What...with Mill bay

[Queen of Nanaimo Teen]

I didn't exactly read the whole thing. I just saw the big letters that said Millbay Route meeting. I'ts Probably already happened. Bc ferries wants to sell the route because People don't need it. I'ts only a means of getting up the Island faster.(Vancouver Islands Most Beautifull Shortcut!)

[Low Light Mike]

Hey Engineer, you can yank my chain anytime.....it gives me an opportunity to get creative with my rants, and it's always wonderful when I can quote Monty Python too.

Say what you want: At work, your'e protected by the Union. On the internet, we're all protected by a degree of anonymity...and the boldness that comes with that. I like the freedom of a good back&forth once in a while.

[Low Light Mike]

Ok, I've taken my happy pills, and I'd like to approach the Mill Bay profitability issue seriously:

What are the major costs on the route:
1) Fuel
2) Wages
3) Capital cost of the vessel. ie. the route should make some profit, so that a new vessel can eventually be purchased, or so that the existing vessel can be refitted when needed.
4) regular repairs on the vessel
5) allocation of admin & overhead from BCF
6) costs to upkeep and upgrade the 2 landing sites.

Let's think about the costs:
- Fuel is low, according to Mr. Engineer. I'm no expert, so I'll take his word. However, even though consumption is low, unit-price is high right now.
- staffing levels are likely low, compared with other minor routes. No terminal staff, and likely a very small crew. Union rates and full benefits likely, but crew is likely small. However, staff profiles are likely very "senior" on this route, meaning that most workers are at top-end of scale, and all get full benefits (I'm assuming that this route's crew is very veteran....since its a small staff pool for this route.).

Revenues: tariff revenues are quantity x price:
- is the price too low or too high or just right?
- can quantity be increased? how much more traffic can the vessel hold, before capacity is reached?
- How consistent is the traffic pattern: throughout the day? throughout the week? throughout the year? Is this a seasonal vessel?

I think the main economic issue is: Can this route generate enough profit to fund the eventual upgrade/replacement of the vessel and terminals? Even if this eventual capital cost was amortized bit by bit each year, would the route be able to generate enough profit to cover the capital portion?

- The economic spin-off issue is: What businesses / local economies will benefit from this route? Is it just a couple of cappuccino shops on the Saanich Peninsula? Or is the route's economic impact greater than that?

Who are the economic stakeholder's on the route? Is this just a nice tourist route, and sometimes necessity (ie. when the malahat is snowed over)?

All these questions have probably already been answered on this board, in some other topics before, but I'm just doing some brainstorming now.

Because the route is so unique and isolated from the other routes (ie. it's own terminals, it's own unique vessel, it's own unique market), would it make sense to sell this route to a private operator? Does this route fit into BCF's regular mandate?

Would a private operator be able to do a better job of operating it? Mr. Engineer, would you be willing to work for a private-operator on this route? What demands would you make as a worker? Would you expect on-par wages & benefits, same as other BCF routes?

If yes, then I guess its better to keep this part of BCF, because the route & it's workers need the covering of BCF.

[BrianWilliams]

How many thousands of travel hours, and thousands of litres of fuel does the Mill Bay ferry save people every month? Does it replace yet another lane of highway through Goldstream Park?

Maybe that should be the poll question.

[Quinsam]

They need more car capacity, or more sailings to make more money on the Mill bay route.
Maybe there could be a ferry tycoon and it has all of the BCFerries in the list that operate between Brentwood Bay and Courtenay/Comox/Powell river, also the harbourlynx and the Island Mist, maybe the Aquabusses.
Computer Game.

[Political Incorrectness]

no they need to scrap the route because it is a waist of money

[Quinsam]

Why do they need to get rid of the route, maybe they can just run it when there is an accident on the Malahat, and when there is too much snow on the Malahat, and run a bigger vessel there, move the chains, ask for a donation from the villages of Mill and Brentwood Bays, then we have a good route, the mill bay running as an extra vessel to Patricia bay, so Mill bay has 2 berths like Fulford 'arbour.

[BrianWilliams]

Hmm... I was a big fan of RR Tycoon II a few years ago. Too many lost weekends and allnighters, though.

Seriously, SimCity and RRT have a logical economic simulator as their base. SimCity, I understand, grew out of a 1980's tool for real-life urban planners.

Ferry Tycoon could be hacked from the RRT II game as it is now; but I wonder if the owners would like to give us an official release.

Get on it, gamers.

[cascade]

So we scrap the route - sell the vessel - and put the money into a bunch of kids - hoping that they will have a hit game out it.....sounds good - where do I sign up...

[NMcKay]

dont lionize the situation Cascade

[Quinsam]

I think he is just being sarcastic.

[NMcKay]

i know...i just like big words...

[cascade]

Now for a serous moment if I may ......There are meetings concerning the route - which have been held every week since the 6th July 2005.
For more info I would look at the Peninsular News (Newspaper) - the old "Sidney Review" - which can also be found on www.peninsulanewsview.com

[Low Light Mike]

I like the word "Lionize". I wonder if you can also "Argo-ize" or "Eskimo-ize" too.

just kidding. I like the word.

[cascade]

Once you guys start getting a few brain cells in working order - out comes all these words. Hell I had to go and look it up....so much for all that University stuff I did - sorry mom.....

Now where are we on this Game business.......so the ferry has secret guns - where Harry saw water come out of it - good cover plan..... chapter 2....we begin with the seagull bombing the fish and the Mill Bay steams to the fish rescue...sounds like a good meal tonight....

[Engineer]

flugelhorn said:

Hey Engineer, you can yank my chain anytime......

Say what you want: At work, your'e protected by the Union.

Not much protection now a days

[Engineer]

flugelhorn said:

Would a private operator be able to do a better job of operating it? Mr. Engineer, would you be willing to work for a private-operator on this route? What demands would you make as a worker? Would you expect on-par wages & benefits, same as other BCF routes?

I dont think there are too many private operators that would do it?
Myself it would be hard to leave the ferries, to go to a new private operator, I guess I have been here too long , only 8 years till I can retire, too old and complacent to go.Plus to leave my great job on the Cumberland would be foolish lol.

[NMcKay]

flugelhorn said:

I like the word "Lionize". I wonder if you can also "Argo-ize" or "Eskimo-ize" too.

just kidding. I like the word.

That word actually means to objectify the situation...it was the google word of the day a while back

[Quinsam]

what should be done to the mill bay ferry, please get back on topic.

[Curtis]

It's a nice route I've gottin photos from it's wheelhouse all I gotta say is keep it there till it sinks