After Nanaimo retires, V-Class on the S. Gulf

[Ian]

After the Queen of Nanaimo retires should one of the v-class, let's say the queen of saanich be put on the tswwassen-southern gulf island run. The top deck would be Saltspring island and Pender island and the bottum Galiano island, Mayne Island and transfers to Saturna island. Give some suggestions, maybe we could even put two v-class on the route one out of Swartz-bay and one out of Tswwassen and make the Queen of Cumberland an inter island ferry and make the Mayne and Bowen Queens float around wherever they are needed.

[Koastal Karl]

That would be a good idea to double ramp long harbour and Village Bay. I dont really think we need a V class out of Swartz Bay to the Gulf Islands as we have the Cumberland and Mayne Queen unless we got really high traffic volume on the run out of Swartz Bay.

[NMcKay]

those ships can get gallery decks very easily

[Dane2]

The BC Ferry traffic growth stratagy calls for Fulford to recieve a second deck ramp in like 2008 or something to facilitate increased growth. A V class can obciouslly manuvuer in the islands, I remember some on the BC Ferrys group said they're too big. Hmmmmm.... let's just think about that for a second.

That would meen Mayne, Pender, and Galiano would be on the lower decks, obviously, as well as overhieghts.


The Queen of Nanaimo's retiremnet, incidently, has been pushed back.

[kylefossett]

if you were to see a v class on route 9 you would see it at long harbour and not fulford harbour. at low tide the skeena has to make a tight turn in to the berth and she is a z drive. also there is no room to expand at fulford and just a little room to expand at long harbour. if a v class went to route 9 then you would probably also see long harbour and fulford harbour terminals closed down and a new one built at isabella point. this would have two berths, one with an upper ramp.

[Koastal Karl]

I think they should of done that to begin with instead of having three separate terminals on Saltspring. Have one big terminal for both Swartz Bay and Tsawwassen ferries. Double ramp one berth for Tsawwassen and the other would be for Swartz Bay.

The crossing time for the Tsawwassen to the Isabella Point terminal would probably be a bit less than the Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay run, and for sure the Swartz Bay to Isabella Point would probably only be about 20-25 mins crossing time. You would also have interisland service too which being at Isabella Point would be longer.

[Curtis]

One big terminal You missed Vesuvius ferry terminal so it would be 2

[clay]

One terminal for both Tswassen and Swartz Bay on Saltspring? It would make sense economically, but I think we have to be careful not to overdevelop anywhere on Saltspring. A big, noisy, traffic congested Duke Point style terminal on Saltspring could be a bad thing asthetically, and, let's face it, asthetics are very much part of what makes Saltspring so special. I think the small, quaint terminals are charming and they are a good first impression for tourists, much more so than a big city style one would be.

[NMcKay]

that would be like saying "Lets build a Duke Point Style Terminal @ Albion. lol Id love to see it. but i doubt youd ever See it. because the locals (tree huggers IMHO) wont allow it to happen.

[Doug]

I am absolutely against this idea for two reasons:
1. the "V" Class ferries are way too old, and
2. the Gulf Islands dont need a 338-car ferry.

[Ian]

The running cost between the nanaimo and lets say the saanich is not a lot.