Post by Doug on Nov 21, 2004 14:52:54 GMT -8
Here's my opinion towards the fleet construction over the next 15
years....
1. Northern Routes
I don't have much to say about the northern routes, just this: either
contract all three routes out, or build ONE vessel (quite large) to
operate all three routes, year round. It would be a good idea - a
large ship with many amenities for the passengers, and a money-saver
for BC Ferries (operating one "more automated" ship rather than three
would save fuel and lower crew numbers). Because the winter is quite
a bit lower, in terms of service on the nothern routes, they could
save money by closing some of the less needed amenities, by
terminating crew numbers (those particular amenities would be
operated by seasonal employees). I also suggest giving the Kwuna a
mid-life refit. Only David Hahn knows for sure what's going on with
the northern routes in the future. That concludes my opinions toward
the northern routes.
2. Queen Charlotte Strait & Northern Gulf
For the Queen Charlotte Strait (Port McNeil-Malcom Island-Cormorant
Island), I suggest building a complete new vessel for the route (I
have no idea what type of vessel that will be). The Quadra Queen II
is a '69 and is reaching the end of her service life. What I believe
should be done, is retire all vessels built before 1975. That should
be the goal. All Campbell River, Quadra Island and Cortes Island
vessels should be retired and replaced. The Powell River Queen is now
39 years old, but the major refit she had previously recieved will
delay her retirement. The Tenaka is now 40 years old and hasn't
recieved any major modification or upgrade, so she should be retired
soon. The North Island Princess, on Powell River-Texada Island is 46
years old and should of been retired years ago, but, like the Powell
River Queen, she has recieved a major modification (transformation
into catamaran in 1969 was it?). But HER retirement has been delayed
long enough, I think. She should be retired very soon (first one on
the Northern Gulf) and replaced. BC Ferries also plans ("threatens"
to me) to contract out Powell River-Texada Island. Hopefully, because
she is a commuter ferry, that won't happen. As for the Burnaby on
Powell River-Comox, she may be in the fleet for a few more years, but
her retirement is due soon. She has recieved one or two major
upgrades, which may delay the retirement. And, like the Texada Island
service, BC Ferries plans to contract this route out. It is not a
commuter route, hovever - it is a tourist route. A traveller route.
It may not make money, but they should keep it anyways (by my
opinion, and probably yours as well). For the Vancouver Island-Denman
Island service, the vessel is good. No replacement required within
the next 15 years. Just give her a mid-life refit. I have been on the
Quinitsa once and she seems to be in quite good shape. The Kathloke
on Denman Island-Hornby Island (I feel) should be retired.
As "Harbourlynx Kid" stated before, one of the Albion Ferries might
be a good idea for that. These are only opinions, remember. That
concludes the Northern Gulf routes.
3. Sunshine Coast
There aren't many routes on the Sunshine Coast, so this will be
fairly short. On Earls Cove-Saltery Bay, the Queen of Tsawwassen is
scheduled for retirement in 2007. I have been on her once and she is
looking quite raggy. The vessel to be built is similar to the
Cumberland and Capilano - but slighly larger I'd guess. She is going
to be the first vessel in for retirement. On Horseshoe Bay-Langdale,
I suggest moving Queen of Surrey to Horseshoe Bay-Departure Bay (she
is slightly larger, for a busier route) and move Queen of Coquitlam
into regular service out of Langdale. Queen of Cowichan can be a
suplimentary vessel, replacing Queen of Esquimalt. The Langdale-
Gambier Island-Keats Island has already been contracted out, so I
don't need to discuss that. And the Horseshoe Bay-Bowen Island should
remain the same, but they should add hydralic ramps to her car deck
in case of heavy vehicle loads.
4. Major Routes & Southern Gulf
Heres my opinions for the three major routes....
Horseshoe Bay-Departure Bay
Regular: Queen of Surrey (refurbished)
Departure Bay-Horseshoe Bay
Regular: Queen of Oak Bay (refurbished)
Secondary: Super "C" #3 (delivered summer, 2008)
Tsawwassen-Duke Point
Regular: possibly Queen of New Westminster (refurbished) or new vessel
Duke Point-Tsawwassen
Regular: Queen of Alberni (refurbished)
Secondary: possibly Queen of New Westminster (refurbished) or new
vessel
Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay
Regular: Spirit of British Columbia
Secondary: Super "C" #2 (delivered spring, 2008)
Swartz Bay-Tsawwassen
Regular: Spirit of Vancouver Island
Secondary: Super "C" #1 (delivered winter, 2007)
The Queen of Saanich, Vancouver and possibly New Westminster will be
retired after from the major routes in the next 15 years. two new
passenger-only routes are planned to be established before the
Olympics between Vancouver Airport with Nanaimo and Vancouver Airport
with Victoria.
5. Southern Gulf Islands
Heres my opinions toward the Southern Gulf Islands....
Gabriola Island-Nanaimo Harbour
Regular: Quinsam (refurbished)
Kuper Island-Thetis Island-Chemainus
Regular: new vessel, possibly same type of design as Quinitsa
Vesuvius-Crofton
Regular: new vessel, possibly same type of design as Quinsam
Salt Spring Island-Swartz Bay
Regular: Skeena Queen
Tsawwassen-Southern Gulf Islands
Summer Service
Secondary: new vessel, possibly same type of design as Queen of
Cumberland
Southern Gulf Islands-Tsawwassen
Regular: new vessel, possibly modelled on new Earls Cove vessel
Swartz Bay-Southern Gulf Islands
Regular: Queen of Cumberland
Southern Gulf Islands-Swartz Bay
Regular: new vessel, possibly modelled on new Earls Cove vessel
Brentwood Bay-Mill Bay
Terminated
That concludes my opinions. Thanks for reading.
I also posted this on the other forum I am a member in, so please read. ;D
years....
1. Northern Routes
I don't have much to say about the northern routes, just this: either
contract all three routes out, or build ONE vessel (quite large) to
operate all three routes, year round. It would be a good idea - a
large ship with many amenities for the passengers, and a money-saver
for BC Ferries (operating one "more automated" ship rather than three
would save fuel and lower crew numbers). Because the winter is quite
a bit lower, in terms of service on the nothern routes, they could
save money by closing some of the less needed amenities, by
terminating crew numbers (those particular amenities would be
operated by seasonal employees). I also suggest giving the Kwuna a
mid-life refit. Only David Hahn knows for sure what's going on with
the northern routes in the future. That concludes my opinions toward
the northern routes.
2. Queen Charlotte Strait & Northern Gulf
For the Queen Charlotte Strait (Port McNeil-Malcom Island-Cormorant
Island), I suggest building a complete new vessel for the route (I
have no idea what type of vessel that will be). The Quadra Queen II
is a '69 and is reaching the end of her service life. What I believe
should be done, is retire all vessels built before 1975. That should
be the goal. All Campbell River, Quadra Island and Cortes Island
vessels should be retired and replaced. The Powell River Queen is now
39 years old, but the major refit she had previously recieved will
delay her retirement. The Tenaka is now 40 years old and hasn't
recieved any major modification or upgrade, so she should be retired
soon. The North Island Princess, on Powell River-Texada Island is 46
years old and should of been retired years ago, but, like the Powell
River Queen, she has recieved a major modification (transformation
into catamaran in 1969 was it?). But HER retirement has been delayed
long enough, I think. She should be retired very soon (first one on
the Northern Gulf) and replaced. BC Ferries also plans ("threatens"
to me) to contract out Powell River-Texada Island. Hopefully, because
she is a commuter ferry, that won't happen. As for the Burnaby on
Powell River-Comox, she may be in the fleet for a few more years, but
her retirement is due soon. She has recieved one or two major
upgrades, which may delay the retirement. And, like the Texada Island
service, BC Ferries plans to contract this route out. It is not a
commuter route, hovever - it is a tourist route. A traveller route.
It may not make money, but they should keep it anyways (by my
opinion, and probably yours as well). For the Vancouver Island-Denman
Island service, the vessel is good. No replacement required within
the next 15 years. Just give her a mid-life refit. I have been on the
Quinitsa once and she seems to be in quite good shape. The Kathloke
on Denman Island-Hornby Island (I feel) should be retired.
As "Harbourlynx Kid" stated before, one of the Albion Ferries might
be a good idea for that. These are only opinions, remember. That
concludes the Northern Gulf routes.
3. Sunshine Coast
There aren't many routes on the Sunshine Coast, so this will be
fairly short. On Earls Cove-Saltery Bay, the Queen of Tsawwassen is
scheduled for retirement in 2007. I have been on her once and she is
looking quite raggy. The vessel to be built is similar to the
Cumberland and Capilano - but slighly larger I'd guess. She is going
to be the first vessel in for retirement. On Horseshoe Bay-Langdale,
I suggest moving Queen of Surrey to Horseshoe Bay-Departure Bay (she
is slightly larger, for a busier route) and move Queen of Coquitlam
into regular service out of Langdale. Queen of Cowichan can be a
suplimentary vessel, replacing Queen of Esquimalt. The Langdale-
Gambier Island-Keats Island has already been contracted out, so I
don't need to discuss that. And the Horseshoe Bay-Bowen Island should
remain the same, but they should add hydralic ramps to her car deck
in case of heavy vehicle loads.
4. Major Routes & Southern Gulf
Heres my opinions for the three major routes....
Horseshoe Bay-Departure Bay
Regular: Queen of Surrey (refurbished)
Departure Bay-Horseshoe Bay
Regular: Queen of Oak Bay (refurbished)
Secondary: Super "C" #3 (delivered summer, 2008)
Tsawwassen-Duke Point
Regular: possibly Queen of New Westminster (refurbished) or new vessel
Duke Point-Tsawwassen
Regular: Queen of Alberni (refurbished)
Secondary: possibly Queen of New Westminster (refurbished) or new
vessel
Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay
Regular: Spirit of British Columbia
Secondary: Super "C" #2 (delivered spring, 2008)
Swartz Bay-Tsawwassen
Regular: Spirit of Vancouver Island
Secondary: Super "C" #1 (delivered winter, 2007)
The Queen of Saanich, Vancouver and possibly New Westminster will be
retired after from the major routes in the next 15 years. two new
passenger-only routes are planned to be established before the
Olympics between Vancouver Airport with Nanaimo and Vancouver Airport
with Victoria.
5. Southern Gulf Islands
Heres my opinions toward the Southern Gulf Islands....
Gabriola Island-Nanaimo Harbour
Regular: Quinsam (refurbished)
Kuper Island-Thetis Island-Chemainus
Regular: new vessel, possibly same type of design as Quinitsa
Vesuvius-Crofton
Regular: new vessel, possibly same type of design as Quinsam
Salt Spring Island-Swartz Bay
Regular: Skeena Queen
Tsawwassen-Southern Gulf Islands
Summer Service
Secondary: new vessel, possibly same type of design as Queen of
Cumberland
Southern Gulf Islands-Tsawwassen
Regular: new vessel, possibly modelled on new Earls Cove vessel
Swartz Bay-Southern Gulf Islands
Regular: Queen of Cumberland
Southern Gulf Islands-Swartz Bay
Regular: new vessel, possibly modelled on new Earls Cove vessel
Brentwood Bay-Mill Bay
Terminated
That concludes my opinions. Thanks for reading.
I also posted this on the other forum I am a member in, so please read. ;D
Doesn't matter, we know that Capilano is replacing Tsawwassen.
