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Post by Low Light Mike on Mar 18, 2010 6:12:52 GMT -8
That idiot who wrote this dosent know what he is talking about. This is normally the type of comment I'd see in the reader-feedback of The Province... I'm intrigued by this narrow-minded world where there are only 2 types of people: - Idiots - Sweeties ;D (hopefully you don't get these mixed up....or else that would be trouble....ha ha) Hey, at least you didn't use the special "R" word this time..... |
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D'Elete BC in NJ
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Post by D'Elete BC in NJ on Mar 18, 2010 7:46:17 GMT -8
That idiot who wrote this dosent know what he is talking about. This is normally the type of comment I'd see in the reader-feedback of The Province... I'm intrigued by this narrow-minded world where there are only 2 types of people: - Idiots - Sweeties ;D (hopefully you don't get these mixed up....or else that would be trouble....ha ha) Hey, at least you didn't use the special "R" word this time..... hahaha...for the nod from Dan..." Republican"  |
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Post by Curtis on Mar 18, 2010 11:03:45 GMT -8
A new and interesting schedule arrangement is on the way for Route 3 (for the benefit of commuters) this Summer thanks to a suggestion by the Southern Sunshine Coast Ferry Advisory Committee. [/center] VICTORIA – BC Ferries is pleased to announce that the Horseshoe Bay – Langdale summer schedule includes an evening commuter sailing Monday through Friday as a pilot project for the summer of 2010. The Southern Sunshine Coast Ferry Advisory Committee put forth a creative proposal to accommodate a sailing from Horseshoe Bay on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in the early evening, which will satisfy a long-standing request by commuters. Instead of requiring a second crew on the supplemental ship, the Committee’s idea involves some creative vessel swapping. The plan utilizes one vessel in the morning and the second vessel, on a modified schedule in the afternoon. “On behalf of BC Ferries, I’d like to extend my compliments and sincere thanks to the members of the Southern Sunshine Coast Ferry Advisory Committee for proposing such an elegant solution,” said Rob Clarke, BC Ferries’ EVP and CFO. “The Committee has been working diligently for commuters and residents of the Sunshine Coast for some time now to resolve this important issue, and this is a fabulous example of the benefits of the Ferry Advisory Committee process.” In order to achieve a scheduled 5:50 pm sailing from Horseshoe Bay on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in the summer, the afternoon sailings will be moved forward by approximately 45 minutes on these two days. As a result, the last sailing of the day on Tuesdays and Wednesdays will be 9:50 pm instead of 10:35 pm like the rest of the week. In the summer months, BC Ferries adds a supplemental vessel to the Horseshoe Bay – Langdale route Thursday through Monday to accommodate the extra volume of traffic. As less traffic travels midweek, the cost and capacity of an extra ship on Tuesdays and Wednesdays is not warranted. BC Ferries looks forward to implementing the new Langdale summer schedule and will review the pilot in the fall. For full schedule details, visit It's a pretty crazy schedule to figure out, the crews of each vessel sure do get juggled around a lot. www.bcferries.com/schedules/mainland/vasc-current.html |
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Post by DENelson83 on Mar 19, 2010 12:57:53 GMT -8
And how did CurCon report that? "Operational delay"? |
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Neil
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Post by Neil on Mar 21, 2010 16:59:08 GMT -8
A new and interesting schedule arrangement is on the way for Route 3 (for the benefit of commuters) this Summer thanks to a suggestion by the Southern Sunshine Coast Ferry Advisory Committee. Back in the '60s, BC Ferries would print a summer schedule, and that would be the schedule for every day, June through early September, with maybe a couple of holiday exceptions. Over the years, they've fine tuned all the schedules so much that they're different for almost every day of the week, with even more exceptions for holidays. That route 3 summer schedule lists 15 sailings from Horseshoe Bay, but only three of them run every day. Commuters might be fine with this, once they get used to it, but it must be confusing for casual travellers and tourists, who aren't in the habit of perusing schedules. It's time for BC Ferries to go to a different set up for printing their schedules- maybe more like the European companies that have a schedule for each day. None of this "Tuesdays and Wednesdays except for August 5", and "Daily except Tuesdays and Wednesdays" business. When you have more exceptions than regular sailings, it's too convoluted to print one table covering several months. |
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Neil
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Post by Neil on Mar 24, 2010 9:32:02 GMT -8
You need reservations for the Powell River-Comox ferry about as often as fish need bicycles, but I guess BC Ferries sees an opportunity to make some money off dumb tourists who hopefully won't be too peeved to find that they're sharing their reserved deckspace with twenty or thirty other vehicles on a 190 car capacity boat. Actually, I'm being a bit inaccurate. Fish never need bicycles, and there are occasionally overloads on that ferry... and generally when there is, it makes the news, as Powell Riverites react with mass indignation at the scandal of a full sailing. Powell River ferry to offer reservations Comox Valley EchoMarch 19, 2010 Passengers travelling on the Comox-Powell River ferry are now able to make advance vehicle reservations for any sailing on or after next Tuesday (March 23). While there is rarely a problem of getting on board the four-times a day service, the facility is being offered so people who need to be sure they will be on a particular crossing can guarantee it. B.C. Ferries spokeswoman Deborah Marshall said overloads were infrequent on the route, but they did occasionally happen - such as on some long weekends. Also people from the Powell River side needing to catch a plane or with medical appointments in the Comox Valley sometimes needed reassurance they would definitely get on board, and the reservation system would give them peace of mind. Reservations in either direction can be made online at www.bcferries.com or by phone to 1-888-223-3779. They cost $15 when booked more than seven days in advance or $17.50 closer to the date of travel. © Copyright (c) Canwest News Service |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Mar 24, 2010 11:13:24 GMT -8
You need reservations for the Powell River-Comox ferry about as often as fish need bicycles, Points to Neil for working a Gloria Steinem quote into the ferry forum. |
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Post by johnnytindale on Mar 24, 2010 17:33:32 GMT -8
It's time for BC Ferries to go to a different set up for printing their schedules- maybe more like the European companies that have a schedule for each day. None of this "Tuesdays and Wednesdays except for August 5", and "Daily except Tuesdays and Wednesdays" business. When you have more exceptions than regular sailings, it's too convoluted to print one table covering several months. Neil, I completely agree with you. When I want to look at an upcoming schedule, I go to the reservations page because I can't be bothered to try and interpret the convoluted schedule. However, there is a risk of not getting completely accurate info in the case of a last minute change or for minor routes that don't have reservations. The current schedule is not very user-friendly. They should have a system whereby you put in the date/route, and presto a nice reader-friendly schedule appears! I know there is a half-attempt at this under the "travel centre" but it ultimately redirects you to the original schedule. |
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Mill Bay
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Post by Mill Bay on Mar 25, 2010 16:51:22 GMT -8
You need reservations for the Powell River-Comox ferry about as often as fish need bicycles, Points to Neil for working a Gloria Steinem quote into the ferry forum. Maybe this is the harbinger of the long awaited contracting out of various routes by BCFerries. What better way to begin than by adding on a bunch of unnecessary columns in the ledger to make the route look more attractive and financially viable in the eyes of any potential contracting party. |
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Neil
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Post by Neil on Mar 25, 2010 19:26:41 GMT -8
Maybe this is the harbinger of the long awaited contracting out of various routes by BCFerries. What better way to begin than by adding on a bunch of unnecessary columns in the ledger to make the route look more attractive and financially viable in the eyes of any potential contracting party. Very unlikely. All the figures on traffic, subsidies, and expenses and revenues are freely available in the annual reports, so there's really little opportunity for 'creative' marketing. Besides, I think routes 17 and 18 have already been offered up in the ASP process, with no takers. |
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Kam
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Post by Kam on Apr 12, 2010 11:51:45 GMT -8
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Post by nolonger on Apr 23, 2010 6:57:28 GMT -8
From the Nanaimo Daily news www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/news/story.html?id=e59302b3-c0be-4119-9554-7d74dc0f5ca9New B.C. regulations prompt use of biodiesel The Daily News Published: Friday, April 23, 2010 B.C. Ferries fleet has become a little greener. The company announced it was converting its ships to a mixture of 5% canola-based biodiesel with 95% low-sulphur petroleum diesel. Biodiesel burns cleaner with significantly less unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and particulate matter in emissions, the company says. The switch to biodiesel makes B.C. Ferries one of the largest consumers of biodiesel in B.C., the company says. The program began with trials on the Queen of Alberni, which operates on the Tsawwassen-Duke Point route, in September 2009. |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Apr 23, 2010 9:39:14 GMT -8
From the Nanaimo Daily news www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/news/story.html?id=e59302b3-c0be-4119-9554-7d74dc0f5ca9New B.C. regulations prompt use of biodiesel The Daily News Published: Friday, April 23, 2010 B.C. Ferries fleet has become a little greener. The company announced it was converting its ships to a mixture of 5% canola-based biodiesel with 95% low-sulphur petroleum diesel. Biodiesel burns cleaner with significantly less unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and particulate matter in emissions, the company says. The switch to biodiesel makes B.C. Ferries one of the largest consumers of biodiesel in B.C., the company says. The program began with trials on the Queen of Alberni, which operates on the Tsawwassen-Duke Point route, in September 2009. Here's some more info on the bio-diesel story, that a kind person sent to me today: |
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Post by islandvisitor on May 6, 2010 23:43:37 GMT -8
www.coastreporter.net/apps/pbcs.dll/search?Category=secheltMay 5,2010 Ian Jacques/Editor Travellers from Langdale to Horseshoe Bay had a crazy Tuesday of travel after the Queen of Surrey experienced engine problems. According to B.C Ferries’ spokesperson Deborah Marshall, there was a failure of the lube oil system on the Surrey during start-up for the first sailing out of Langdale Tuesday morning, May 4. The first sailing left Langdale at 7:09 a.m., putting the schedule into chaos for the remainder of the day. Several sailings were cancelled and B.C. Ferries had to re-adjust their schedule all day to accommodate for the delays. Marshall said the Surrey operated on one engine, so the crossings, which normally take 40 minutes, took up to 55 minutes. The Queen of Cowichan, which is equal to the Surrey in capacity, was put on the Langdale-Horseshoe Bay route Wednesday morning and will remain as the vessel on the route until the Surrey is fixed. Marshall said Wednesday morning that engineers were still determining what caused the system failure and how long the Surrey will be out of service. For further updates, see www.bcferries.com.
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Post by Scott (Former Account) on May 7, 2010 22:46:09 GMT -8
www.coastreporter.net/apps/pbcs.dll/search?Category=secheltMay 5,2010 Ian Jacques/Editor Travellers from Langdale to Horseshoe Bay had a crazy Tuesday of travel after the Queen of Surrey experienced engine problems. According to B.C Ferries’ spokesperson Deborah Marshall, there was a failure of the lube oil system on the Surrey during start-up for the first sailing out of Langdale Tuesday morning, May 4. The first sailing left Langdale at 7:09 a.m., putting the schedule into chaos for the remainder of the day. Several sailings were cancelled and B.C. Ferries had to re-adjust their schedule all day to accommodate for the delays. Marshall said the Surrey operated on one engine, so the crossings, which normally take 40 minutes, took up to 55 minutes. The Queen of Cowichan, which is equal to the Surrey in capacity, was put on the Langdale-Horseshoe Bay route Wednesday morning and will remain as the vessel on the route until the Surrey is fixed. Marshall said Wednesday morning that engineers were still determining what caused the system failure and how long the Surrey will be out of service. For further updates, see www.bcferries.com. Thanks for posting that, islandvisitor. Apparently, the lube oil issue not only caused damage to the M/E bearings, but has possibly caused enough damage to require a new crankshaft... In other words, the Surrey might be out for a while... |
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Post by lmtengs on May 19, 2010 18:06:51 GMT -8
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Post by Scott (Former Account) on May 30, 2010 11:53:36 GMT -8
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Post by Scott on Jun 14, 2010 23:26:27 GMT -8
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Ferryman
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Post by Ferryman on Jun 17, 2010 11:54:13 GMT -8
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Mill Bay
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Post by Mill Bay on Jun 20, 2010 18:19:56 GMT -8
This is for the more sheltered and fragile traveler who can't face actually exposing himself to the elements while watching the Gulf Islands go by, so now there is this special courtesy to enable you to browse the internet for photos of the passing scenery from the comfort of a climate controlled computer station. |
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Post by lmtengs on Jun 21, 2010 9:33:28 GMT -8
But you have a so fitted laptop, there is one benifit for ferry nuts. We would be able to use Siitech while at sea. Now THAT would be exciting, especially on the longer voyages! Edit: Longer, as in 4+ hours  |
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Post by nolonger on Jun 21, 2010 19:32:34 GMT -8
Reminds me of a time when two friends who had cell phones were in the same room. They actually called each other to exchange a text message.
Or the time a shipmate showed up late, in fact missed the 1st round trip on rte 30 and when asked by the mate when he showed up at 1015 for the second trip what happened, he said that he had forgotten his cell phone and had to go back home to get it.
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Post by lmtengs on Jun 23, 2010 9:49:12 GMT -8
Reminds me of a time when two friends who had cell phones were in the same room. They actually called each other to exchange a text message. Or the time a shipmate showed up late, in fact missed the 1st round trip on rte 30 and when asked by the mate when he showed up at 1015 for the second trip what happened, he said that he had forgotten his cell phone and had to go back home to get it. Yay for me! I don't have, or want a cellphone! |
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Neil
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Post by Neil on Jun 24, 2010 11:46:37 GMT -8
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Ferryman
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Post by Ferryman on Jun 25, 2010 10:57:06 GMT -8
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