|
|
Post by Curtis on Dec 16, 2005 19:13:07 GMT -8
|
|
|
|
Post by Ferryman on Dec 16, 2005 19:51:44 GMT -8
It's going to be interesting to see if it all works out. They also have their eye on a piece of Land right beside the Duke Point Ferry Terminal, so they can build a terminal there. But like I said on the other thread, I don't know where they would put the other Terminal in North Van...
|
|
|
|
Post by QSaanich on Dec 16, 2005 20:03:13 GMT -8
Does BCF really need competition  |
|
|
|
Post by Alex on Dec 16, 2005 21:30:24 GMT -8
If the Fastcats "were deemed unsuitable to operate in B.C. waters", as the article says...then how can WMG be considering operating them???
Unless...*GASP*, we were lied to, and they are suitable to operate!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by Curtis on Dec 16, 2005 21:34:43 GMT -8
They could be getting new engines
|
|
|
|
Post by QTeen on Dec 16, 2005 22:06:57 GMT -8
Yeah, maybe, I would like to ride one, of course you said they 'ave crappy interiors, but I think they look cool on the outside.
I think BCF is ready for Competition, I wonder if WMG is going to catch some more ships with a net, like the Pacificats.
|
|
|
|
Post by Scott on Dec 16, 2005 22:57:16 GMT -8
They said they'd run them at the same speed as the Spirit class ships to negate the wake problem.
|
|
|
|
Post by Curtis on Dec 16, 2005 23:07:39 GMT -8
I wonder what the Price would be to get on the Ferry or the cost to operate them
|
|
|
|
Post by Ferryman on Dec 16, 2005 23:08:55 GMT -8
So why would everyone get all excited for a faster car route when they're going to be going no faster than any other ferry? (Major Ferry)
I agree with Harry, I think they look very neat as well. They look really sleek cutting through the water at full speed, but that's a sight I haven't seen for a long time of course. But again, there were some things that I really didn't agree with on the them, especially the ladder like stairs that went up to the Cafe in the upper lounge. Maybe if they took one of the cafeteria areas out and replaced them with more regular seating lounges, they wouldn't be so bad. So I'm not sure if BC Ferries will have alot to compete with, because people will come back to the luxuries they're used to on BC Ferries, with wider seats, and larger outer deck space. John, maybe you could back me up with what they're like, as you said you've been on them as well on your website, and shared your experience on there.
|
|
|
|
Post by Scott on Dec 17, 2005 0:19:58 GMT -8
Chris, Concerning the passenger experience, I totally agree with you. The conventional vessels are much more comfortable to travel on. The PacifiCats as they were under BC Ferries had a cheap feel to them on the inside - partly due (I think) to cutting down on any unnecessary weight. The "ladder-like" stairs you mentioned were definitely a problem... two people could hardly pass each other (ie. one going up and one going down at the same time). The seats were cheap, small, and hard, if I remember correctly, and there wasn't enough of them. In the upper lounge, I think most of the seats were around tables... mostly 4 to a table I think... and most people don't want to share a table with complete strangers. The forward viewing area was limited to the upper lounge... and there were seats and tables everywhere up there... making it pretty unaccessable. The view from the ferry was mainly from the sides... not much from the front or the stern. For such a small ferry, I don't think there was the need for a cafeteria AND a coffee bar... and was there a snack bar too? I forget. Then there was also a gift shop. At least one of those things should disappear to free up some space. The washrooms were good. I think everything was automatic/sensor-based if I recall correctly. At least on the men's side;) The outside deck space was definitely an issue. No where to get away from the smokers. Hardly anywhere at all to go or sit. And when it was nice out, it was crowded out there as well. You couldn't go down to your car. I don't know if I ever drove on, but I imagine it would be an inconvenience if you left something in your car. I realize this is federal regulations, but it had the problem of forcing everyone up into the passenger areas... making it that more crowded. The work/study cubicles were okay. I found a seat there a few times, mainly because some of them were hidden around a corner that barely anyone ventured into. I got lots of homework done on the PacifiCats... since there wasn't much else to do. I think once I claimed a seat outside for the whole trip... that wasn't too bad. But that wasn't an option in the winter time. I have enough problems with finding a seat, getting a table in the cafeteria, navagating the bodies in the gift shop, avoiding the smokers on the outside decks, on the conventional ferries when they're busy!!!  In conclusion all I can say is that when I went to the Island, I hoped to get a C-class ship and not a PacifiCat, and at least one or two times, I actually went out of my way to make sure I didn't get a PacifiCat. |
|
|
|
Post by NMcKay on Dec 17, 2005 0:46:29 GMT -8
they are nice vessels. but they tried to move a conventional vessel (liek the c class) to a dual hulled 40 knot vessel, and unfortunatly it didn't work. there are some things they could of done. but it seems that people enjoy the harbourlynx. if only for the atmosphere that was created onboard by the crew.
|
|
|
|
Post by QTeen on Dec 17, 2005 10:34:57 GMT -8
I enjoyed the Harbourlynx, only once of course, but that was a nice ride, Mum said BCFerries Queen of Cowichan was bouncing up and down, she came with Kimberley and Dad 2 days later, I took 2 weeks off of school for two weeks while we were searching for a nice apartment, we found it.
Then that 2 weeks later I went on the Queen of Cowichan, wasn't too bad, kinda up to date.
|
|
Koastal Karl
Voyager 
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
|
Post by Koastal Karl on Dec 17, 2005 11:32:03 GMT -8
I have never been on the Pacifcats when they have been in service. I have only been on the Pacificat Explorer and that was when it was on display in Victoria. Other than that I have never rode on them while in service. I dident really like the interior of the fast cats and hardly any outside deck space. It was just too cramped it seemed. There was a few times I remember coming out of Horseshoe Bay and hoping to avoid a fast cat sailing. We managed to always take a sailing that was a regular C class so we never got on the fast cats which was good. I remember coming into Horseshoe Bay one time on the Oak Bay and passing one of the fast cats on it's way to Departure Bay.
|
|
|
|
Post by Ferryman on Dec 17, 2005 11:51:37 GMT -8
Yeah I've experienced the same while being on the Oak Bay, I think it was just this time of the year in the year 2000. I can't remember if there was a snack bar, doesn't seem to be according to this internet archive. web.archive.org/web/20010608202431/www.bcferries.bc.ca/fleet/profile-pacificat_discovery.htmlBut I must say, it would be interesting to go on one of them again, and I would try going on them once and a while if Washington Marine decided to operate them. Apparently they would be run under a new name, does that mean they're just being run by Washington Marine? or would they change the names of the Ferries? Also, they might want to give those ferries a nice paint job before they go anywhere, they've practically been rotting away in North Van since they were sold. |
|
|
|
Post by Scott on Dec 17, 2005 13:06:57 GMT -8
Well, I know there was a cafeteria and a snack bar. I thought the snack bar was on the upper passenger deck. The gift shop was downstairs. I thought there was a specialty coffee bar too, but that might have been part of the snack bar.
|
|
|
|
Post by Curtis on Dec 17, 2005 13:47:29 GMT -8
They would have worked great on Duke Point-Tsawwassen if they had just put in better features like on the C Class and remove some features so they could hold more passengers they would of worked great Dammit Glenn Clark what were the NDP thinking when they put the Fastcats in service anyway. Accordind to David Hahn WMG has been working on the Mothballed Fastcats, anyway I had weird dream last night I was in Vancouver in this dream and then we passed the FastCats and they were all in refit in fact there was a 4th Fastcat? the name looked something like something Mary and some of the ferries were flying BCF Windsocks with the Dogwood logo on them and there was 3 drydocks all looked the same odd dream but anyway they need to work somewhere they can run without complaint
|
|
|
|
Post by Low Light Mike on Dec 17, 2005 14:47:34 GMT -8
Wow, that dream story of Curtis's just came right out of left field. One moment he's talking about Hahn, next moment the dream-sequence begins.
I guess that it's mushroom season in Powell River.....
|
|
|
|
Post by Alex on Dec 17, 2005 15:04:04 GMT -8
Also, they might want to give those ferries a nice paint job before they go anywhere, they've practically been rotting away in North Van since they were sold. It's a good thing Aluminum doesn't rust the way steel does. |
|
|
|
Post by jcachristian2000 on Dec 17, 2005 15:23:07 GMT -8
The Pacificats have a snack bar on the upper deck lounge at the rear between the doors that lead to the outside deck.
When you go down the stairs there is another coffee bar directly infront of you, then you have the main Cafeteriea at the back of the main passenger deck.
I would be excited to use Seaspan when they start up service which would be in 2007 according to a newspaper article today. Each ship would need a 8 month refitt to ready them for service. It would be a reservation only system for cars.
I understand Seaspan has a dock at Duke Point which they are thinking of using. I strongly urge them to use thier Downtown Nanaimo dock. One reason is that there is NO public Transit that goes out to Duke Point. There is Shuttle Buses and Taxis but this is not a option for alot of people who don't have the money.
Using the Downtown dock would eleminate transportation problems for the Foot Passenger as you are right in town, on the BC Transit, and Greyhound bus route.
There is no bennifet if the ship docks in Downtown Vancouver and lets you off at Duke Point.
In either case they would need to build a overhead ramp for the upper Car deck as the ramp at both Duke Point and Nanaimo only has one level.
I like the idea of using North Vancouver as opposed to near the Second Narrows site. At North Van one just walks off the Pacificat and only have a short walk to Longsdale Quay and the Seabus with easy access to downtown Vancouver.
I say to Seaspan Go for it! Maybe with some competition BC Ferries might reconsider raising thier fares and Surcharges every year.
|
|
|
|
Post by Low Light Mike on Dec 17, 2005 16:01:06 GMT -8
I don't think that competition is going to lower or level the fares. I think that competition will mainly impact the level of service.
Our BC situation (ie. subsidies from gov't) keeps fares below world levels.
So I think that the benefit of competition is better-service, not lower fares.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dane on Dec 17, 2005 22:57:05 GMT -8
I don't think that competition is going to lower or level the fares. I think that competition will mainly impact the level of service. Our BC situation (ie. subsidies from gov't) keeps fares below world levels. So I think that the benefit of competition is better-service, not lower fares. I doubt this will pose a serious threat to BC Ferries' current service levels os service but I suppose time will tell. Between current capacity currently being drained at many times during the year, and a populations that's only getting bigger and more mobile the need for non-BCFS options may be realistic, and good for our transportation infastructure. I still believe a public body should serve the route, but all the best to WMG to make a successful operation. The Fast Cats were re-engined after they left BCF as a condition of their insurance. As far as the passenger conditions, I couldn't agree more. The ships food services were good though, and the amentities were also excellent barring being too cramped. One option could be to simply reduce the ticket on the ships and carry less people allowing them to space things out. I may be incorrect but I doubt the ticket price will cause there to be swarms of foot passengers like there is on Route 2. They should also consider making the vessel non smoking. There is no need to serve th addicted, minority few. |
|
|
|
Post by Retrovision on Dec 17, 2005 23:11:46 GMT -8
Can they still maintain the faster speed they were designed for? (when there are no possible environmental impacts, of course) I read in the short blurb that the Globe and Mail had about the fastcats today that... well here's the story: "Controversial ferries may be resurrected -- Vancouver. -- A U.S. company says it may resurrect the controversial fast ferries for a downtown Vancouver-Nanaimo service that could begin as early as next Christmas. Although the province spent $454-million on them, Washington Marine bought the three FastCat ferries from the B.C. government for $20-million in 2003. But the company hasn't been able to sell them for much more, said CEO Steve Frasher, and unless it can get a better deal, the company will rename the FastCats and use them to compete with B.C. Ferries. The reservation-only service would be six times a day, with travel at lower speeds to reduce environmental problems." by Jonathan Woodward I guess that partly answers my question; it sounds like they won't be running them during regular service as fast as they were originally intended to go: "...with travel at lower speeds to reduce environmental problems." Notice the mis-print: "... it may resurrect the controversial fast ferries for a downtown Vancouver-Nanaimo service..." Atleast, I'm assuming that's a misprint  . |
|
|
|
Post by Dane on Dec 17, 2005 23:16:13 GMT -8
Can they still maintain the faster speed they were designed for? (when there are no possible environmental impacts, of course) I don't think that will ever be possible. Between Bowen and Gabriola they may be able to open up throttle but they don't have a lot of option leaving Vancouver harbour and entering Nanaimo. I assume the terminal will be aprox. 1 Km east of Lonsdale Quay. 6 sailins must meen 2 ships? |
|
Doug
Voyager
Lurking within...the car deck.
Posts: 2,213
|
Post by Doug on Dec 17, 2005 23:21:06 GMT -8
They were originally designed to reach a speed of 80 km/h unloaded. BC Ferries used them at a reduced speed to 34 knots (about 60 km/h). I would assume the ships would be going very slow through Burrard Inlet or they might swamp the Harbourlynx or Seabuses. *OR, maybe Stanley Park's Third Beach can become a new surfing destination? ;D |
|
|
|
Post by Retrovision on Dec 17, 2005 23:21:33 GMT -8
"I assume the terminal will be aprox. 1 Km east of Lonsdale Quay"
You're speaking of them using land at the old Vancouver Shipyards? (where the cats are currently mothballed) Or just east of there, where the tracks end (I remember seeing a real estate sign near that parcel of land)?
|
|
.