473 replies to this topic

[Victoria Watcher]

FRS Clipper is resuming passenger ferry service between Victoria and Seattle on weekends in February.

The Clipper V will offer daily round-trips Feb. 16-19 and Feb. 23-26.

Regular round-trip sailings aboard the Clipper begin in March and continue into early next year.

“These sailings represent a further return to normal service following the pandemic, and we’re thrilled to celebrate with special offerings for our guests,” said Gordon Dirker, chief operating pfficer of FRS Clipper.

https://www.timescol...t-month-8185808

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 31 January 2024 - 07:09 AM.

[Nparker]

Do they mean the Clipper hasn't been running on weekends for the past 4 years?

[Victoria Watcher]

I guess it hasn’t been running at all for a while? I have no idea.

[Nparker]

I've had promotional emails from them over the past year, and just assumed they were running as normal. I never looked into the schedule, because who wants to go to Seattle anymore?

[Victoria Watcher]

I guess it went out of service from Jan 8 to Feb 15.

Seems the service has become worse since they bought the big boat.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 31 January 2024 - 07:48 AM.

[AllseeingEye]

Has anyone taken the Coho lately? I haven't been on the old girl in 40+ years but Mrs and the Kidlin' are off to Seattle next weekend for a little R&R. I presume lineups - coming and going  - and sailing & scheduling ^%$#@'s on the Coho are not the commonplace experience we've come to love and expect on the BCF...?

[Mike K.]

Yup. She’s back in service on the 7th.

The Coho is great.

[Mike K.]

First phase of work is beginning:

People travelling between Victoria and Washington state by ferry will soon experience a new secure modern pre-clearance terminal as construction moves forward for the Belleville Terminal Redevelopment Project.

The contract for the construction of Phase I of the Steamship Temporary Terminal has been awarded to Willow Spring Construction Ltd. Early work on the terminal begins immediately, with estimated completion in fall 2024.

The contract for Phase I wharf modifications has been awarded to Pacific Industrial & Marine Ltd. Offsite work on the wharf is about to begin near Cowichan Bay. Wharf work at the terminal is expected to begin this summer.

“This terminal represents a critical trade junction for our region and the country as a whole,” said Rob Fleming, B.C. Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. “Moving forward with this project to transform it into an improved, modern entry point will not only generate economic growth on both sides of the border, it will make travel more convenient and enjoyable for the people travelling through this hub every year.”

The project is also advancing toward the Phase II permanent upgrades to the terminal. The shortlisted proponents invited to participate in a request for proposal include EllisDon Corporation, KL Belleville Terminal Partners and Pomerleau Inc.

“We are proud to see the next phase of this project, which is integral to the future of trade, travel and tourism in Victoria, roll out,” said Sean Fraser, federal minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities. “The Belleville terminal redevelopment will respect modern safety and security standards, while facilitating the movement of both goods and people into the heart of Victoria’s inner harbour. We will continue supporting projects, such as this one, that will strengthen our economy for decades to come.”

During the first phase of construction, people can expect to see closed pedestrian access along the causeway behind the Steamship building, along with the addition of a large temporary structure behind the building this spring. Some noise is anticipated during this phase due to construction work in the coming weeks to modify the wharf and building. There will be no impact to current Clipper and Coho ferry sailings during construction.

“We are thrilled to see this project advancing as the redevelopment of the terminal has been our number 1 priority for the last three decades,” said Paul Nursey, CEO of Destination Greater Victoria. “This is an act of future-proofing our region, our businesses and our relationships with visitors from the U.S., and it keeps Greater Victoria looking like the remarkable destination it truly is.”

The terminal acts as an international gateway for goods, services and passengers, and drives regional and provincial economic growth. Travellers spend approximately $174 million annually, generating $268 million in economic output and $155 million in provincial gross domestic product (GDP).

The upgrade brings the terminal into compliance with the Canada-U.S. Land, Rail, Marine and Air Transport Pre-clearance Agreement, and will streamline travel by allowing passengers to complete the customs and immigration process in Victoria prior to disembarking in the U.S.

The project is expected to be complete in time for the 2028 tourism season, with a budget of $303.9 million and a $41.6-million federal contribution.

The Province is working collaboratively with the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations to identify opportunities to showcase the cultural and geographical significance of the project’s location and welcome visitors into Lekwungen territory.

[Victoria Watcher]

Work begins on $303.9M Belleville Terminal redevelopment

 

The first phase includes creation of a temporary terminal by modifying and expanding the wharf at the CPR Steamship building for the FRS Clipper

https://www.timescol...lopment-8441918

[aastra]

 

The first phase includes creation of a temporary terminal...

 

Speaking of temporary structures, what exactly is the deal with the tent over the conference centre square at the back of the Empress Hotel? Wasn't that originally supposed to be a seasonal/temporary thing like ~15 years ago?

[Nparker]

...what exactly is the deal with the tent over the conference centre square at the back of the Empress Hotel...

Aside from the fact that it's cheap looking and ugly?

[Victoria Watcher]

Come on. The current downtown library is only temporary.

[aastra]

I could have sworn we talked a fair bit about the tent behind the Empress but I can't find anything. I want to say Pam Madoff was questioning the "temporary" aspect (which makes me wonder if I would have been agreeing with her or disagreeing just for the sake of being a stinker).

Methinks some kind of permanent inside/outside roof/enclosure would surely look a lot better and enhance the overall atmosphere and experience without necessarily being too expensive to build. Or was there some city requirement for it to be a "temporary" enclosure? (permanently temporary, in other words)

[Mike K.]

Let’s hope the conference centre bought it, and isn’t still leasing it.

[Victoria Watcher]

Former B.C. Ferries chief executive Mark Collins has been named CEO of FRS Clipper in Canada, as well as chair of the FRS Clipper board of directors in the U.S.

The Seattle-based company runs the Clipper ferry between Victoria and Seattle.

 

Collins’ contract with B.C. Ferries ended in July 2022. He started there in April 2017 with a five-year contract, then three years later received an extension to 2026. His contract was terminated, however, shortly after Joy MacPhail became chair of the ferry corporation’s board of directors in 2022.

 

 

https://www.timescol...clipper-8610177

 

 

I do not know anything about Collins so this isn't really a statement about him.  But the Clipper is about 1,397 degress different than BCF, not sure that experience on one translates to expertise with the other.   

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 19 April 2024 - 12:45 AM.

[Nparker]

So we can expect prices will go up and service will go down on the Clipper.

[vortoozo]

So we can expect prices will go up and service will go down on the Clipper.

 

The Clipper vessel is based in the US.

Collins has been appointed the CEO for Canada.

There is a different CEO for the US, where, presumably, the operation of the ferry itself is operated out of.

I would imagine Collins' authority would extend to operating the terminal, ground services, marketing in Canada, etc.

Why a company the size of Clipper, which is the subsidiary of another company, requires two CEOs is beyond me.

[Nparker]

 

...The project is expected to be completed in time for the 2028 tourism season...

This is assuming tourists still want to come to Victoria 4 years from now.

[Victoria Watcher]

Bruce Williams, chief executive of the Victoria Chamber of Commerce, said he has heard from a lot of people that they will not be going to the U.S., but others will still choose to travel to blue states “because of the nature of their politics there.”

Williams said the link between Victoria and Port Angeles is essential — in fact, he believes the ferry is used more by Canadians than Americans.


https://www.timescol...-looms-10198337


That’s absolutely wrong, no?



Edit: in the survey from the report they noted, they found 14% were Canadians, 4% international, and the remainder were from the US. From random sampling on 4 diffferent July sailings.


https://www.cascadep...tudy-2019-1.pdf

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 07 February 2025 - 04:12 AM.

[vortoozo]

That’s absolutely wrong, no?



Edit: in the survey from the report they noted, they found 14% were Canadians, 4% international, and the remainder were from the US. From random sampling on 4 diffferent July sailings.


https://www.cascadep...tudy-2019-1.pdf

 

The survey was randomly administered during four two-way crossings in July of 2019

 

Highly unlikely that's representative of year round patterns.