Bowen Island wants bigger vessel

[Northern Exploration]

I can see it now - a Snug Class boat designed for the run. Same water length, draw and beam but as tall as a Spirit Class.

[Coastal Canuck]

I picture the same thing only the there is a on board ramp like the C class have only it doesn't go up and there is two car decks at the Horseshoe Bay end and only 1 at the Bowen Island end ;D

[Neil]

Here are some comparative figures on service to the four most populous islands in the Strait. Numbers are from the most recent report to the BC Ferry Commissioner, fiscal 2006.

Total vehicles (equivalents) carried

Bowen 562,000
Quadra 450,000
Gabriola 426,00
Saltspring (Fulford) 350,000
Saltspring (Vesuvius) 278,000

Average vehicle load

Saltspring (Fulford) 61% {highest of any 'minor' island route}
Bowen 58% {second highest of any 'minor' island route}
Gabriola 53%
Quadra 51%
Saltspring (Vesuvius) 39%

Total operating revenue- inc. tariffs, ancillary, contracted routes fee, social program reimbursements

Bowen $6.5 million
Saltspring (Fulford) $4.4 million
Gabriola $3.8 million
Quadra $3.6 million
Saltspring (Vesuvius) $3.5 million

Total operating expenses

Bowen $9.7 million
Saltspring (Fulford) $7.9 million
Quadra $7.3 million
Gabriola $6.9 million
Saltspring (Vesuvius) $3.8 million

So.... The Bowen route is by far the most used of the routes to those four islands, and in fact, carries almost half the vehicles carried on the Langdale route, which is served by a vessel four times the size.

While the Queen of Capilano is a relatively expensive boat to operate, if you compare the costs of the Bowen and Gabriola routes, with similar crossing times and service levels, and the latter having a smaller boat, it seems that the 'Capilano is not as dreadfully expensive as one guest poster has indicated.

Bowen Islanders also pay, per minute travelled, among the highest fares of any route in the system. And while the Bowen route is more expensive to operate than the other four I've outlined, due to the Queen of Capilano, it also brings in far more revenue. Bowen Islanders are not getting a free ride, by any stretch of the imagination.

Bowen is the only island that is also a municipality, and political discussions about options for the Snug Cove terminal can be pretty intense. It's a growing community, a bedroom suburb of Vancouver, and their concerns for adequate ferry service are legitimate.

[Low Light Mike]

Neil, thanks for taking the time to do that analysis for this thread. Much appreciated.

I enjoyed comparing the stats and reading your analysis.

(I don't have any rebuttal or anything to add to the topic right now, but I wanted to let you know that I've read your contribution to this topic...)

[Scott]

What surprises me the most is how close the Vesuvius run comes to breaking even, even though it runs at the lowest capacity.