the water

Here's the tie-in: from a photo that I took at the NorEx open-ship in Port Hardy:

May 18, 2009 21:42:22 GMT -8 herrbrinkmann said:

May 18, 2009 17:27:31 GMT -8 Low Light Mike said:

Here are my photos from my trip to attend the open-ship:

Here's the kayak-rack on the port-side of the aft end of the car deck. I have no idea why there's a wrapped kayak already there; maybe for show?

-------------------
In fact, these are two kayaks. They belong to Jörg Knorr, mechanical engineer in our pipe department (e.g. responsible for bilge wells and so on). He brought this kayak with 748 to BC, as he wants to do a big tour around all (?) islands with his son this year. He did a tour in BC 3 years ago all alone in his kayak.

[Ferryman]

www.bclocalnews.com/opinion/letters/56726867.html

Letter - Ferry captain explains Cut Off Time
Published: September 02, 2009 10:00 AM

I too am familiar with that sinking feeling you get when the doors of the train slam shut just as you reach the platform, and when the traffic barrier drops just as you come over the rise. My first response is to ask: “why me?” But the answer, of course, is simply that everyone expects the trains – and ferries — to run on time.

For the benefit of fellow islanders, I would like to clarify cut-off procedures for BCF terminals on Salt Spring.

On the premise that keeping to the schedule when possible is a service desired by the traveling public, a Cut Off Time was implemented (yes, it’s capitalized), which will allow for safe shore closure and departure.

• The Cut Off Time is three minutes before scheduled sailing time for cars, and five minutes for foot passengers. The exception to this is traffic or passengers already at the booth or in the holding compound.

• When the vessel is late, the Cut Off Time is the vessel’s time of arrival in the berth.

• The master has some discretion, especially in the case of the last sailing of the day, and for emergencies. My own definition of “emergency” tends to resemble that of my mother: it should generally involve fire or blood.

It should be noted that ship safety regulations are also a factor: the ferry will occasionally reach the maximum permitted cargo weight or passenger count, and so depart even though there is open deck space visible.

If you have a problem with BC Ferries policy, contact them by phone or through www.bcferries.com. If you have a problem with the way policy has been implemented (except possibly “why me?” — see above), ask to speak with the master. But please, do not harass or assault our crews or shore staff.

Captain Dan Clements,

Salt Spring

[Mill Bay]

BCFerries saves the day... again.

Police, Coast Guard and BC Ferries make ocean take down

By Graeme Wood, Vancouver Sun

September 6, 2009

VANCOUVER — Police, the RCMP and the Coast Guard, acting on a tip from BC Ferries, rallied their troops to halt the getaway of a thief who had slipped out of a Granville Island marina with a $200,000 charter boat Friday. Police now have their suspect, a 46-year-old Vancouver man, in custody. He faces charges of theft over $5,000 and possession of stolen property.

The boat was stolen from Granville Island around 10 a.m. Friday but wasn't discovered missing by the owner until about 5 p.m., Vancouver police spokeswoman Jana McGuinness said.

It took a coordinated effort by the VPD, RCMP, Coast Guard and other marine vessels to locate the 52-foot charter vessel Rosella III.

"Recognizing that the vessel was highly valuable and the thief had a significant head start on authorities, the VPD Marine Unit broadcast the vessel's description over the Marine VHF radio via Coast Guard radio," McGuinness said.

Just after 6 p.m. a tugboat found articles from the stolen vessel. A life raft, deck chairs, life rings and documentation were floating near the mouth of the Fraser River.

The suspect was caught Friday night by Saltspring Island and Ganges RCMP after a BC Ferries ferry spotted the stolen boat "maneuvering erratically through the water" in Active Pass, McGuinness said.

Around 8 p.m. the Bowen Queen ferry reported Rosella III was in Active Pass and then a Coast Guard helicopter and boat and RCMP vessels homed in on the suspect.

As the Bowen Queen continued on its course, a larger ferry, the Spirit of BC, continued to monitor the Rosella III as it moved erratically through the water.

When authorities arrived, they boarded the boat at gunpoint and took the man into custody without incident, McGuinness said.

The Rosella III is at the Ganges RCMP Detachment waiting to be claimed by the owner.

[e-mail]
© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun

[Low Light Mike]

Here's a reader-letter, that contains a few assumptions about strangers' mobility needs.

What does a younger person with a bad knee or hip look like? What would a below-the-knee amputee younger-person look like?

Or maybe the ship was the C-Cell and the young crowd were getting some "Helga time"? (the nickname for the Deutch lady voice for the Coastal elevators)

Think before you use ferry elevators
Times ColonistSeptember 13, 2009

This Saturday I had the pleasure of accompanying my elderly parents to and from a family event in Victoria.

The B.C. Ferries staffs were accomodating in helping us to park in the best location for easy access to the elevator, as my soon-to-be 90-year-old father must use a walker and has health issues that leave him very short of breath after even short periods of exertion.

Many of our fellow travellers, however, were thoughtless towards my parents and other elderly and handicapped individuals.

For each of our trips up and down the elevator, we were forced to wait extended periods of time as much younger, able-bodied people crammed into it, leaving no room for those unable to use the stairs.

Please, when you travel on the ferries, leave the elevators for those who have no choice but to use them.

Janet Wiltshire
Port Coquitlam

© Copyright (c) The Victoria Times Colonist

www.timescolonist.com/health/Think+before+ferry+elevators/1989443/story.html

[Low Light Mike]

Peeing on the Skeena:

www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/news/story.html?id=2011592

Saltspring Island ferry allots only 15 minutes washroom time
Joanne Hatherly
Times Colonist
Saturday, September 19, 2009

Saltspring Island ferry passengers might want to take their mothers' advice and visit the loo before boarding.

B.C. Ferries is getting the jump on anticipated changes to sewage-treatment regulations in Canada's Shipping Act by launching a pilot project that has closed the washrooms on the Skeena Queen for a good part of its run between Fulford Harbour and Swartz Bay.

Since June, the 110-metre vessel -- which has a 100-car and 600-passenger capacity -- has been undergoing a refit that will see the ship pumping sewage into North Saanich's municipal sewage system instead of the marine environment.

Canada Shipping Act regulations prohibit raw-sewage dumping within a certain distance of shore, so the Skeena Queen's washrooms are closed for the first and last 10 minutes of the voyage, leaving passengers a 15-minute window to use the facilities.

Before this summer, the Skeena Queen operated an on-board sewage-treatment system that treated effluent before discharging it into the water. The vessel also had a holding tank as a backup. That sanitation system and holding tank had to be removed to make way for the new system.

Next week, the refit will be complete, and B.C. Ferries engineers will study the system's effectiveness over an undetermined length of time.

Deborah Marshall, spokeswoman for B.C. Ferries, said should the Skeena Queen's pilot project prove effective, B.C. Ferries will seek agreements with other municipalities before moving to refit other vessels.

"There's the question of whether the municipal system can accommodate the discharge," Marshall said.

Marshall said most B.C. Ferries vessels are equipped with sewage-treatment plants that discharge into the marine environment. B.C. Ferries is working toward being fully compliant with new regulations before they come into effect, which the corporation anticipates will be in 2012.

[e-mail]
© The Victoria Times Colonist 2009

[Low Light Mike]

(news source pending).

A co-worker of mine saw a news story on Global-BC news last night, about BC Ferries firing an officer from the Coastal Inspiration.

Apparently the reason was something to do with an acquiantance of a crew member allowed up to the bridge and some loud & distracting behaviour ensuing.

I'll be watching Global-BC's website to see if they post any story.

[lmtengs]

Sept 25, 2009 8:55:31 GMT -8 Low Light Mike said:

(news source pending).

A co-worker of mine saw a news story on Global-BC news last night, about BC Ferries firing an officer from the Coastal Inspiration.

Apparently the reason was something to do with an acquiantance of a crew member allowed up to the bridge and some loud & distracting behaviour ensuing.

I'll be watching Global-BC's website to see if they post any story.

So does that mean no more bridge tours for us, then, for safety reasons?

=========

[moderator edit: just to edit my quoted text, to make it more generic, since I haven't seen a news source yet]

[Low Light Mike]

News story on the C'Inspirational spat-scene.

There are reader-comments on the website, linked below. Based on the details given in the Global TV story, the reader comments are way off base.

www.theprovince.com/business/Ferries+employees+fired+after+incident/2035504/story.html

B.C. Ferries employees fired after incident
By Susan Lazaruk, The ProvinceSeptember 25, 2009

Two B.C. Ferries employees were fired after an incident aboard a ferry at the Tsawwassen terminal.

A captain and a junior officer were fired, according to Kevin Hall of the B.C. Ferries union.

“I can confirm the two terminations,” he said.

The junior officer is a union member and the captain is not, he said.

He also said he couldn’t reveal any details of the incident because the union will be representing her in a bid to retain her job.

[Low Light Mike]

Regarding the news story about the C'Inspiration firings re bridge security:

To do some self-examination and question myself on why I have posted about this story and why I think it's of interest (my response to my conscience):

- Do I love gossip or scandal? I hope that wasn't my motivation.

I think that this story will only be a short-lived news item, mainly because it involves confidential personnel matters. I think that's why it was only a bit-item in a few media places. There's likely not going to be any verifiable information released on this matter.

From what I've been able to ascertain from the few news stories, the main issue was bridge-security, and that the noticeably loud spat was evidence that a non-employee was able to access the bridge and cause a disruption.

BC Ferries is extra security conscious these days, with new regulations and Olympics effect. I think they're also conscious of bridge happenings as a result of the Queen of the North sinking.

I think that this incident may result in a firm policy about passenger access to the Bridge, where discretion is taken away from the Master and Chief-Steward and replaced by a 1-size-fits-all policy that limits the interaction that some of us have enjoyed between passenger and officer/crew.

I'll be interested in hearing if any of the regular bridge-visitors on our forum notice any new restrictions.

[lmtengs]

I actually asked for a bridge tour on the Inspiration on my way over to Nanaimo on Saturday, and the friendly person at the Chief Steward's Office said in pretty close to these words: "No, sorry, I would have tried to get you one, but after an issue a few days ago, I'm no longer allowed to offer those kinds of priveleges." She went on to say to try again in a few months after the hype's gone down.

That's probably only on that one ferry though, right?

[Curtis]

There was more information on this an hour ago on Global BC.
The couple involved was not in an affair, they were in a relationship for the last 8 months. She had also been up to the bridge many times before. The night it happened (the 10:45 PM to Duke Point) she was taken up to the bridge after having a bit too much to drink and that's in part what caused the argument.

The Termination of the Employees had to do with a "Red Zone" Policy BC Ferries has in place that states that on the final sailing of the day, only crew members can be on the bridge during docking.

The way she described the incident, it sounds like the crew members shouldn't have been punished for what happened. Personally, I agree. I don't see how this is much different from incidents in the past that have gotten people banned from Ferry Travel. BC Ferries should rethink this by reinstating or suspending the crew members involved and ban the woman for a year.

[lmtengs]

Sept 29, 2009 18:17:49 GMT -8 Curtis said:

I don't see how this is much different from incidents in the past that have gotten people banned from Ferry Travel. BC Ferries should rethink this by reinstating or suspending the crew members involved and ban the woman for a year.

How the heck do they enforce these bannings? Can't the person just show up in their car with their friend (who isn't banned) driving, then ta-da, they're through? Or does the company make each employee memorize intricate detail of the face of each banned person?? Sounds kinda radonkalous if you ask me...

[Low Light Mike]

Sept 29, 2009 18:17:49 GMT -8 Curtis said:

The Termination of the Employees had to do with a "Red Zone" Policy BC Ferries has in place that states that on the final sailing of the day, only crew members can be on the bridge during docking.

I have watched the above-mentioned interview on Global BC's website. The interview was of the lady who was the common-law girlfriend of the terminated Navigator.

She said that it was regular-practice for her to be allowed to the bridge on the red-zone sailing. And that practice is against BC Ferries' regulation, according to that news report.

And based on those 2 news-report items, that explains why the master was terminated, because he would have continually allowed a breach of the regulations (again, just based on the info that was reported on that Global BC story).

[Curtis]

Having listened a bit more closely (and finally finding the video on the Global BC site), my mind just changed...

[Northern Exploration]

Not a BC Ferry per se in the article, rather a picture of a BC Ferry in a non-BC Ferry article. This week some lawyer awards or something were handed out. Kind like the Oscars for lawyers. The pic of the winner of Lifetime Achievement, William Raymond Cottick, VP of Corp Affairs and General Counsel of BC Ferries, had him posing beside a Coastal dockside somewhere. Unfortunately pic isn't repeated on the web. www.financialpost.com/working/story.html?id=2073598

As an aside Nanaimo got a nice write up in the Toronto Star yesterday as well. www.thestar.com/travel/northamerica/article/706312--rejuvenated-nanaimo-now-a-place-to-be

[Scott]

www.news1130.com/news/local/more.jsp?content=20091009_100613_8740

Fire aboard the Spirit of Vancouver Island. Not sure how bad it is, but the long weekend curse is still alive and well!

[Nick]

The fire was out as of 10am, but all of her sailings for today have been canceled, and the Celebration and New West are both running full time on an even hour schedule to move the traffic.

Because of the backlog of traffic on route 1, apparently more sailings have been added on route 2 to spread the load out.

[D'Elete BC in NJ]

www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2009/10/11/bc-ferries-delays-tsawwassen-victoria.html

---

Expect delays Monday, BC Ferries warns

BC Ferries is warning passengers to expect delays on the busy route between Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay on Monday after a vessel was sidelined Friday because of a fire.

A generator fire aboard the Spirit of Vancouver Island took the vessel out of service early Friday morning.

The ship is one of four that sails the route between Tsawwassen on the mainland and Swartz Bay, near Victoria, on Vancouver Island.

The backlog caused long lineups and delays throughout the Thanksgiving long weekend. There was a three-sailing wait for most of the day Saturday, leaving passengers waiting several hours to board a ferry.

BC Ferries spokesperson Deborah Marshall is warning passengers those delays will continue Monday.

"We do expect the holiday Monday to be exceptionally busy," she said.

"If customers are traveling without a reservation on Monday, we would recommend they travel as early as possible. What we normally see is traffic picking up after noon. The earlier sailings generally have more space available."

It's expected the vessel will be out of service for at least one week, but BC Ferries has added additional sailings to the Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay route Monday to help clear the backlog.

There is an extra 8 p.m. sailing leaving Tsawwassen, and a 10 p.m. boat leaving Swartz Bay.

BC Ferries will not be honouring assured-loading tickets on the Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay route Monday, but reservations will be honoured.

Marshall said passengers should also brace for delays at the three terminals on Vancouver Island — Departure Bay, Duke Point and Swartz Bay — as well as the Langdale terminal that carries passengers from the Sunshine Coast to Horseshoe Bay.

[hwy19man]

Oct 9, 2009 6:28:45 GMT -8 Scott said:

www.news1130.com/news/local/more.jsp?content=20091009_100613_8740

Fire aboard the Spirit of Vancouver Island. Not sure how bad it is, but the long weekend curse is still alive and well!

Murphy's Law strikes again.

[Alberni]

news.sympatico.cbc.ca/abc/Local/BC/ContentPosting?isfa=1&feedname=CBC_LOCALNEWS&date=true&newsitemid=vancouver-bc-ferry-drops-anchor-active-pass


CBC Local News
B.C. ferry drops anchor unexpectedly: passenger
27/10/2009 11:52:43 AM

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


BC Ferries service between Victoria and Tsawwassen has reportedly been interrupted after the Spirit of British Columbia stopped abruptly when its anchor unexpectedly dropped into the water.

Ferry passenger Brenda McCorquodale told CBC News the ship had just crossed Active Pass when it came to a halt.

"The boat started shuddering and immediately did a very large doughnut. After about 10 minutes the captain came on and then told us that the anchor had spontaneously dropped from the boat," said McCorquedale.

More to come

[Alberni]

Another article:
www.timescolonist.com/Ferry+running+late+after+unexpectedly+releasing+anchor+crew+will+switch+vessel/2150499/story.html

Ferry running late after unexpectedly releasing its anchor; crew will switch to new vessel

By Joanne Hatherly, Times ColonistOctober 27, 2009 10:20 AM
The Spirit of British Columbia came to an unscheduled stop this morning on its 7 a.m. sailing from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay when its anchor inadvertently released.

Gur Treet, a Richmond truck drive, was sleeping in his vehicle on the car deck when he was woken by a loud banging sound.

“It was a horrible bang,” Treet said in a cellphone interview from the ship. “It went on for more than 10 minutes. The ship was shuddering.”

Passengers reported a large plume of dust billowing out from the rear of the ferry. The banging noise continued and the ship swayed side to side, but passengers said the motion was not that noticeable.

Deborah Marsahll, spokeswoman for B.C. Ferries, confirmed that the vessel's anchor had inadvertently released after the ferry cleared Georgina Point on Mayne Island.
"The crew did not deploy the anchor," Marshall said.

The ship had already gone through Active Pass and was in open water. The anchor did not hook, said Marshall. Crew members brought the ship to a stop when they realized the malfunction.

She was unable to identify the plume of dust at the rear of the ship, but she noted that the anchor was at the bow, and the engines are underwater, so it would be unlikely that any mechanical activity would have caused the dust.

At 9:20 a.m., after an 80-minute stop, the ship was underway again. Passengers were told no one was injured in the stop.

Initially, no plans were made to bring another vessel in to service. Marshall said that while the Coastal Celebration was docked and ready at Swartz Bay, there was no crew on standby, so it would not be introduced into the schedule this morning.

However, just before 10 a.m., B.C. Ferries decided to switch the ferries over at the 3 p.m. sailing, with the Celebration replacing the Spirit of B.C. so as to return the ferry schedule to normal.

"There is nothing mechanically wrong with the Spirit of B.C.," Marshall said, 'however, we are already seeing a one-sailing wait at Tsawwassen as a result of the delay." She said that ferry traffic was normal for a Tuesday, but the anchor malfunction had created the back-up.

She said the crew from the Spirit of B.C. would transfer over to the Coastal Celebration. The Spirit of B.C. will continue to run late until the Celebration takes over.

People planning to ride the ferries today on the Swartz Bay-Tsawwassen route are advised to check the B.C. Ferries website for sailing updates at www.bcferries.com.

© Copyright (c) The Victoria Times Colonist

[Curtis]

Whoops...I wonder what caused the anchor to release. Something tells me a crew member forgot to do something after exiting Active Pass. The Spooks sure are having October woes. First the SoVI goes down because of her generator and now the SoBC drops anchor accidentally. What's next!?

How many minor incidents has BCFS experienced in the last few months? This is at least the third or fourth.

[Kam]

The dust is likely the rust powder from the chain as it drops out the chain hole and blows down the side of the ship.