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Post by Scott (Former Account) on Dec 1, 2009 0:24:26 GMT -8
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Mirrlees
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Bathtub!
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Post by Mirrlees on Dec 1, 2009 1:09:34 GMT -8
This could also mean that minor vessel replacement may go to Puget Sound yards; since it is too costly to transport a ship from Europe that can't be sailed on her own keel.  |
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Post by Northern Exploration on Dec 1, 2009 6:28:03 GMT -8
Very interesting article. I have just done a quick scan and will likely reread later. The end of the article as Scott mentioned regarding Puget Sound refits, is very interesting with what I see as a major shot across the bow of WMG.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Dec 1, 2009 7:43:38 GMT -8
Quote from the article that Scott posted a link to:
(Mr. Hahn speaking)
This is inconsistent with how Mr. Hahn caved to Mr. Campbell in October 2008, when Mr. Campbell went on TV and changed BCF fares and reinstated extra sailings, without consulting Mr. Hahn.
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Neil
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Post by Neil on Dec 1, 2009 10:37:44 GMT -8
It would not have been nessesary specifically for such a direct person to person meeting between Campbell and Hahn to take place. Such meetings would take place between Transportation Ministry officials - somewhat probable with Falcon who was Minister at the time - and BC Ferries, not the Premier himself personally. The point that's being made is that despite Hahn's assertions of independence from any politics, BC Ferries carried out a directive from the province that was blatantly political in nature. Gordon Campbell is known to be a control freak, with his hand in every ministry. The initiative would have come from him, whether he had any personal contact with David Hahn or not. |
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M/V LeConte
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~ I believe in Ferries! ~
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Post by M/V LeConte on Dec 2, 2009 2:32:28 GMT -8
An interesting read, including the mention of refits done outside of BC... Interesting indeed... Maybe someone can help me out. I want to say one of the BC ships went to ASD Shipyard (Ketchikan) in 2006. Probably October or November. QoPR? I remember when our crews would get together at an off site establishment, one of our crew kept mistakenly referring to her as the Queen of the North. Every time he would say it, he would get a response of horrified looks and silence. I would be interested to find out BCF's views on how that went. (The shipyard work, not the mistaken references) |
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WettCoast
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Post by WettCoast on Dec 2, 2009 7:11:17 GMT -8
The QPR did indeed go to the Ketchikan shipyard in the fall of 2006. The issue was, IIRC, something to do with propellers or propeller seals & the QPR needed dry dock time. She was also at the time the only boat available to serve the BC north coast so was needed back in service ASAP. The fastest remedy was to get the work done in Ketchikan. As far as I know this proved to be a satisfactory solution.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Dec 4, 2009 7:41:11 GMT -8
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Post by Northern Exploration on Dec 4, 2009 8:28:36 GMT -8
Too bad it is 11:28 here in the East or I would have done it to be a pain - payment for the Tofino gloating  . |
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Post by DENelson83 on Dec 11, 2009 12:47:45 GMT -8
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Post by Low Light Mike on Dec 31, 2009 13:34:54 GMT -8
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Post by herrbrinkmann on Jan 6, 2010 2:24:57 GMT -8
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Post by Northern Exploration on Jan 6, 2010 21:09:10 GMT -8
I'll post my usual shipping magazine updates here because one of them includes the I Sky and the second one a one step removed from the CATS. In the latest American Shipping News Vol. 130 there is a three page article on the Island Sky with pictures. It covers a lot of aspects of the ferry from a technical and machinery side. Well worth a perusal at your local Indigo/Chapters or where ever is best for mags around you. The final paragraph is as follows. "On a purse strings note, BC taxpayers, who are often upset with cost overruns on British Columbia-built ferries, should be pleased to hear that it was built on a fixed cost contract to oblige the private sector to be efficient. Word on the BC waterfront is the ship's replacement cost could be twice the C$45.5 million contracted price. It is hard to find a fine vessel at better-than-market price." I may have missed the odd word as I took a couple calls when I was typing this  . Also in that issue is the usual update on ferries. Also an article on ferry construction with a good deal of it centred on the East Coast. Of note the Hawaii Supercats are still laid up in Norfolk waiting buyers after they were reposessed but with an odd comment that a military conversion maybe possible. There was a line about the Ferry for Kitsap Transit, a couple of Alaska ferries/taxis and the Pacific Breeze, among others like the taxi's for New York Harbor. Lastly there was an article about another Canadian fireboat, the City of Portland, built for Portland, Maine, this one coming from Nova Scotia. The December Issue of Shipping Monthly has an article on the St. Laurent Class of the Canadian Navy, now mostly broken up or as reefs. It also includes an article on new technologies and designs including ferries. I thought for sure they would comment on ICON from FSG. But instead it seemed like a lot of Wartsila ideas for LPG powered ferries, cruise ships with wind enhanced power, and other new ideas. The end of the previous article had a high heat fuel cell idea for a ship being tested in Europe. As usual tons of updates on cruise ships and Euro ferries with a focus on Britain and Europe. Finally the sort of connection to former the PacifiCATS comes via news of Abu Dhabi Mar in the latest Yachts Magazine. ADM in partnership with ThyssenKrupp Marine, has launched a joint venture with Bloom and Voss Naval. In related news ADM has purchased the mega yacht division of Bloom and Voss that has produced some of the worlds largest and most famous yachts. So it appears the economic challenges faced by UAE neighbour Dubai hasn't dampened the deep pockets of neighbour Abu Dhabi. The naval frigate conversion to yachts was mentioned briefly but no details on the CATS. You may recall that when the tallest building in the world in next door Dubai was renamed this week in honor of the Prince of Abu Dhabi in recognition of his role in bailing out the high flying Dubai projects. I would think the Hawaii Cats could have found a good home there too but I doubt they are going for as good a price and there are only two not three. |
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Post by Scott on Jan 9, 2010 18:45:10 GMT -8
A bit of an odd one...
David Hahn wrote a letter to the city of Victoria to push for greater police funding to make downtown Victoria safer and more appealing to travelers. I like the excerpt below:
Full article:
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Post by northwesterner on Jan 9, 2010 19:03:18 GMT -8
I haven't been to Victoria since Spring 2006, but in many visits over the years, I've never felt uncomfortable, day or night, in downtown Victoria...
Has it taken a turn for the worse the last couple of years or ...?
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Neil
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Post by Neil on Jan 9, 2010 19:50:45 GMT -8
Tourism and ferry travel is down all over the coast, and none of it is due to high ferry fares.
It's down on the Gulf Islands because of the Islands Trust. It's down in Victoria because of marauding bands of seniors mugging visitors. It's down in Nanaimo because of- what... maybe the high cost of nanaimo bars.
I loved this sly little editorial comment from the story...
"Ironically, though, the top complaint cited by visitors in the latest Tourism Victoria exit surveys was not safety but high ferry prices."
But hey, if you throw enough stuff at the wall, surely some of it will stick. The recent spate of social commentary from BC Ferries execs is intriguing.
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WettCoast
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Post by WettCoast on Jan 9, 2010 20:59:08 GMT -8
Perhaps BC ferries could trim a few hundred thou off of Mr. Hahn's salary and turn the freed up money over to the Victoria Police Dept which would allow the hiring of a few new officers?
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WettCoast
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Post by WettCoast on Jan 13, 2010 22:37:35 GMT -8
A letter from the Victoria Times-Colonist ot he subject of Tourist feeling safe versus high ferry fares... Ferry fares hurt tourism: operator
By Andrew Planeta, Times ColonistJanuary 13, 2010
Re: "Ferries boss says customers 'don't feel safe' downtown," Jan. 9
I take issue with B.C. Ferries CEO David Hahn's assertions that it is solely safety and crime issues in Victoria causing people not to visit.
I have a tourism-based business (camping, motel and marina facilities). In the past two years, we've had countless phone calls from longtime clients who said that "due to high ferry costs" they would not be coming to the Island. Instead, they would be travelling along the U.S. or Canadian coastline. (Why haven't we heard anything about this from Tourism Vancouver Island?)
Even local people have drastically minimized their ferry travel, unless it's absolutely necessary. Most people who travel on the ferries do not receive exorbitant work bonuses. Most people are just trying to pay the bills and survive.
Andrew Planeta
Sooke
© Copyright (c) The Victoria Times Colonistsource: www.timescolonist.com/opinion/Ferry+fares+hurt+tourism+operator/2435938/story.html |
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Post by DENelson83 on Feb 8, 2010 14:48:32 GMT -8
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Post by DENelson83 on Feb 18, 2010 12:41:20 GMT -8
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Post by Low Light Mike on Mar 15, 2010 5:59:25 GMT -8
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Post by johnnytindale on Mar 15, 2010 6:00:44 GMT -8
From the TC online: www.timescolonist.com/Ferries+reports+five+near+collisions+2009/2682802/story.htmlB.C. Ferries reports five near collisions in 2009 Captains apprise Transporation Safety Board of incidents BY LARRY PYNN, CANWEST NEWS SERVICEMARCH 14, 2010 B.C. Ferries vessels were involved in five near collisions last year, two of them in constricted Active Pass in the southern Gulf Islands, according to marine reportable incidents for 2009. That’s the same number as recorded by the fleet in 2008. The reports, compiled by the federal Transportation Safety Board at the request of the Vancouver Sun, show that on March 13 the 167-metre-long Spirit of British Columbia had a close-quarters situation with the U.S. fishing vessel Falcon at the western entrance to Active Pass. “The ferry altered hard to starboard to avoid a collision,” the report states. The 167-metre Spirit of Vancouver Island reported a similar situation with the sailing pleasure craft Callaloo in Active Pass on Dec. 1. The Spirit of Vancouver Island also had a close call with a pleasure craft on May 15 while approaching the dock at Swartz Bay. “The ferry had to go full astern on its engines to avoid a collision,” the report found. On June 26, the 54-metre ferry Kahloke narrowly avoided the U.S. fishing vessel Haida Warrior in Lambert Channel, between Hornby and Denman islands. On Sept. 25, the 139-metre Queen of Alberni reported a close-quarters situation with the crab fishing vessel Vung Tau off Tsawwassen. The five incidents are officially labelled “collisions — near.” B.C. Ferries spokesperson Deborah Marshall said the five near collisions must be compared against the fleet’s 182,500 sailings per year. She described near collisions as “any time you need to take avoiding action.” Marshall added it is fleet policy that captains report all incidents to Transport Canada and the Transportation Safety Board. She added B.C. Ferries did follow-up investigations on some of the incidents, but refused to provide details. Among the other reportable incidents involving B.C. Ferries in 2009, a vehicle caught fire Jan. 25 on board the Queen of Vancouver while it was docked at Tsawwassen. Delta fire department put the fire out. Two crew suffered smoke inhalation. The Spirit of British Columbia on Oct. 27 “accidentally let go its anchor” while exiting Active Pass, the report found. There were 13 incidents involving mechanical malfunctions related to engine and electrical problems. © Copyright (c) The Victoria Times Colonist |
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Koastal Karl
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Post by Koastal Karl on Mar 16, 2010 9:16:08 GMT -8
Yeah and those stupid pleasure crafts/fishing boats think they own waters but they dont! If you look at all those incidents it involves those smaller boats who think they can go where they want but if I am correct they have to give way to the ferries?? And that car fire on the Queen of Vancouver! How is that BC Ferries fault?? That idiot who wrote this dosent know what he is talking about. Things happen people make mistakes. If Active Pass is so dangerous then maybe we should think about another route to Tsawwassen then but people would complain about that because it would take longer but I dont think Active Pass is that dangerous it's the other idiots, not BC Ferries who use active pass just like I say the Malahat isent dangerous it's the idiots who drive it.
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Post by fargowolf on Mar 16, 2010 15:00:04 GMT -8
The Victoria Times story only mentions that there were five "near misses" last year that were considered "reportable" under BC Ferries regulations. That info as was mentioned in the story, so far as we know, came from Transport Canada. To me, it's a very brief run down of said events. Keeping in mind Karl, that MOST of those boaters have NO formal training whatsoever. Therefore, they have no clue whatsoever about "The Rules of the Road" Most, if not all of us on this board, have had formal training (or years of experience), so we know what we are doing. At least I'm hoping we are. |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Mar 18, 2010 6:10:34 GMT -8
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