northerly ferry routes coming to an end

[ferryfreak69]

i heard that bcferries are going to discontinue
the discovery coast,inside passage and queen charolette routes.
this is all happening because on the aging of the northerly ferries

[just me]

The run was going on before BC Ferries started doing it with their Ships, so I'm sure that it will always be there. It was originally done by small freighters that carried passengers. Coast Ferries was the last Company to do it. They were under contract with the Ferries. When the Ferries started up the Mid Coast run in 1996, they bought out the contract from Coast Ferries.

BC Ferries would love to get out of it, because they lose money on them. Perhaps it is due to their high overhead that they can't afford to build new Ships.

[Jeff Roe]

I wonder if you could make money with the Northern Routes, especially The Queen Charlotte Islands, you'd think that one would be an essential run?? Would it not be possible to have one ship doing the entire run,Port Hardy to Prince Rupert calling on the Mid Coast in between and then Prince Rupert to Q.C.I. And maybe in the summer only just have one doing Rupert to the Charlottes 6 days a week carrying passengers,mail and Freight??

You'd think they're would be enough business for freight and passengers on all these runs year round if you had the right ship, say 100 cars and maybe cabins and a casino,lounge...kinda like a working mini cruise ship type ferry that carries passengers and Freight together! And have that ship doing Port Hardy-Prince Rupert with stops in between and then another just ferry doing Prince Rupert-QCI maybe year round?

The problem with the Queen of the North is it's a ferry not a cruise ship and does not carry freight or mail or anything like that!

You can get a decent cruise ferry in Europe for a good price,maybe a smaller one and carry cars,passengers and Freight. I woner if BC Ferries would contract that run out in the future??

[Ric]

The Charlotte route is Federally subdisied because it is deemede an extension of the Yelowhead highway. All of BCFerries routes could be privatized and sold under Bill -18 . Yes the ferries are getting very old and they will be in trouble ther every soon. The QPR has had one f her Gear box Bull gears eaten up and they don't know what to do. With new regulations the QoN is only a 1 compartment ship so there are problems there. They are in trouble.

[DougNotLoggedOn]

Well, I guess it is being privatized. All three northern routes plus an attempt on the Powell River runs and Mill Bay run. I think this is a good idea, personally, but I don't see the need for continuing the Mill Bay run. The Powell River runs...hell no. I don't understand why they would privatize them. The Powell River-Texada Island is a commuter route, just like alot of them, so I'm sure not much money is lost on that. And the Powell River-Comox route, no. I'm sure it makes enough money and if it doesn't...too bad. But I think a good operator for the northern routes would be the Washington Marine Group. (Is the Wahington Marine Group Canadian?)

[Sean Goerzen]

I think B.c ferries should continue these routes because they are very beautifull. Also these routes also probably make a lot of money for B.C ferries. I for one am going on this route next summer.

[Low Light Mike]

On the contrary, the Northern routes are probably some of the largest money-losers in the company.

Feel free to make your donation, in addition to yours & my tax dollars to keep them running.

[Harbourlynx Kid]

they cost lots of money cays you have to run them whether they are filled or just plain empty. they are awesome runs. but they have no signifigance. i think that BC ferries should get away from the north all together and stick to the southern routes