BC Gov't approves funding for 3 Northern Vessels

[Scott (Former Account)]

Just heard on CKNW that the funding from the gov't to help BCFS purchase 3 new northern vessels has been approved... Nothing was mentioned regarding the amount or percentage they will help out with, though...

[Curtis]

This is good they'll need it since the North is gone I think they should have the same type of designs as the North

[Scott]

Except the single hull compartment part!

[Scott (Former Account)]

Rumor has it that the amount the government will contribute $350 million...

[Retrovision]

won't they look good

[Dane]

Its full funding for three ships, what a coincidence today was the day. BCFS will have to act quickly to get these vessels ordered.

Of note - several passengers on today's North sailing were perspective investors to take over BCFS's Northern Services.

[Retrovision]

dane said:

Of note - several passengers on today's North sailing were perspective investors to take over BCFS's Northern Services.

Are you kidding? The implications of that possibility are... indescribable.

[Dane]

tsawwassenterminal said:

dane said:

Of note - several passengers on today's North sailing were perspective investors to take over BCFS's Northern Services.

Are you kidding? The implications of that possibility are... indescribable.

Yeah my mom said they were interviewed on one of the News channels. I've only been home for the last hour so have to wait for 11 to see News coverage live (I've watched the online clips, obviously)

[Retrovision]

cascade said:

Unions - job's - well they created 200 jobs for the Fast Cats - but that cost the tax payers $450M - so very good value - like $2.25M per job.

"they"?
I know that supposedly the average British Columbian voted the different governments in,
but you can't dismiss the fact that they are the same as different 'administrations' in the White House of the U.S.A.
--different--
apples and oranges in a fundemental way.

[Starbucks Queen]

Now, that comes handy somehow - one ship sunk and three new ones approved.. good for BCF for sure

[Retrovision]

chivapcici said:

Now, that comes handy somehow - one ship sunk and three new ones approved.. good for BCF for sure

>coughnocommentcough<

According to CTV, the provincial treasury (board?) was planning to meet, to approve funding arrangements for the 3 northern vessels to be built, yesterday.

[Dane]

tsawwassenterminal said:

>coughnocommentcough<

According to CTV, the provincial treasury (board?) was planning to meet, to approve funding arrangements for the 3 northern vessels to be built, yesterday.

What happens now, can the bids be put out for tender or is there still more steps to be taken?

[Dane]

cascade said:

I would think from the way that the government came forward very quickly to offer the funding for the replacement vessels - that there must be a sting in the tail....like keep the work in BC - forget about value for money, tax payers play second fiddle to politics.

The BC yards are full of refit work - so what yard can handle this type of order in BC? I think they should acquire a vessel now - second hand, and place orders with an overseas yard - delivery in 18 months. The second hand vessel should not be more than 15 years old - like built in 1990 and on/forward. It will have all the current safety measure on board.

THe feeling I got from BCFS is there there's no inention to have these vessels built in BC unless a competative offer comes in. This funding exproriaion started around the same time the Fastats came online, just to give you an idea how long both gov'ts doddled on the issue.

I think you're right about buying used to get service there now - this funding had nothing to do with the QotN sinking, just wierd timing.

[Political Incorrectness]

cascade, which Silja Lines vessels are they? What are the specifications of them? Would they be able to service the Inside Passage run in a matter of two to three months max?

[hergfest]

Looks like too me all of those ships are too big, and their fast ferries don't have cabins.

[Political Incorrectness]

How much is each selling for cascade? They have been in service for ten years + and still are good cause they are newer than our fallen ship of the fleet.

[Doug]

The Silja ferries are some of the biggest in the world...I don't think they'd suit the Inside Passage. And because their still fairly new, I'm sure there would be quite the hefty price tag on them.

[Political Incorrectness]

Silja's aren't some of the biggest in the world (at least in car). Color Line's vessels carry more than 500 cars and Silja's carry 350, however, they do carry quite a few passengers. I wonder how a cruise route from Naniamo would do with those numbers on the europea?

[Doug]

Actually people standing on the deck makes them look big...and as far as I know, the average height for Canadians are the same as Europeans.

But then again, a lot of European ferries have small windows and such that make them look big.

[Starbucks Queen]

dougubell said:

Actually people standing on the deck makes them look big...and as far as I know, the average height for Canadians are the same as Europeans.

But then again, a lot of European ferries have small windows and such that make them look big.

I dare to say, that many of ours are alot higher than yours - the smaller windows you can see are usually cabin-windows while the bigger ones indicate a public space - like restaurant, pub etc. Those ones, which are higher are usually ferries for night-crossings, you can imagine how many cabins/"rooms" you need if you want to take 2000 passengers onboard.. stuff that you do not need for a few-hours-crossing hence your ships and our day-crossing ships not beeing so high.

[Scott]

Just by looking at Silja's pictures, I'd say they're far too big for BC Ferry terminals. I think that's the major problem in looking for ships on the market right now.. most of them aren't the right size.

[jjr]

I would venture to say that it is much easier and faster to alter docks and terminals than to build a ferry - at least for the northern routes. The docks and terminals are much smaller than the southern terminals, but arguably the ferries are more complicated since they have to sail in open ocean.

[Dane]

Cascade - judging by the age of BC Ferries' fleet, and the fact that they build vessels to run for a life time resale value isn't an issue. I know it crushes your heart, though

[Neil]

"Fundamental problems....no real second hand markets..."
Correct me if I'm wrong, but other than Queen of The Islands, I believe every ferry built in this province since 1960 is either still in service, or was in service much longer than the marine standard of twenty years or so. This doesn't indicate to me that there was ever any inherent problem with the kind of ferries we were building here.

[Doug]

dane said:

Cascade - judging by the age of BC Ferries' fleet, and the fact that they build vessels to run for a life time resale value isn't an issue. I know it crushes your heart, though

It does crush his heart. He wants BC to be exactly like Europe.

Maybe he wants to get "revenge" because BC Ferries is gaining traffic while the Euros are losing the competition to the airline.

First of all, only the six major terminals are double-ramped...the others can be modified to fit a larger vessel with a single ramp.

Secondly, building a vessel in or out of the province with an upper deck loading DOES NOT increase the overall cost.

Thirdly, BC Ferries is the largest ferry operation in the world; they don't need to buy large used vessels.

And fourthly, converting all the major terminals to a single ramp would be the stupidest idea ever thought of by anyone...loading/unloading a 470 car ferry in 25 minutes is something to be proud of. Seeing as how all the terminals in Europe are privately owned (Cascade's paradise), why don't THEY have some CREATIVE THINKERS rather than just the same old/same old?