MV Quadra Queen II and Alert By-Pt McNeil-Sointula

[Mike C]

It's time we discussed this problem.

Over the course of this past peak season, I've been noticing very heavy traffic on the Alert Bay-Sointula-Port McNeil run. This route seems to be getting overload warnings about every month now . I think somehting has got to be done about this. Is it time to put the Tachek on it as an extra vessel? Or is it time for a new vessel altogether? Possibly, put the Tachek on Central Coast, and have the Nimpkish assist on this route? Think about it, then post your opinion.

Clearly, something must be done. RBI and the Current Conditions aren't going to find it's way that far north any time soon, and all of BCF's ideas seem to be a short-term solution for a long-term problem.

Yes, I've riddin on this route, and when I sailed Port McNeil-Alert Bay on November 12th, on mid-morning, and early-evening sailings, they were both full, thank god we arrived 20 minutes before it sailed at Pt McNeil, and 40 min at Alert Bay.

Cheers,
Michael

[Neil]

Well, B-Teen, it's summer, and you could pretty much pick any route and find the same problem. The schedule to Denman and Hornby is pretty much a myth as the vessels shuttle constantly, and still there are overloads. Most routes could use larger vessels at times, but since ferries and money don't grow on trees, I'm afraid Malcolm and Cormorant Islanders just have to join the club, and wait sometimes.

[Dane]

Having traveled the route, more than once, I would dispute the claim "something needs to be done." In fact, if you take a look at the BC Ferries Annual Report (the bigger of the two - I only have a hard copy) ridership dropped over the previous five year period reported (2000/2005).