509 replies to this topic

[max.bravo]

The Clipper creates an international connection that appeals to tourists on both sides of the border. It's apples and oranges with the Nanaimo situation.

Also clipper and coho not subject to transport Canada crewing regulations, so they run with just over half the crew bc ferries needs. Safety costs money.

[Victoria Watcher]

The Clipper creates an international connection that appeals to tourists on both sides of the border. It's apples and oranges with the Nanaimo situation.

You’d think that border would hamper operations. Look how busy Gulf Island ferries are. Yet for most of the year we have zero traffic between the San Juans and Canada.

[Victoria Watcher]

Two high-speed catamaran vessels built by Dutch-based shipbuilder Damen Group will ferry passengers. Each vessel can carry more than 350 passengers.

 

The company said it plans to share more details on sailing schedule and fare prices early next year.

 

This isn’t the first time passenger-ferry service between Nanaimo and Vancouver has been tried.

 

As early as 1969, Pacific Hovercraft served the route with a 35-passenger vessel, but only lasted a few months.

 

In 1992, a Norwegian company launched the Royal Sealink Express, which ran a Nanaimo-Vancouver route as well as a Victoria-Vancouver service, but folded after less than a year due to low ridership.

 

The most recent attempt was in 2003 when the HarbourLynx Ferry set sail with a 300-passenger catamaran, offering eight sailings a day for about $20 one-way.

 

HarbourLynx’s service ended in 2006 after an engine breakdown. The company that operated the ferry later filed for bankruptcy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

https://vancouversun...hes-summer-2023

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 12 November 2022 - 02:24 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Love said this first year is about keeping it fairly simple, and making sure it all works well, looks good and is a great experience. “But we are pretty ambitious about the kind of things we can build off of this kind of installation,” he said, noting it could even be activated for different seasons.

Barry Hobbis, general manger of Victoria Harbour Ferry, predicted the attraction will be a game changer.

“I’ve been in the tourism industry for 25 years, and I think this is a milestone,” he said. “This could be big enough that it makes a whole shift in terms of how people see Victoria for winter or holiday.”

Hobbis hopes to see 300 people a night hopping in the ferries to take in the show. Reservations started coming on the weekend and he said they already have 100 people lined up for a seat.

https://www.timescol...ildings-6109040

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 01 December 2022 - 07:19 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Jack Knox: Sidney-Anacortes ferry grounded by shortage of crew and vessels

The route is expected to remain out of service until at least next summer, a Washington State Ferries spokesman said this week.


https://www.timescol...vessels-6228010

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 10 December 2022 - 07:33 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Nanaimo-Vancouver passenger ferry set to begin service in late summer

 

Two high-speed catamaran ferries are now undergoing sea trials in Vietnam, says the Vancouver Island Ferry Co.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More details about the 354-passenger walk-on ferries will be released in June, the company said Wednesday.

 

Customers will be able to reserve seats in three service levels for the 70-minute crossing. Fare information has not yet been announced.

 

 

https://www.timescol...-summer-6876567

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 19 April 2023 - 02:14 PM.

[Nparker]

How many times has a service like this been proposed for Nanaimo? Will this one actually happen?

[Victoria Watcher]

This one looks pretty sure to happen. But the executive commuter market may have died.

Look at the Vancouver or Toronto commuter trains. Down 50%.


As of February 2023, the West Coast Express' (WCE) ridership reached 45% of pre-pandemic levels — well below Canada Line, SeaBus, and HandyDART, which are each at over 70%, and certainly below the combined Expo and Millennium lines, buses, and overall regional public transit system, which are each at over 80%.

https://dailyhive.co...ership-recovery

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 19 April 2023 - 04:10 PM.

[Nparker]

This one looks pretty sure to happen. But the executive commuter market may have died...

That's what I was thinking.

[AllseeingEye]

Thought I'd start a thread with a vintage photo:

[url=http://collections.lib.uwm.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/mketran&CISOPTR=509&REC=1:ee267]CPR steamships Princess Patricia and Princess Joan, 1958[/url:ee267]

I'm waiting for a downtown Victoria to downtown Vancouver foot passenger ferry service.

 

Was perusing the BCF thread and just for fun in honor of HW's very first post in this topic here is my dad, aged 22 pre-radio, pre-TV days, in his Purser's uniform on the old BC steamship the "Joan", which Holden referenced in that very first post. Circa 1955. She is just leaving Victoria heading to Seattle as part of the old triangle run, Victoria-Seattle-Vancouver.

 

"Joan" and her sister "Elizabeth" were sold to Greek interests with the end of the triangle run in 1959. Purely as a point of interest many of the Princess’, including the Joan, the Elizabeth and the Kathleen, which dad also served on, featured wood-panelled cabins and salons designed by some guy named Francis Rattenbury.

Attached Images

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Edited by AllseeingEye, 19 April 2023 - 04:29 PM.

[Nparker]

Back when the world had class.

[AllseeingEye]

True the old streamers were designed with 'old world' liner luxury in mind. Although even after the BCF was created by WAC Bennett in 1960 I am just old enough to recall when they still served meals with real napkins and silver cutlery. Of course I also remember as do many others when you could smoke on the BCF's and the air in the main saloon was literally so blue and thick with smoke it was unbreathable, lol....

[Nparker]

...I also remember as do many others when you could smoke on the BCF's and the air in the main saloon was literally so blue and thick with smoke it was unbreathable, lol....

Now we just hand out free opioids to anyone who wants them to prevent stigma.

[Mike K.]

Solid, ASE!

[Victoria Watcher]

Ferries will leave from Port Drive in Nanaimo to dock at the Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre at Burrard Landing, at 1055 Canada Place.

 

The plan is for the vessels to depart early enough to allow Island commuters to get to downtown Vancouver offices for work, and return late enough so Nanaimo residents can take in an event or concert in Vancouver and be back home the same night.

 

Passengers will be able to reserve seats in three service levels: comfort, premium and business, with free Wi-Fi.

 

Vancouver Island Ferry Co. is just the latest in a string of companies to attempt a sustainable passenger ferry service between Nanaimo and Vancouver. It says it has lined up long-term partnerships with Snuneymuxw First Nation, the Nanaimo Port Authority and the Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre.

 

Jenn Houtby-Ferguson, Tourism Nanaimo’s interim executive director, says he is eager to see the service begin. “It’s an opportunity for tourism to bring guests from the Lower Mainland to the Island and for folks already on the Island to go back and forth,” she said, adding the service will bring opportunities for special events and meetings. “The community is excited.”

 

Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog also has high hopes for the ferry service, which he says will allow people to live in Nanaimo and go to work in Vancouver in a timely way, while those headed to Vancouver for medical appointments will have a comfortable way to get back and forth.

 

 

https://www.timescol...-summer-6876567

 

 

Maybe it's a little sad that we have none of that, and Nanaimo will have it.  In principle this all sounds really good, but I really think this will struggle, and/or take forever to find its legs.   If it can last out the losses that long.  Two brand new vessels seems pretty ambitious. 

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 21 April 2023 - 12:06 AM.

[Mike K.]

The play is to sell this to the province, would be my guess.

[lanforod]

How many times have we seen this song and dance now? It'll run a few years, then die.

[Mike K.]

@barrrister, please check your email. Your secondary account cannot he approved at this time, but we’ve sent instructions to your email that will hopefully help you out.

[Victoria Watcher]

Hullo, everyone!

 

The time has come... Now that it's early June, we're thrilled to finally provide you with all the details you've been eagerly waiting for. As a perk for being part of our mailing list, we're giving you the news first.

This Thursday, June 8th at 6:00 AM (Pacific Time), we are announcing pricing, service launch dates, vessel tracking, and more. However, we're giving you FIRST access, so we're *secretly* launching our site early so you can see before everyone else!

 

Let's dive right into the information awaiting you:

1. Voyage Commencing in Early August
   
   Our fast-ferry service is just around the corner! Early August, our brand new vessels will begin bringing foot-passengers between downtown Nanaimo and downtown Vancouver. Our official start date will be announced about 4-weeks prior to launch date to give you ample time to plan (and reserve) your first sailing with Hullo! 
    
2. Sail Comfort for just $29.99 when you reserve online
   
   Get $10 off your first sailing (one-way) when you book online. Snag additional savings when you book both ways in one go. Visit our site for breakdown of pricing across Comfort, Premium, and Business with details on what each service tier offers it's passengers! Curious what these sections look like? We've got a sneak peek on our Instagram!
    
3. Sailings Times
   
   With up to 7 round-trip sailings starting in early August, our first sailing is set to leave from Nanaimo at 6am daily, and last sailing leaves from Vancouver at 9:30pm daily. We've heard time and time again how important it is for Islanders to be able to enjoy special events on the mainland, so we'll be adding an additional late-night sailing on select dates to ensure islanders can make it back to their own beds. Yes, this includes big-name concerts and key sporting events!
    
4. Tracking Our Vessels
   
   For our vessel-tracking enthusiasts, you can now find a vessel tracker with daily updates at www.hullo.com, allowing you to follow as they navigate their way across the Pacific Ocean to Vancouver Island.
    
5. Pet Policy
   
   We know that bringing your furry friends onboard is important to you. We are happy to share that furry friends (cats and dogs) that can safely fit on your lap in a carrier will be permitted onboard at no extra cost to you! Please head to the FAQ portion of our site to read more on size limitations.
    
6. Bicycles Aboard
   
   Just as pets are permitted, we've got space for your two-wheeled companions, too! Both ferries will have an outdoor space dedicated to stowing a limited number of bicycles between downtowns and must be reserved in advance to your sailing. Head to FAQ for more in-depth details.
    

Our crew would like to extend our thanks for being part of this journey with us. Our team is working incredibly hard behind the scenes to launch this service as soon as possible while taking the steps necessary to ensure you have the friendliest, safest, and most enjoyable travel possible.

 

Stay subscribed for more updates and exclusive content. We cannot wait to begin sailing with you this August!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For reference, BCF walk-on is just under $20 including tax.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 07 June 2023 - 06:40 PM.

[Nparker]

It might not be a bad idea to have a specific thread for this service...for as long as it lasts.