The sun is setting on our Powell River ferries

[Mike C]

MV North Island Princess and MV Queen of Burnaby. The two names of our two Powell River ferries. But their days are numbered.


MV NORTH ISLAND PRINCESS
Built: 1958, Vancouver
Overall Length: 61.04 m (200' 3")
Gross Tonnage: 841.00
Car Capacity: 49
Passenger & Crew Capacity: 293
Service Speed: 10.0 knots
Horsepower: 1,350
Amenities: None


MV QUEEN OF BURNABY
Built: 1965, Victoria
Overall Length: 129.97 m (426')
Gross Tonnage: 4,902.59
Car Capacity: 192
Passenger & Crew Capacity: 659
Service Speed: 16.5 knots
Horsepower: 6,000
Amenities: Cafeteria, newstand, children's play area, washroom for people with disabilities, elevator, video arcade.


Their current date of expirey is in 2015. And then what?

Published in the Comox Valley Echo about two years ago in the summer time, the three districts of Texada, Powell River, and Comox are debating whether to have a Queen of Burnaby sized vessel doing a three-way route between Texada, Powell River and Comox. Also, another idea is to have two Queen of Capilano sized vessels doing the three way route. Or, the current configuration with two vessels on two seperate routes with identical sizes as the ones which operate the routes today.

Your opinion? Post it.

[Ferryman]

I've heard that it can get really windy through there, so I don't really agree with the Capilano type boats for that area.

The Burnaby sized vessel, combining the 2 routes together would probably be more feasable in the low season, but 2 vessels on a seperate routes would be better for the peak season.

In my honest opinion, I like the current setup, with the two vessels on seperate routes. This allows for a more flexible schedule, for residents to pick their departure times. Plus I'm sure they won't want to go to Comox from Texada, and then to Powell River.

[Political Incorrectness]

During winter, I think it maybe best to cut the schedule down a bit from Texada cause traffic has not been high at later sailings. The problem with having one vessel running two routes is that if the one vessel breaks down, you are stranded on the island, also, it would not make use of space due to the fact you are dropping people off on Texada then continuing onto Comox. I could see a miniature Queen of Oak Bay with a 19 knot speed to reduce the crossing between PR-LR to 1 hour. Would a Capilano style vessel do it for Texada or would it be better to use the Tachek?

[Low Light Mike]

I remember the triangle-route being tried during summer-1998 on these routes, allbeit by the N.I.P., which allowed for some direct sailings between Blubber Bay & Little River.....but the Sidney also called at Blubber Bay for certain sailings.

How successful was it? I don't know. I never took any of those sailings, but I remember reading about them when I visited Powell River family.

The fact that it was a 1-year experiment likely means that it wasn't successfully, either for ridership or finances or for resident-satisfaction.

[Mike C]

They said in the Comox Valley Echo that the vessel that is Capilano sized would be about 80 cars and 400 pax.

PR-LR should have the Queen of Tsawwassen in the winter, and that would put the Queen of Burnaby as a potential sub for the Queen of Alberni, which could sub for a more major route.

Also, in the winter, the Tachek would work for Texada-PR, then the Klitsa remains stationary, and the Kahloke remains stationary. This frees up the North Island Princess for potential relief on the Gulf Islands or other minor routes.

[Low Light Mike]

Here's a sample of BC Legislature debate on this topic:

2006:
N. Simons: It gives me great pleasure to present, on behalf of the Texada Island Chamber of Commerce, a petition signed by close to half the residents and probably most of the households of Texada Island, asking that the ferry service remain at the same level of service, same vessel size, and that home-porting remain in Blubber Bay.

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February 13, 1984 to February 21, 1985:
Don Lockstead (NDP Opposition member):

On the matter of the Ferry Corporation perhaps taking over the run between Powell River and Comox, I don't know what the plans of the corporation are in that regard, if any. The misunderstanding on your part seemed to be that you thought I was suggesting the purchase of another vessel; that is absolutely not so. I understand very well the situation in the Ferry Corporation regarding the surplus vessels you have at the moment. Hopefully they will not be surplus in a year or two, and they will be required to put people to work and provide better service to the coast of British Columbia.

......The point I'm making is that the minister is knuckling under to pressure. When we had something like 600 residents on the Sunshine coast angry about ferry cutbacks into that area, the minister didn't knuckle under. Was it because it was an NDP riding? I don't know.

....When the late sailings were taken off Route 3 on the Sunshine Coast, people who had bought season tickets, people who were going to night school - hundreds of them who had paid their fees - were shut out. There was no way they could attend any of these many functions, because those late sailings were cancelled. The residents of the area came up with a method - they had done their homework -of maintaining those late sailings and providing better service to the coast. The minister wouldn't listen. That's water under the bridge, and we know that we have a new summer schedule coming into effect within the next month and a half or so. I'm just telling this House that the minister reversed his field when it was a matter involving a small local ferry in his own riding, but when it came to reversing his field and reconsidering a decision affecting literally thousands of people whose livelihood depends on the B.C. Ferries service, he turned a deaf ear. I'm not too happy about that and neither are my constituents, I can tell you.

...The fact is that reconstruction of Highway 101, leading up the Sunshine Coast, stopped in 1976. Not a bit of work has been done to it. Band-aid work, yes: a few potholes have been patched, and a corner or two knocked off. It's a snake trail. I'm not asking that the whole highway be reconstructed in one year. You have to remember that that highway serves permanent residents - never mind the tourists and visitors.

In terms of permanent residents, it serves some 35, 000 people. All I'm asking for is that the minister allocate funding for the continued reconstruction of Highway 10 1 up the Sunshine Coast to Powell River. It would do more to improve that snake trail of a highway, which is in really terrible condition, quite frankly. It's deteriorating all the time. It would provide some local job opportunities for local contractors, truckers and other people in the area. You will recall, Mr. Chairman, that we have a 36 percent unemployment rate in that area, so we'd be killing two birds with one stone. We'd get some highway work done and get some job creation as well, even though it might be on a short-term basis.

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[Neil]

B-Teen: Don't think you're going to see the Alberni moved anywhere, as it's very well suited for route 30. The Burnaby couldn't sub for the Alberni: not enough capacity and too slow. Likewise, the NIP is too slow to sub on the main Gulf Island runs.

The two runs out of Powell River are among the lowest capacity utilization in the fleet, so larger ships/more capacity wouldn't make sense. 2015 is a long way away, and the Burnaby and NIP won't just be retired, they'll be replaced. A triangle run doesn't make a lot of sense in terms of capacity- a ship for each run is probably the way they'll go.

When the NIP goes, it will be the end of probably the oddest duck in the fleet, and that's unfortunate. Some people don't like 'slice and dice', but you have to admit, it can produce boats that have a lot of character.

[Curtis]

I Don't think the Triangle Route was that Successful. I think they had a hard time getting the Sidney into Blubber Bay though.

They had a Area in the Powell River Town Centre Mall for the very topic last year.
However I think that one Vessel Isn't Enough hundreds of Sailings would be cut.
2 Vessels is Possible since less Sailings are Cut but the ships need to have enclosed car decks.
The way it is right now is the way it should stay.

But Maybe the Comox Ferry Should Stop at Texada on it's Way to and from Comox it probably would make the Work day about an hour longer. The Sailing going to Comox should be pick-ups only and no drop-offs (Since the Texada Route Does that). With these changes Texada might need another dock that is facing out toward the front of the bay so a ferry like the Queen of Burnaby or a Mini Queen of Oak Bay could dock in there without problem. Another Thing is that Powell River will need a second ferry Dock so the ferries can dock without interuption.
I think I've described this right so everyone knows what I'm saying

[Scott]

I have to agree with most others.. just one ferry might work some times of the year, but I don't think it would be enough during the peak season. And with the population likely to grow on Texada, in Powell River, and already growing rapidly in the Comox area... I don't think traffic will be on the decrease anytime soon.

I also think, logistically, it's important to have a ferry crewed out of Blubber Bay since it seems to be a good holding space for some of the minor vessels when they're out of service. I'm not sure how it works right now, but if you've already got crew on Texada Island, it makes it a lot easier to move those ships, especially if they're needed on short notice. I suppose they could be "stored" somewhere else, but they're "strategically" in a good place there... close to the "northern gulf islands".

And on the topic of the sun setting on our older ships.. here's the Queen of Vancouver on Friday evening...



...from Fred Gingell Park on the Tsawwassen Bluffs.

[Curtis]

One Ferry Would Cause Problems during the School year when the students in grades 8-12 from Texada use it to get to Oceanview and Brooks.
I think Texada would like the route to stay the way it is.

But if they go with my suggestion it would get them to Vancouver Island faster and they wouldn't have to get up so early to get there. they might call the stop at Texada Route 17-A

[Neil]

One vessel couldn't possibly serve both routes, at any time of the year. Like Hornby or Bowen or any other island, people on Texada are going to school, to work, to medical appointments -whatever- and to cut back the service level they've had for so long would strangle the island.