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Post by NMcKay on Mar 8, 2006 7:18:17 GMT -8
Interest from overseas companies
Mar 07 2006
From / 1 Washington Marine built the ill-fated aluminum-hulled ferries for B.C. Ferries, then bought them back from the province for $19 million. Now the company is considering running its own ferry service between the Island and the mainland. Meanwhile, McKay said he knows of two British companies that are also considering starting ferry services. One is Entee Global Services, which operates a transportation reservation service from London, England. But he doubts they would buy Harbour Link. Harbour Link faces a number of challenges, including steep costs and an inability to get more than 200 passengers on its 300-seat vessel on most sailings. Ideally, the service needs a second ship to protect it against failures, and it should be smaller, to cut fuel costs while carrying smaller loads. Another ship would cost around $7 million. Another sore point is what Harbour Link considers the provincial government's unfair practice of paying for seniors and health-care patients to travel free aboard B.C. Ferries, but not private operators. Then there is the steep cost of leasing berthing space in Nanaimo and Vancouver harbours - not to mention the $1-a-head tax the Nanaimo Harbour Commission charges on behalf of every passenger the HarbourLynx ship carries. The harbour commission told them it's to recover the $800,000 cost of building a dock for the ferry, but McKay said it's steep, considering how much the harbour commission spends on non revenue-generating harbour improvements. "My question, if you expect $412,000 a year in (port fee) revenue for that wharf, why are you spending several hundred thousand on a walkway you get zero revenue on?" McKay said the harbour commission considers the HarbourLynx failure a "gift from heaven," since the commission is now asking the federal government not to proceed hearing Harbour Link's application to review the head tax. But investors and laid-off employees aren't ready to say die just yet. "Everyone who worked at Harbour Link, we have crews that top to bottom, the vast majority of them believe in the project so that we're all standing by to see if something positive will come out. We all want to get back to work."
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Post by NMcKay on Mar 8, 2006 7:22:31 GMT -8
Staff, not passengers the real losers
To the Editor, I live in Vancouver and have taken the HarbourLynx foot ferry since the beginning. I’ve taken it every month since it’s been in operation. I have friends in Nanaimo and all of us hope and pray they can get the ferry going again. I feel bad for the staff most of all. I was told by one of the staff who is now working in Sears they were all let go and not paid. I will greatly miss this service, as it was very convenient for me. The extra cost was well worth the convenience and time I saved. I’m hoping for everyone’s sake HarbourLynx can find an investor with deep pockets to keep the ferry afloat. Laura Templeman, Vancouver Make HarbourLynx newest dive attraction
To the Editor, There has been plenty of media coverage lately on the HarbourLynx Ferry Service. As usual, the media has had plenty of coverage expressing how much this service will be missed in our community. I feel for the people whose employment situation has changed because of some bad management decisions, but I’m here to tell you that a good percentage of Nanaimoites feel HarbourLynx has a not-so-positive side on this lovely community. Not only has this service contributed to out-of-control real estate prices in our city, it also teams up with developers to sell Nanaimo as Vancouver’s newest suburb. And if you’re lucky enough to be enjoying a walk on your waterfront, you to can try and make your way through a maze of people waiting to board this service. Our walkway was never designed for this and I’m surprised the harbour commission or the city has allowed usage of our public walkway for this service. And maybe someone can tell me where you park your vehicle to use this service. Then there is talk that the provincial government should be bailing out HarbourLynx. My question is: Why would any level of government come to the rescue of this service? Some people who take in sporting events in Vancouver will surely miss this service, and not as many cups of coffee will be sold downtown, but like the New Nanaimo Centre, I bet at least 48 per cent would love to see this vessel become Nanaimo’s newest dive attraction. If this service does survive maybe the HarbourLynx can tug its dock facilities over to the assembly wharf side of Nanaimo and resume service – but that wouldn’t be good for condo sales, now would it? Call me old fashioned, but with 150 years of family history in Nanaimo I’m sticking with the 48 per cent. No doubt, just as I’m writing this letter some kind of backroom bailout is in the works. As any good sport would say to an opponent, good luck, mate. T. Parkin, Nanaimo ‘Lynx situation too close to NNC picture
To the Editor, The financial woes of HarbourLynx bring home to me the huge risk hanging over our city in the form of the New Nanaimo Centre. While I applaud private business initiatives like HarbourLynx and sincerely hope the company gets back on its feet, I think we’d all be rather concerned if the foot ferry belonged to the city and was being subsidized with tax dollars. In my opinion, the conference centre presently under construction downtown is a guaranteed money loser destined to absorb vast amounts of public funds. I’ve no objection to a conference centre per se, but they should be left to private investors. Our public monies would be better spent elsewhere. David Stanley, Nanaimo Commuter forced to move due to ‘Lynx
To the Editor, I was a daily traveller on the HarbourLynx untill the engine failure; I commuted daily to my job in Vancouver. When the service was interrupted I had to use B.C. Ferries, which got me to work late, and I had to leave early from work to get back home. After a few weeks of this my office could not have me working half days and I was transferred to Edmonton. I was born and raised on the Island, my father’s father was raised here. And I ask, is it so impossible for us to have this service? Is our government so hungry for a few dollars that it’s willing to put people out of work and have families split apart for long periods of time? Well, it seems so. I cannot fathom why our goverment would not help to promote this service to and from the Island, it seems to help any other-fly-by-night organization. I guess a group of hard-working Canadians flies under our government’s radar. All I have to say is my dollars are out of province now, and good luck to Nanaimo on the new convention centre – I’m sure companies would not have used this service to attend daily meetings and be home with their families that evening. Jim Hughes, Edmonton
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Post by Balfour on Mar 8, 2006 18:41:04 GMT -8
With 2 years of operation, it is easy to see how the Lynx changed the lives of many people in Nanaimo. I'm very sorry to see it go. I would love to see this foot-passenger service be encouraged and subsidized by the Provincial Government. So far Harbourlynx has done the best job at providing this type of service.
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Post by Quinsam on Mar 8, 2006 19:33:57 GMT -8
Yes, it was a good service, and I even used it myself 1 year and 2 months ago. On the 11 am sailing from Nanaimo on 10th Jan 2005, I left for Vancouver. Didn't see the Quinsam though, but did see a C class in the distance, looked like the Oak bay, but could have been the Cowichan, because the Coquitlam was in refit.
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Post by Ferryman on Mar 8, 2006 19:54:35 GMT -8
You would of seen the Coquitlam, coming into Departure Bay for the 12:30pm sailing. The Oak Bay was still in the Mid life refit.
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Post by Dane on Mar 8, 2006 20:04:04 GMT -8
My mom asked me about 5 minutes ago to check the HL schedule for Friday, she was going to take it to Nanaimo. No luck for her LOL (Now I have to drive her to the ferry terminal. My life is tough)
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Post by Quinsam on Mar 8, 2006 21:38:18 GMT -8
You would of seen the Coquitlam, coming into Departure Bay for the 12:30pm sailing. The Oak Bay was still in the Mid life refit. No I wouldn't. The Coquitlam was in for refit at the time, the Oak bay and Cowichan were serving route 2. I also enjoyed the trip into Vancouver harbour for the first time.
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Post by Ferryman on Mar 8, 2006 21:52:35 GMT -8
The Coquitlam went in for its annual refit in September of 2004....Oak Bay was in the mid life from November 2004-June 2005....
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Doug
Voyager
Lurking within...the car deck.
Posts: 2,213
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Post by Doug on Mar 8, 2006 22:02:05 GMT -8
Don't mess with Chris. He knows everything about the "C" Class, down to where the smallest nut and bolt are. ;D
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Post by Ferryman on Mar 9, 2006 15:30:45 GMT -8
lol, well not quite down to the nut and bolt......yet. But still, if you're on the Lynx sailing 11am from Vancouver, then you would get in to Nanaimo around 12:20. The 12:30 BC Ferry gets into Nanaimo at 12:05, so it's pretty obvious seeming it's the fourth sailing of the day, so it would be the Horseshoe Bay based vessel coming into dock. Therefore, seeming the Coquitlam was in place of the Oak Bay for 2 years on route 2. But then again, I remember the Cowichan being in place of the Coquitlam at one point last year, but I think that was back in September of 2004.
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Post by Future BCer on Mar 15, 2006 15:04:37 GMT -8
Is there any more news on the HL??? or about those other mentioned companies that could be interested in operating a service between downtown Vancouver and Nanaimo? Maybe Translink should do something here?...
future commuter (hopefully not with BC ferries ...)
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Post by NMcKay on Mar 15, 2006 15:23:35 GMT -8
nothing new
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Post by NMcKay on Mar 16, 2006 7:18:07 GMT -8
Window closing on HarbourLynx's final lifeline Leanna Jantzi, Daily News Published: Thursday, March 16, 2006
A director with the troubled HarbourLynx ferry service remains confident there will be a restoration of service between Nanaimo and downtown Vancouver. He just won't say who will be providing it.
"I think there will be a service. I would like it to be us. I think there will be a service, not immediately, necessarily, but there will be a service," said John Cavers, a director with Nanaimo's Harbour Link Corp., which operates HarbourLynx.
But time is running out. Bankruptcy protection for the company ends on Monday.
The foot-passenger ferry stopped service and filed for bankruptcy protection in February and now has until Monday to come up with a new business plan for lenders and investors.
Cavers wouldn't say if the company was going to ask for an extension of the bankruptcy protection.
"As of this time, I don't know if it's really wise for me to say yes or no," he said on Wednesday. "I am not drafting a plan as we speak, let's put it that way, but things change."
Cavers said the company has to be prepared on Friday for whatever it decides to do.
"The final day is Monday and whatever paperwork has evolved has to be done on Tuesday," he said. "I'm obviously preparing for any and all contingencies."
Cavers said his phone has been ringing with calls from "lots of tire kickers."
Other considerations are being discussed, such as what kind of engine repair can be done for how much, where and when, he said.
"Right now the bulk of the calls are going through me, so it's busy," he said.
Prior to filing for bankruptcy protection, HarbourLynx's starboard engine failed on Feb. 2.
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Post by NMcKay on Mar 20, 2006 7:20:12 GMT -8
Deadline expires, HabourLynx is as good as dead Leanna Jantzi Daily News
Monday, March 20, 2006
The sight of HabourLynx sailing in and out of Nanaimo Harbour appears to be a vision of the past.
Nanaimo Harbour Link Corp. director John Cavers confirmed on Sunday that the parent company of the fast-ferry service is not seeking an extension to bankruptcy protection that expires today. The company had until today to come up with a proposal to keep the service afloat.
"My expectation is that it is impossible at this time for Nanaimo Harbour Link Corp. to come back," he said. "It's remotely possible, some other company could come in . . . scoop it up and put in a new service."
Company directors have a meeting planned with their bankruptcy trustee on Tuesday, Cavers said.
"My understanding is that we go from an attempt to re-organize, like Air Canada did, and since we can't re-organize we can't go for a 45 day extension and therefore we go into liquidation," he said.
"To understand what happens tomorrow, I have to talk with the trustee and will do so."
The trustee involved, Philip McCourt of Vancouver's Abakhan and Associates Inc., told the Daily News in February that if no extension is granted and no proposal is filed, the debtor is deemed to be bankrupt.
NHLC filed for bankruptcy protection in February.
Company representatives said at the time that the business owed about $4.5 million.
The protection was sought a couple of weeks after the ship's after the starboard engine failed. NHLC had been speaking with various investors since it filed for protection, but to no avail, Cavers said.
"It didn't fit the business profile of the people with whom we were speaking," he said. "We have been trying and I think there comes a time when you say 'accept the inevitable.'"
LJantzi@nanaimodailynews.com
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Post by Retrovision on Mar 20, 2006 7:25:30 GMT -8
It's a sad day. >figurativelyholdshattoheart<
My condolences.
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Post by jcachristian on Mar 20, 2006 12:06:15 GMT -8
Well, I guess I better return my Cupon to Quality Foods and get my points redeemed. Quality Foods a local foodstore outlet was offering free Ferry passes on the Harboulyx with 199,000points redemed.
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Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
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Post by Koastal Karl on Mar 20, 2006 19:29:06 GMT -8
yeah that is too bad. Really sad to see Harbourlynx go!!
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Post by Curtis on Mar 20, 2006 19:33:23 GMT -8
R.I.P. Harbourlynx 2003-2006
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Post by Retrovision on Mar 20, 2006 19:51:50 GMT -8
hey, atleast they can say that they lasted longer than Royal SeaLink Express
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Doug
Voyager
Lurking within...the car deck.
Posts: 2,213
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Post by Doug on Mar 20, 2006 20:01:13 GMT -8
Very unfornate. Especially when they "welcomed" WMG into the ferry business and had plans for more vessels and routes in the future.
I guess WMG may be the one to "take its place" for now.
What's next for your dad Nick...?
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Post by NMcKay on Mar 21, 2006 7:07:21 GMT -8
Vandals kick 'Lynx when it's down Leanna Jantzi Daily News
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
The beleaguered HarbourLynx fast ferry operation was hit by vandals sometime Sunday night.
"It looks like someone took the lifeboat out for a joyride," said company shareholder Geoff McNeill.
The 12-foot Zodiac, valued at about $35,000, was left floating upside down in Nanaimo Harbour.
It was being hauled away to a dealership to determine if any damage was done.
McNeill said it appears the craft did not suffer any other damage. A police report was filed.
There had been security guards on the boat in the past, McNeill said, but there didn't appear to be any watching the boat Sunday night.
He surmised that the bankruptcy trustee or creditor cancelled the service. McNeill added that his father Robert McNeill, also a shareholder in the company, rehired security for the boat Monday morning.
Bankruptcy trustee Philip McCourt, of Vancouver's Abakhan and Associates Inc., said it was his understanding that the HarbourLynx's secured creditor -- a private numbered company -- was taking care of the vessel's security.
Bankruptcy protection for the company that owns the Nanaimo Harbour Link Corp. fast-ferry service expired on Monday.
Barring an investor coming forward at the last minute, the company sinks today.
"It's not cast in stone yet. It's not actually deemed bankrupt until 12:01 a.m. Tuesday," said bankruptcy trustee Philip McCourt, of Vancouver's Abakhan and Associates Inc., on Monday.
"But the chances are 99.9 (%) that there will not be a proposal filed, therefore they will be a deemed bankruptcy tomorrow."
As it stood on Monday, the company's assets, including the ferry itself, are subject to the rights of the secured creditors, McCourt said.
Those creditors include a private numbered company that is owed about $4.5 million and the provincial government for a $500,000 tax bill.
LJantzi@nanaimodailynews.com
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Post by Retrovision on Mar 21, 2006 7:19:39 GMT -8
Vandals kick 'Lynx when it's down There had been security guards on the boat in the past, McNeill said, but there didn't appear to be any watching the boat Sunday night. He surmised that the bankruptcy trustee or creditor cancelled the service. real smart, guys.
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Post by NMcKay on Mar 21, 2006 7:22:57 GMT -8
lol.......MCNEIL CANCELLED IT
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Post by Retrovision on Mar 21, 2006 7:27:20 GMT -8
What?! It wasn't McCourt? LOL, that's hilarious... kind of goes to show how misleading the media can really be
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Post by Low Light Mike on Mar 21, 2006 7:48:57 GMT -8
Sounds like our friend "Inquisative One" was playing with the Zodiac on Sunday night........
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