Super "C" Class Operations

[Doug]

Sorry all, haven't been very active around here lately. But to return, I am going to start a pole. Where do you think the Super "C" Class ferries should be routed on? Personally, I think they should use two on Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay and one on Horseshoe Bay-Departure Bay.

[Curtis]

Thats the place they should be and what they planed so the same choice

[Koastal Karl]

Two on Departure Bay to Horseshoe Bay and 1 on Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen. We dont need two on route 1 as we have the Spirit ships. I would say we dont need any on route 1 at the moment but in a few years when we have all three and there is more traffic yeah we would need one on route 1. Unless they are going to have extra sailings every day of the year we dont need a new ship sitting around not doing anything until Friday's and Sunday's except in the summer when there are sailings every hour. Put on on Duke Point to Tsawwassen.

[Doug]

The passenger volume on all routes is only going up. Your saying have three ships on the Route 1 in the summer or year-round? If your talking about in the summer than that's just odd...one Super "C" Class ferry isn't as big as two "V" Class ferries, which they have now. And the HB-DB route doesn't need two of those plus two "C" Class vessels...they would have WAY too much room left over and the route would probably turn into a money-loss.

[Curtis]

Two Super C's should operate on the Tsawwassen- Swartz Bay to replace the Vancouver and Esquimalt and retire them use the Sannich as a relif ship on all major routes out of Tsawwassen put two C-Class and a Super C on Horseshoe Bay-Departure Bay one C-Class on Langdale and one more as relief Vessel to replace the Esquimalt on that job keep the Cap on Bowen Island by putting ramps on herand build the Intermidiate Vessel for Saltery Bay-Earls Cove and Retire the Tsawwassen thats a way for the new ships to take act

[Koastal Karl]

All I am saying is if there was sailings every hour, all year round then it would be a good idea to have two super c's on route 1. But maybe in a few years traffic will be alot more and we will need 4 ships on the route 1 all year round. But it would be a shame in the winter months to see the super C's on route 1 sitting there not being used except on Friday's and Sunday's and other extra sailings, on holidays, ect... When they could be on Departure Bay to Horseshoe Bay or even one on the Duke Point run. Or 1 ships on each major route. That's all I am saying.

[Dane]

I've made my opinion clear in the best that they would be better utilized on Route 2. Imagine sitting at Tsawwassen, waiting 2 hours for the next sailing b/c smaller Super Cs were being utilized rather than the S Class.

Situation potential #2, you get on an S-Class, not missing your sailing, as you pass a 50 million dollar ferry that isn't being used, except during peak traffic times.

Loose Loose situation in my mind.

Now that was assuming service levels stay at the current, and I suppose it's only logical to assume that by 2009ish there will likely be close to full hourly service on Route 1, where I do agree with Doug.


Route 2 however I believe will require hourly service, or at least a larger B ship out of Naniamo in the very immediate future, the temp. Esquimalt doesn't cut it many days, and the current, but in refit, regular Oak Bay, proved to be insufficient on many a summer day. At least I enjoy wondering Horseshoe Bay.... lovely little village. Moreover traffic demands on the Langdale run are steadily increasing, as any one can tell there seems to be more and more sailings every summer! The Esquimalt, which I believe will be displaced by a SuperC will also need a suitable replacement.

Having the SuperCs on all three major routes COULD work, but begs the question, why? seems like a poor utilization for Route 30. Besides, the Alberni is due for a mid-life in 2 years and if you read BCF's intentions for vessles there is money tucked away for moderate work on the New West to carry her forward for a considerable time. Traffic demands on the run rarely make a third vessel, or larger vessels a neccessity.

[Doug]

There is another plan I may suggest, and that is to use one of the Super "C" Class vessels on the Langdale run and further move all "C" Class vessels to HB-DB. If the Super "C" Class vessel is large enough to handle it, it could do yearly service...without the relief vessel in the summer.

There is one more: build four Super "C" Class instead of three to use on the two major routes. But both of these are only opinions and will not be read or used by BC Ferries.

[Dane]

I was under the impression the Super C had about an extra 20 cars over the C, which seemed illogical. Do you know the capacity?

[kylefossett]

"The new Super C–class vessels are planned to operate on BC Ferries’ Horseshoe Bay–Departure Bay and Swartz Bay–Tsawwassen routes. The specifications are for 160 metre vessels that can accommodate 370 vehicles and 1,650 passengers. For comparison, the existing C–class vessels that operate on the Horseshoe Bay–Nanaimo route are 139.5 metres and can accommodate 330 vehicles and 1,466 passengers." this is right off the bc ferries site. so according to bc ferries they are not planning at this time to use any super c's on langdale-horseshoe bay. probably 2 on route 2 and 1 on route 1.

[Curtis]

Its odd it says on the profiles the C's can carry 362 cars? Whats the difference 330 or 362

[kylefossett]

some might have another deck on the lower car deck. don't ride the c's so don't really know.

[Ian]

BC Ferries has decided to have two on the swartz-tswwassen and one on the hsb-dep bay.

[NMcKay]

so they are gonna have 4 ships on the Swartz Bay -> Tswassen run? cause the 2 spirits only have berths at Swartz Bay and Tswassen. so it would be impossible for them to work anywhere else.

[Dane]

I do not know the fancy term, but 362, or 365, or the 400 that used to be published for the V Class was the "absolutly best case ever" load with all small and medium sized cars. No trucks, busses, vans, or BMW 7 Series.

330 is a more realistic load on a summer's day.

This makes me curious as to the Super Cs number, is it a realistic carrying capacity, or based on a load of 380 smart cars?

[NMcKay]

or 380 Mini Bikes

[Doug]

Note that this pole applies to the summer service.

[Koastal Karl]

Oh, well if it is summer service I would of said two on Swartz Bay and 1 on route 2.