International Route: Anacortes-Sidney, BC

[Northern Exploration]

BCFC has something in mind for this terminal and you have to bet it isn't just to service WSF. The volume etc. isn't high enough currently to generate a large amount of income. However, while BCFC developes a use for the future (maybe short or longterm) the income from WSF is important.

With the attitude and public statement made by WSF when BCFC was given the contract, I think any joint ventures is very unlikely. They called BCFC a competitor. They may have heard some rumours as to what BCFC is planning and be more in the loop then we are.

Many comments have been made about WSF wanting to drop the Sidney service and with the shortage of vessels that may become necessary. It will be interesting to see how this plays out in the coming while.

[SS San Mateo]

ruddernut said:

As for a hand-me-down vessel from BCF, I think there may be Jones Act issues with that.

That's not the only problem. Vessels operating on the international route have to be SOLAS compliant and, according to a post in another thread, the only SOLAS compliant vessel in the BCF fleet is the Northern Adventure.

[Mill Bay]

vashondude said:

ruddernut said:

As for a hand-me-down vessel from BCF, I think there may be Jones Act issues with that.

That's not the only problem. Vessels operating on the international route have to be SOLAS compliant and, according to a post in another thread, the only SOLAS compliant vessel in the BCF fleet is the Northern Adventure.

Are there any others of ours that are even close to being SOLAS compliant? I thought someone had mentioned
that the Coastal class, at least, were built to Solas specs.

[Barnacle]

mirrlees60 said:

The [Sidney] terminal where we know it today was opened in 1955...

Really? I thought it was 1960--on the other hand, I haven't looked into it. Guess that makes the film I have a little older than I thought...

[SS San Mateo]

millbay said:

Are there any others of ours that are even class to being SOLAS compliant? I thought someone had mentioned that the Coastal class, at least, were built to Solas specs.

I don't seem to recall seeing any fire sprinklers in the cabin on the CR (from what I've seen in pictures). Those are required for SOLAS compliance.

Edit: She does have interior fire sprinklers.

[Mill Bay]

barnacle said:

mirrlees60 said:

The [Sidney] terminal where we know it today was opened in 1955...

Really? I thought it was 1960--on the other hand, I haven't looked into it. Guess that makes the film I have a little older than I thought...

It seems to me that the current terminal in Sidney was built very recently. We used to spend times in the summer in Sidney, and I remember the international ferry dock being right off the end of one of the downtown streets in Sidney, and now it's over around the corner.

[Nick]

No, the WSF dock has been in the same place for as long as I have lived in Sidney (19 years). It was upgraded a few years ago, with a new steel, hydraulic ramp (instead of counterweights).

It is in the same place as it is shown in this photo

note that this is not my photo, I got it from another member on this board, possibly WCK.

[Mill Bay]

coxnnick said:

No, the WSF dock has been in the same place for as long as I have lived in Sidney (19 years). It was upgraded a few years ago, with a new steel, hydraulic ramp (instead of counterweights).

My memory must be faulty, then.

What precipitated a BC ferry being at that dock in this picture, though?

[Nick]

Swartz bay wasn't complete yet, and they were doing sea trials for the Queen of Sidney (MV Sidney at the time). At least that is what I have pieced to together. I don't know where that photo originally came from, so I don't have any accompanying text.

Could you be thinking of the fisherman's wharf at the end of Beacon? I think some bigger ships might have berthed there on occasion. Perhaps somebody who has been around longer than me can weigh in on this.

[BreannaF]

millbay said:

What precipitated a BC ferry being at that dock in this picture, though?

The photo was originally in a Wet Coast Kid post in THIS thread from early 2007. That thread is a good read with an extensive discussion of BCF operating the terminal and a variety of the possible uses that the terminal could be used for.

[Barnacle]

coxnnick said:

Could you be thinking of the fisherman's wharf at the end of Beacon? I think some bigger ships might have berthed there on occasion. Perhaps somebody who has been around longer than me can weigh in on this.

As far as I can tell with a bit of thought, Google Earth, and the knowledge that the old WSF dock was at the foot of Beacon Avenue (plus a few pics of the old dock ;D ), the fishing pier at the foot of Beacon is the one and same. The configuration even matches.

The photo of the Sidney is captioned.

[Nick]

I think you're right that it was at the foot of beacon at some point, but it was before 1960, because that photo shows it in it's current location.

If you look at this screenshot, you can see the little bay where port sidney marina is, as well as the fisherman's wharf and the pier.


Compare that to this picture showing the lumber yard's wharf, which is now the fisherman's wharf, and the bay where port sidney is.


You can also tell by the roads.

I asked my mom about this (she has lived in Sidney her entire life) and she said that the WSF terminal moved from the foot of beacon to where it is now at Tulista Park in the late 50's at some point.

When I get the chance next, I will ask my neighbour about it, as he is somewhat of an expert in local history, particularly marine.



===============
[moderator: 1st pic changed to a link, re side-scrolling. Checked oil and filter. Tire pressure ok.]

EDIT: Fixed oversize image, replaced ftp with img. Thanks Mr. Horn.

[DENelson83]

You know, I've never seen up-close high-resolution images of the land side of the Sidney ferry terminal. Anyone living in Sidney wanna indulge me with such images?

[WettCoast]

I believe the current WSF terminal in Sidney, BC, went into operation in 1959. As stated above the dock has recently been rebuilt pretty much completely.

CP once operated a service to Bellingham (I believe) from Sidney. Presumably it ran from the wharf at the foot of Beacon Ave. The vessel used was the Motor Princess.

The photo of the Sidney @ Sidney shown above came out of a magazine, or BC Ferries publication (Fleet Bulletin, The Road Runner, Passages, etc.). It was scanned from the DOT collection.

[evergreenboatrider]

I have not noticed anything other than the schedule saying that it will resume March 30th, but is the ongoing maintenance/inspection cycle going to affect it? Is there a SOLAS-certified boat available? I am only asking is that before I go on another forum to tell that this is a casualty of the ongoing problems, I would like to make sure it is.

Edited to fix typos in thread title

[FNS]

Now, that's a really long trip! Don't know if there is a "BC" in Australia, though. ;D

I think you meant Sidney.

[evergreenboatrider]

ferrynutseattle said:

Now, that's a really long trip! Don't know if there is a "BC" in Australia, though. ;D

I think you meant Sidney.

I meant on Sydney, on Vancouver Island. Although it takes a few hours, I think it is the longest WSF run.

[BreannaF]

WSF has not said anything that we know of, to date, that would indicate that the Anacortes-Sidney run is going away anytime soon. I suppose that in some doomsday scenerio, like multiple additional ferries going out of service, then anything can happen. But I offer you the following evidence that WSF intends to keep the run this year:

• The schedule on the WSF website says that it will return on March 30. In several different prominent places.
  
• The latest maintenance & drydocking schedule shows the Chelan as the Anacortes-Sidney boat this Summer. Although that is not a promise to anyone, I'd root for that to happen, just because Evergreenfleet seemed so pleased that that ferry would be assigned there. It would also seem to indicate that they continue to operate the route.
  
• Somewhere online, I saw a promotion where WSF in conjunction with Anacortes-area tourism-related businesses, was offering a promotion where RV's would be allowed on the route for the same price as cars this Summer (some restrictions apply, of course). It doesn't sound from that that they plan not to be going there this Summer.
  
• The WSF site is currently taking reservations for this route.
  

So, I would conclude that I can take this ferry sometime this Summer.

BTW, the "New Schedule Tool" toy on the WSF site lists the Elwha as the Anacortes-Sidney boat. I will presume that they just plugged in "likely suspect" names into that tool at some point, I wouldn't take that as any authority at all.

Also, note to evergreenboatrider, I think that ferrynutseattle was trying to discretely tell you that the the locals on Vancouver Island spell the name of their town "Sidney". But don't worry. Everybody does that sometimes.

[Low Light Mike]

evergreenboatrider said:

ferrynutseattle said:

Now, that's a really long trip! Don't know if there is a "BC" in Australia, though. ;D

I think you meant Sidney.

I meant on Sydney, on Vancouver Island. Although it takes a few hours, I think it is the longest WSF run.

I'll continue the game:

There is no such town as "Sydney" on Vancouver Island. That's a fact.

[SS San Mateo]

evergreenboatrider said:

Is there a SOLAS-certified boat available?

The Chelan, which currently is the only SOLAS certified vessel in the fleet. The Elwha was operating under a 6 month waiver (which has expired or is close to expiring) and the USCG won't extend it. The Evergreen State is no longer SOLAS compliant (not exactly sure why) and her SOLAS certificate expired in 2003.

[EGfleet]

bryank said:

WSF has not said anything that we know of, to date, that would indicate that the Anacortes-Sidney run is going away anytime soon. I suppose that in some doomsday scenerio, like multiple additional ferries going out of service, then anything can happen. But I offer you the following evidence that WSF intends to keep the run this year:

• The schedule on the WSF website says that it will return on March 30. In several different prominent places.
  
• The latest maintenance & drydocking schedule shows the Chelan as the Anacortes-Sidney boat this Summer. Although that is not a promise to anyone, I'd root for that to happen, just because Evergreenfleet seemed so pleased that that ferry would be assigned there. It would also seem to indicate that they continue to operate the route.
  
• Somewhere online, I saw a promotion where WSF in conjunction with Anacortes-area tourism-related businesses, was offering a promotion where RV's would be allowed on the route for the same price as cars this Summer (some restrictions apply, of course). It doesn't sound from that that they plan not to be going there this Summer.
  
• The WSF site is currently taking reservations for this route.
  

So, I would conclude that I can take this ferry sometime this Summer.

BTW, the "New Schedule Tool" toy on the WSF site lists the Elwha as the Anacortes-Sidney boat. I will presume that they just plugged in "likely suspect" names into that tool at some point, I wouldn't take that as any authority at all.

Also, note to evergreenboatrider, I think that ferrynutseattle was trying to discretely tell you that the the locals on Vancouver Island spell the name of their town "Sidney". But don't worry. Everybody does that sometimes.

Evergreenfleet is pleased that it is the Chelan because he likes the Duty Free store on the Chelan much better than the closet on the Elwha. ;D (I will also state the Chelan to be a much better sea boat and is much nicer on the inside. The only thing the Elwha has going for it is the outside deck to walk around in the summer.)

I actually get to look out windows and see the beautiful San Juans go by and spot the ferries going in and out of Swartz Bay.

Please feel free to drop by and say hello. I'm easy to spot--I'm the only male working at the store. However, please don't ask me which side of the boat the whales will be appearing on. The answer you will always get is "The outside."

[tom98250]

Please feel free to drop by and say hello. I'm easy to spot--I'm the only male working at the store. However, please don't ask me which side of the boat the whales will be appearing on. The answer you will always get is "The outside."

My girlfriend and I have been planning on heading to Vancouver Island some time this spring; would you care to hold out "something special" for us...?

[EGfleet]

tom98250 said:

Please feel free to drop by and say hello. I'm easy to spot--I'm the only male working at the store. However, please don't ask me which side of the boat the whales will be appearing on. The answer you will always get is "The outside."

My girlfriend and I have been planning on heading to Vancouver Island some time this spring; would you care to hold out "something special" for us...?

Well, we always keep the $1500.00 bottle of Louis the XIII in reserve for special customers.

[tom98250]

evergreenfleet said:

tom98250 said:

My girlfriend and I have been planning on heading to Vancouver Island some time this spring; would you care to hold out "something special" for us...?

Well, we always keep the $1500.00 bottle of Louis the XIII in reserve for special customers.

putting on my best "Mr. Burns" voice -- Excellent!

[evergreenboatrider]

Oops, sorry about the spelling problem. Sidney, B.C. Some city names can have multiple spellings.