Temporary Replacement for this Summer up North?

[jjr]

I travel regularly from Rupert to the Charlottes on the ferry so the sinking of the QON is bad bad news. I'm booked to go over at the end of April and was looking forward to the QON being on the run ... now it's back to the QPR and even fewer cabins for passengers on the overnight runs since they are converting many to crew quarters. That sucks - being on the ferry for 6 or 7 hours and no cabin - in the middle of the night in rough seas - not looking forward to this summer at all.

[Dane]

Remember you guys are talking about a very very low volume route, and your suggestions would cost millions and millions of dollars. Since new ships are going to be built BCFS would be best off looking at economically viable solutions that serve the purpose of delivering goods and services too people, and also tranposrting those who need be transported. That's not tourists.

Although the economy of the area will be hit one must be sure their ideas for change arer practical considering in a summer day the Northern Routers served as many people as Route 1 serves in 90 minutes.

[Koastal Karl]

Worse case they will be operating on the Winter/Fall schedule all year round with the Rupert doing both runs. The Chilliwack could run along with the Rupert on the Inside Passage doing all the mid coast stops. I thought the Rupert could do it in about 18-20 hours non stop from PH to PR. Leave Port Hardy about 5:30am and arrive in Prince Rupert about 1 or 2am in the morning. That would be a long day instead of doing overnight trips. Then she could leave at like 8am or so and go to the Charlottes and back. Something like that. Spirit's wouldent work. You need a ship like the North or Rupert. Too bad Alaska State Ferries dident have some bigger ships that are not being used. They would be perfect.

[Scott]

The summer inside passage route wouldn't be an attraction if it took more than 15 hours. Already it leaves pretty early in the morning and arrives quite late at night. The day-trip is also fairly "unessential," although it could easily be argued that the route brings millions in tourist dollars to the North Coast.

The Queen Charlottes and the Mid-Coast are basically essential services. The communities in those areas depend on the ferries for more than just tourists.

If they can't replace the Queen of the North, scrap the summer Inside Passage day trip for a year or two.

If BC Ferries can't find a vessel, I'm sure a private operator would find this a good opportunity.....

[Koastal Karl]

Yeah the Queen Charlottes and North Coast need the ferry services more. The inside passage was just mainly a tourist trip. The day cruise I mean so they could get by without that although hotels and businesses in Port Hardy and Prince Rupert would probably be hurting from not having the day cruises and passengers booking rooms when the ferries are in. But not much they can when they are down to two ships now.

[tyty]

admin said:

The Queen Charlottes and the Mid-Coast are basically essential services. The communities in those areas depend on the ferries for more than just tourists.

If they can't replace the Queen of the North, scrap the summer Inside Passage day trip for a year or two.

If you had to do away with either of the Inside Passage or Discovery Coast services, I'd say forget the Discovery Coast.

That would free up the Chilliwack. But I guess the trip time between PH and PR with a single stop at McLoughlin Bay would still be too long even for local freight and passenger needs?

Yes, obviously this would be too long to attract tourists...

[Political Incorrectness]

Right now you can supply the Discovery Coast with the Nimpkish and with the JAB due to come into service, if the runs start to get a bit more crowded, perhaps have two minor vessels run the route. Now if there is going to be no vessel to hold up service up North, should one of the vessels engines be replaced with refurbished engines for it to gain extra speed? I see no reason to refurbish the vessels if they are gone in about three to four years.

[Neil]

With regard to an earlier comment, the Inside Passage route used to take 20 hours when they did it straight through from Kelsey Bay, so that's not out of the question. John H. is right in saying that the central coast and the Charlottes should get priority over the Inside Passage route- people living in those communities have to get service first.

[Doug]

They should head the Garibaldi up there.