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Post by Curtis on Apr 24, 2005 9:52:08 GMT -8
Than they should of been built over seas. They should of installed better engines or redeploy them to PR-Comox the bays here are mostly hidden well they are on Texada I don't know about Powell River than theres open water after Texada and Harwood all the way to Comox all they need to do is refit the cats and the terminals
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Post by NMcKay on Apr 24, 2005 9:53:09 GMT -8
im sure that they would have had to do some rebuilding if they wantes the incats here. they only load and unload from the rear, but they are quiet quick and manuverable.
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Post by Curtis on Apr 24, 2005 9:59:21 GMT -8
Would of been a good idea
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Post by Low Light Mike on Apr 24, 2005 13:08:36 GMT -8
I say "remain private". I like where it's going, and where it has the potential to go, being private.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Apr 24, 2005 13:10:46 GMT -8
One more thing: The poll at the top of this thread is impossible.
It's a yes or no response, but it's not a yes or no question.
So if I say "Yes", then I'm really saying that "Yes, BCF should remain public or private". Well, duh, that's only logical.
So if I say "No", then it must become something other than either private or public.
Sorry, but I'm having a logic problem here....
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Post by Dane on Apr 24, 2005 14:20:50 GMT -8
Considering how far BCF has come?? They held back the order for new vessels (ferry fans should no little of the grand scheme of BCFS is actually original material, 'it's "borrowed" from BCF's old 20 year plan. Yes the ships are pretty inside. Woot! The improved food services were done by BCF when still public... Little has changed at BCF, but with new interiors on three ships, a stunningly excellent website and boring new logo they've made you all think they've actually odne soemthing.
BCF has a crown could also borrow money... hell BC Rail never stopped doing it.
Anyways I gotta jet, but I'll detail my views later.
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Post by cascade on Apr 25, 2005 5:30:52 GMT -8
In agreeing with Harbourlynx kid - with regards to the Cat project. I do agree in theory to what they were trying to do. The Ferry market - in general / world wide was moving towards the Fast Cat concept - therefore the powers to be in BC though why not re-train the work force in the ship yards - as at the time the shipping market was not doing to well - possible layoffs in the Yards ect... so....very much in theory the idea of building a new type of work force - which could build these new fast cat type ferries to a world wide market - did make sense.
BUT - here we are dealing with a ageing work force and very strong unions - with even stronger views - plus added into the mix a government who can not keep there bloody fingers out of it - stir all that up and what do you have - BUT a even bigger bloody mess and at cost to the poor tax payer.
Good idea on paper - but the worse in the world at excution of this idea.
Did you know that at University here in London - they are teaching a subject at UCL on naval engineering - what not and how not to do - subject matter - BCFS handling of the Fast Cats - now that is very embarrassing.
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Post by NMcKay on Apr 25, 2005 7:09:36 GMT -8
and the FastCatFiasco will remain in BC history for a long time, but i have so many ideas THAT WOULD HAVE WORKED. Grr.
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Post by cascade on Apr 25, 2005 7:32:38 GMT -8
It realy is a shame - that a course in the UK is now reviewing what not to do. I understand that a University - back East - students have written there MBA thesis on this very subject - plus posted it on the Web.
BCF are pushing the fact that they are the biggest and best - yet here we now find at student level courses been done on the mistakes "local" governments make. It appears also that the NDP don't give a d**n on this - and the damage it has done to BC.
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Post by Curtis on Apr 25, 2005 7:35:18 GMT -8
and the FastCatFiasco will remain in BC history for a long time, but i have so many ideas THAT WOULD HAVE WORKED. Grr. I can tell it will. The idea is open water or areas where it can't do damage to the docks |
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Post by cascade on Apr 25, 2005 7:41:46 GMT -8
Someone said - a while back that using these vessel on the routes they wanted to, was like having the "Concord" fly the route from Vancouver to Victoria.
This type of vessel only realy comes into it own when on a long run - where it can use it speed. In Europe you see them used on routes of around 50KM or more - where they cut the time down from 2-3 hours to around 1.5 hours crossing. The main thing about these cat's is the speed.
(in BCF case lack of speed)
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Post by kylefossett on Apr 25, 2005 15:11:05 GMT -8
the fastcats could have been refitted with different engines and then used on most major bc ferries runs. this did not happen because lord gord wanted to make the ndp look bad. watch in may if a new party comes into power and see what they do with liberal policies
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Post by Political Incorrectness on Apr 25, 2005 17:22:33 GMT -8
The SCUZBUCKETS is what the fastcats were. They should have never built them and only have built one to make sure it would have worked and then the NDP would have saved alot of dollars! Then we would have had less than three sail waits.
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Post by Political Incorrectness on Apr 25, 2005 17:24:29 GMT -8
BTW CKNW called the public sector a "recipie for disaster" NO DUH
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Post by Retrovision on Apr 25, 2005 18:38:11 GMT -8
kylefossett wrote:
...watch in may if a new party comes into power and see what they do with liberal policies
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A new party into power? With BC voters' record? All the BC "Liberals" have to do to perswade <spelling?> BC voters to give them another 4 years is wave a few carrots in their faces, after having slowly emptied the cellar over the last 4 years. I hate to be the one to say it, but you're dreaming if you think anyone but the SoCreds... err I mean "Liberals" are going to hold the power after May.
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Post by Retrovision on Apr 25, 2005 18:42:38 GMT -8
Oh, and in response to the poll question: "Should BCF remain private or public?" my answer is no, BCF should not remain private or public. or is that yes, BCF should remain private or public   (KEEP IT PUBLIC!) |
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Post by Curtis on Apr 25, 2005 20:00:23 GMT -8
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Doug
Voyager 
Lurking within...the car deck.
Posts: 2,213
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Post by Doug on Apr 25, 2005 20:57:05 GMT -8
Check out what Carol James has to say about BC Ferries on page A9 in The Province. Hey PR Kid, did you see her in Powell River?
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Post by Balfour on Apr 25, 2005 21:02:12 GMT -8
If BCF is to become Public again if the New Dumba$$ Party is elected, I wonder if Management will have resistence.
Didn't someone say that the Gov't can't make BCF Public until 60 years later, and isn't it even written in the contract?
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Doug
Voyager
Lurking within...the car deck.
Posts: 2,213
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Post by Doug on Apr 25, 2005 21:03:29 GMT -8
Exactly. The NDP is pretty dumb to be fondling with a contract.  |
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Post by Dane on Apr 25, 2005 21:12:13 GMT -8
Exactly. The NDP is pretty dumb to be fondling with a contract. Why? That's what governments do on a daily basis... |
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Post by Balfour on Apr 25, 2005 21:15:23 GMT -8
Yep. The NDP are a bunch of idiots.
In the news today, Gordon Campbell was saying that the NDP only have a plan set out for the next nine months, where as the Liberals have one set out for at least the next few years.
I think the Liberals are more organized with their campaign and with their platform. The NDP seem rather un-organized and they seem to be coming up with ideas that aren't original in any way. The same old stupid NDP economic policies that destroyed our province in the first place. Does anyone here remember when Carol James made up false information about BCF Spending. She's already been digging a hole for herself and her party even before the campaign started.
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Post by cascade on Apr 26, 2005 9:11:42 GMT -8
Strong Skier - the "new" BCF has a "license" to operator from all the current terminals within BC for 60 years from 2003 at a rental fee of $100,000 per year. This License has been Granted by BCFTA - which is the government - so the land and terminals all belong to the crown. They must also main't and general improvements - upkeep of all the terminals. They sub-contracted this part out to SNC Lavin from Back East - which I was informed - also did Vancouver Airport (Karl is that correct?)
There is also the "ACT" - voted on called C-18 or Bill 18 - which created BC Ferries from a "Crown" to private company - so to turn the BC Ferries back into a public / crown buisness - would require a vote - so in theory yes it could happen. Will it ? I don't think so - but watch this space as they say.
I would also add - that so far - the current management in place seem - on surface - to be doing an OK job - but presure needs to be applied to keep them on course.
The Bank funding / debt levels are OK - and the Banks can control what the Government can do or not do also. The Banks could withdrawn funding and demand back the Bond - if they feel that the "local" government is playing with the buisness.
They do need to spend one hell of a lot of money to upgrade the Fleet in general - so I would watch very carefully the borrowing levels of the buisness. There are a few checks in place - but you still need to keep an eye on it.
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Post by kylefossett on Apr 26, 2005 16:21:35 GMT -8
the ndp messing with the ferry act is no different then what the liberals and lord gord did to the bcnu(britisih columbia nurses union) when he reopened and negotiated and agreed upon contract and took away what they had gotten from management. this was another ndp descion that the liberals screwed up on. www.saveourferries.com |
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Post by cascade on Apr 27, 2005 7:17:42 GMT -8
The Ferry buisness in a lot of countries - were at one time state owned ie "Crown Companies" - due to the very nature of the buisness - they are very capital hungry and if the state doesn't spend the capital wisely each year then you find yourself in a mess - like what has happen to BCFS over the last 15 years plus. I have seen it many times - so is not really to much of a shock right now - but very sorry to see.
Where the state - let go of the buisness - sold it off ect.. you can find in some countries an even bigger mess - or like in Spain - a new modern / fast - cheap service - a lot better funded and run than before - but with the same middle management - only senior management was changed - due to the policitical changes ect...
So I have high hopes for BCFS - hopefully it will be painless for everybody - including the workers.
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