Mill Bay's future

[Quinsam]

Look I know this has been done about 100 times before, but this time, it is essential to discuss the future of this old vessel, she is not included with the route, as the arcticle says, so what should be done to her?
My suggestion is to make another berth at Swartz Bay that can accomodate her, and run her to Fulford Harbour, with the Skeena Queen, use her as an overflow ferry, because you have to wait 2 hours if you miss the ferry! Make a new dock at Fulford Harbour that can accomodate her too.
Agree?

[Dane]

1. "NEW" Ferries
2. The Mill Bay would be of no use as a Sup vessel for the Skeena Queen. Not to mention Salt Spring is already the most-served per capita island that BCFS operates out of
3. The Mill Bay's capacity is so limited there is no other route that has traffic that warrants the additional expenses accrued by having the ship there. The reality of it is that when a ship is that small it often cannot provide the revenue required for any substantial return on operating costs. Many of BCFS's routes are purely transportation, and as such don't need a high cost recovery, but they also can't 'bleed' money like the Mill Bay would.

The vessel is safe where it is for at least 5 years, I'd bet. Aproximatly the same time she comes up for heavy maint again I believe.

[Mike C]

It's time. BC Ferries despratly needs to simply say good bye to this 50 year old boat - it is worn-out, and needs to be replaced. I think that a good replacement for her is the Nimpkish - as for the Mill Bay, well, they can make her an artificial reef.

[Quinsam]

I think it is cruel to replace ferries that are so cheap to run. The ferry is safe until 2011, and then she can be turned into an artificial reef, but she is gone from the route soon, as the route is being sold out this year, and I wonder what is going to happen to her until the time of 2011. Saltspring could have an overflow ferry, I had to wait 2 hours for the Skeena Queen, and the Tachek was in berth 2 at Fulford Harbour!

[Quinsam]

And I did not mean the mill bay to take over the Skeena Queen! I meant to run with the Skeena in tandem, like the Alberni and Newwestminster.

[Dane]

welwyn said:

And I did not mean the mill bay to take over the Skeena Queen! I meant to run with the Skeena in tandem, like the Alberni and Newwestminster.

I understand what you meant, you didn't understand what I said, though.

Lets say it costs $20 to operate her, per trip, her deck space is so small she makes like $4. The Skeena Queen, by contrast would make $12-13

[Doug]

And they don't have ships with a car difference of 84 on minor routes.

[Quinsam]

Yes, but why can't she have a new future as a ferry? A route such as Saanich Inlet is a very good explanation, 152hp against 200hp currents. And the Mill bay is suitable to run on the route, but she needs more horsepower to her, and maybe a new prop. Then she is suitable, but I hope she is not scrapped all the same.

[Doug]

Harry, just get over it. The metal is too old. It will happen when my favourite ferry, the Coquitlam, is that age too. While it may be a sad day to see her scrapped or have her turned into an artificial reef, our world depends on recycling...until we have some other "galactic" mine somewhere.

[Mike C]

I continue to support my theory that the Mill Bay has no point in existing. They need a new vessel. It is cheap to run, I admit, but it's not powerful enough. 17 km/h. Not fast. 152 horsepower. It will not make it through other routes...

[hergfest]

The Mill Bay's days are numbered, there is no point in putting more money into a ship that old.

[Mike C]

I'm not to worried about the ferry, but I want the route to stay alive.

[Quinsam]

I'm more worried about the vessel, I see things that do not talk, as alive, it's painful for me to say goodbye to a ferry like that.

[QoA]

Cascade, what are the 3 routes she could run?

[Quinsam]

The Mill Bay route, obviously, but I don't know any others.

[Mike C]

What about route 22 (Denman-Hornby)?

[Quinsam]

Not Sheltered enough, Denman to Buckley Bay maybe, or Chemainus to Kuper Island.

[kylefossett]

welwyn said:

Not Sheltered enough, Denman to Buckley Bay maybe, or Chemainus to Kuper Island.

Chemainus-Kuper-Thetis can get fairly rough. The Mill Bay- Brentwood Bay run will eventually be sold of to the highest bidder(harry start saving your money) and they will look at the Mill Bay Queen and decide if she is still worthy of the run or would be better off as pop cans

[kylefossett]

dane said:

1. "NEW" Ferries
2. The Mill Bay would be of no use as a Sup vessel for the Skeena Queen. Not to mention Salt Spring is already the most-served per capita island that BCFS operates out of

And there are still overflows on fulford-swartz bay even during the off season. but that does not mean that the mill bay is the ship worth going to that route.

[Koastal Karl]

Yeah more sailings would be good on the Fulford run. Do they only have one crew on the Fulford run or something???

[NMcKay]

i think it has to do with paid lunchs vs un paid lunches. and how the crew is saying that they dont get lunches. because they are working. and yet somehow they manage to eat food. and that what i think the problem would be. or the Demand vs. Supply. there may be sufficent supply vs demand. but i dont think the residents understand that.

[kylefossett]

cascade said:

The over flow on the Fulford run - is caused by the dropping of two trip's per day - the crew need a rest. This feeds into a back log - which the poor people of Salt Spring want BC Ferries to sort out. They want more round trips not less - so there is a demand.

In simple terms - why then is BCFS losing money each year on this route ? If there is this demand? I think they have the wrong vessel on the route and it is costing them money.

The old runs were 10 trips from fulford a day on a ferry that carried 75 cars(bowen queen) now with 8 trips a day they are carrying 100 cars a trip (skeena queen) so they are actually carry more cars of the island each day. they used to take 750 cars and now take 800 cars.

They also set up the current schedule to line up with the route 1 vessel for transfers and to offload the skeena before the route 1 vessel is being unloaded.

on this route when it comes to meals, yes they are taken while the vessel is underway. on the crofton- vesuvius run they take breaks mid morning mid afternoon and evening and this is reflected in the schedule

[Balfour]

It's only an increase of 50 cars in capacity, and populations on both VI and SSI are rising. Therefore there is increased demand. Perhaps they need to increase the number of round trips to 10, and that would be a more considerable increase to 1000 cars per day.

[Quinsam]

Yeah, 2 more trips wouldn't hurt, or a new vessel to take another 100 cars, therefore bringing the car transportation total of 1,600 per day, or 2,000 if they do both.

[Balfour]

cascade said:

Kyle,

Why can't BCFS move with the times - add more trips ? Why can't they speed up the Queen ? Fuel or Engine ? your pick of the problems here.

I'm wondering the same. They normally run the Skeena Queen at 18knots, but I've been on it at a faster pace and seems to have no problem. Faster, more frequent trips would be beneficial to residents and tourists, especially in the summer months.