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Post by Retrovision on Mar 13, 2008 5:38:27 GMT -8
I couldn't easily find a specific thread for this topic so I created this one - please consider this your Halifax Harbour Ferries thread from here on out (unless of course you can help point me towards an established thread)  I've been meaning to post this tip on seeing Halifax harbour ferries live on television for quite a while after seeing them live on TV during my morning routine and have decided to get around to it now especially because I can't deny the frequency. Most days, it seems after being a fairly loyal viewer for a while, CBC News: Morning broadcasts their national weather segment - hosted by the witty and lovable Nova Scotia curling star Colleen Jones - from the dock besides the Halifax Harbour Ferries downtown terminal ( www.halifax.ca/metrotransit/ferries.html). This is a great opportunity to see these Vancouver SeaBus-like ferries in action during the morning rush. To watch, tune in either to CBC Television between 6 and 7am (same for other time zones to Central Time in the east) or CBC Newsworld between 3am and 7am PST. |
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Post by Northern Exploration on Mar 13, 2008 6:28:49 GMT -8
Colleen is a nut and always a laugh in the morning. She moves all over but that regular spot and seeing the harbour is always great. The evil eye she gets staring at the stone when she is curling is scarey though.
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Post by novabus9228 on Mar 6, 2010 17:55:37 GMT -8
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Post by Scott on Mar 6, 2010 21:18:01 GMT -8
So how do the Halifax Harbour Ferries compare to the Vancouver Seabus ferries? They appear somewhat smaller and not as utilitarian (having an outside deck and a single boarding door?). Is the trip longer? Are they used as heavily as the Seabus? Interesting that little Halifax has 3 of these boats and we only have 2.
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Post by Northern Exploration on Mar 7, 2010 11:00:49 GMT -8
They feel much smaller John when you ride them. The Burrard sisters are more squarish, wider and a bit longer. The rounded ends of the Halifax ferries makes them feel even smaller. The outdoor deck is great for sight seeing in summer as you cross the harbour. If I remember correctly the trip is only about ten minutes give or take. When I last road the ferry they had just, or were just about to celebrate a 250 year anniversary or something like that. The fare was really cheap for a round trip.
They said they hold almost 400 people but to me that would seem very sardine can packed. And certainly that isn't seated passengers. It must include people standing on the outer deck. I just can't see how the ferries from the two different coasts could hold similar amount of people.
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Post by novabus9228 on Mar 7, 2010 13:17:41 GMT -8
The Three Vessles opperates on 2 routes, the main route is from Downtown Halifax to Alderney Landing which opperates with 2 vessles. The second route is also From Downtown Halifax to Woodside. This route only opperates 1 vessle and only Monday to Friday. Both runs are about 10 minutes long, about the same as the Seabus I have not sailed on the Woodside route but from the Alderney Landing run you have a great view of CFB Halifax, The east Coast Navy Base and the Angus L Mcdonald Bridge, which appears quite siminlar to the Lions Gate. The ships are indeed smaller than the Seabuses, But as mentioned before they have the advantage of the sundeck. Also on board the ships are bike racks as seen here: travel.webshots.com/photo/2395503260098252109DHaqzkBesides been smaller the other differnt thing about the Halifax boats is the boarding ramp. Only one side of the vessle is used for boarding and the ships have the ramp built onboard, compared to the shore ramps at the Seabus terminals. Ramp raised position: travel.webshots.com/photo/2382078840098252109gqkdlmRamp Down: travel.webshots.com/photo/2260649030098252109kNXCJHTo access the sundeck and inside passenger Cabin there is a stairway right under the Wheelhouse: Sundeck view: travel.webshots.com/photo/2621415810098252109rcuprRCabin view travel.webshots.com/photo/2541539840098252109UBdfmpOr you can use the stairs to the side of the vessle as you can see through the door windows in this pict. travel.webshots.com/photo/2260649030098252109kNXCJHNow here is a video of the mv Dartmouth 3 leaving Alderney Landing (Dartmouth) with CFB Halifax to the Right of the screen www.youtube.com/user/Novabus9228?feature=mhw4#p/u/107/8QoX9CdIkSwHere is a onboard tour of the mv Dartmouth 3 I shot on Aug 19, 2009 while leaving the Halifax side. www.youtube.com/user/Novabus9228?feature=mhw4#p/u/108/6LFjchHrNGgmv Halifax 3 arriving Dartmouth video www.youtube.com/user/Novabus9228?feature=mhw4#p/u/106/kJD8an60fo0mv Woodside 1 leaving Halifax www.youtube.com/user/Novabus9228?feature=mhw4#p/u/101/NzfRD93TPEgBonus, mv Halifax 3 sailing Durring Hurricane Bill on Aug 23, 2009 Shot from inside a hotel restaurant. www.youtube.com/user/Novabus9228?feature=mhw4#p/u/100/ERINswfWsTsOverall I realy like these little boats, they all were built in Pictou Nova Scotia Same place where the ss Scotian Aka Smokwa was. The Fare is about $2.25-2.50 and you can transfer from bus to ferry and transferes are good for about 90 minutes in any direction. Halifax Metro Transit does not sell Daypasses which suprised me. Did not matter though as I did not have much time to run around on the Buses.  |
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Post by Dane on Jul 4, 2010 8:11:33 GMT -8
Smaller, slower, and considerably less efficient than SeaBus (load time is about double with the same capacity) but the outer deck provides a beautiful ride. More security than SeaBus, too, but it is also silly security (Comissionaires and lots of signs and MARSEC level postings). The service seems well used, but given the location of Halifax's bridges it isn't quite the intrigal part of the Metro Transit system as SeaBus is to CMBC.  The Harbour Hopper tour boat and ferries...  Approaching the terminal (Halifax)  The terminal on the Halifax side, two of the vessels wear the paint scheme shown here (the newer one) and one remians in the older paint scheme.  Older paint styling  Interior shot, since they're in no hurry to get you off the boat they're easy to get   Several doors on one side of the vessel serve as the exit/entrance.  Builder's plaque.  License  |
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Post by Ferryman on Jul 4, 2010 11:00:31 GMT -8
Thanks for the photos!
Funny, I was just thinking of when I was younger and watching that show, "Theodore tugboat", and seeing those little ferries as part of the show. I didn't realize they had a real theodore tugboat there though. That is hilarious!
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Post by Kahloke on Aug 2, 2015 14:54:22 GMT -8
Dane already covered the Halifax Harbour Metro Ferries pretty well a few posts above, but I will add my photos from my trip there last month. As Dane noted, they are kind of like SeaBus, only a bit slower and perhaps not as efficient; still, it seems to work well for them. I do like that the platforms are integral to the vessels - they fold down for the embarkation / disembarkation process, then fold up to become part of the side of the vessel when in transit. The top deck seating is a nice feature, and provides plenty of good views  Two ferries passing each other on the downtown-Dartmouth crossing  Woodside I  Boarding area on the Dartmouth side  Interior seating is pretty plain, and not too comfy with the hard plastic seats.   The internal passenger ramps shown in the down position when docked. It's pretty efficient  Direct access to the top deck from the entry platform is a nice touch  downtown Halifax Terminal  Dartmouth III heading off to Woodside. I know, they had Dartmouth III assigned to the Woodside crossing, and Woodside I assigned to the Dartmouth crossing - what gives?  |
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Post by Dane on Aug 2, 2015 18:57:50 GMT -8
Awfully uninspired new paint, given the rather bold look to their new bus paint scheme. Wonder what the story is there?
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Aug 4, 2015 17:43:28 GMT -8
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Neil
Voyager 
Posts: 7,096
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Post by Neil on Aug 4, 2015 19:19:11 GMT -8
Halifax is smart enough to understand that passenger ferries in their harbour should have an outside deck... but here in Vancouver, with purportedly one of the most scenic harbours in the world and far more tourists, we're not. |
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Post by WettCoast on Aug 4, 2015 19:54:03 GMT -8
Halifax is smart enough to understand that passenger ferries in their harbour should have an outside deck... but here in Vancouver, with purportedly one of the most scenic harbours in the world and far more tourists, we're not. An open upper deck would allow some wonderful photo opportunities, me thinks. |
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Sept 26, 2017 21:03:53 GMT -8
Halifax Transit foot ferries seem inefficient compared to TransLink SeaBus because they sometimes need to spin around, take double the time to load, and unload. I am posting to show the operate.  Woodside I by Blue Bus Fan, on Flickr  Halifax III by Blue Bus Fan, on Flickr  Halifax III by Blue Bus Fan, on Flickr  Christopher Stannix by Blue Bus Fan, on Flickr  Christopher Stannix by Blue Bus Fan, on Flickr  Christopher Stannix by Blue Bus Fan, on Flickr  Christopher Stannix by Blue Bus Fan, on Flickr  Craig Blake by Blue Bus Fan, on Flickr  Craig Blake and Viola Desmond by Blue Bus Fan, on Flickr  Viola Desmond by Blue Bus Fan, on Flickr |
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Post by Starsteward on Sept 27, 2017 7:30:25 GMT -8
Having an outside deck that offers passengers a great viewing opportunity would definitely be an asset on our Seabuses.
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