530 replies to this topic

[Victoria Watcher]

I honestly think lots of US visitors just look at a map, and choose COHO based on what they see. They do not understand the sophistication and frequency of BCF.

[Victoria Watcher]

Seattle Times:


One of Seattle’s oldest restaurants will close for good at the end of April.

The Virginia Inn posted on Facebook Friday night that it will shut down permanently after service on Sunday, April 27. The restaurant — which opened in 1903 at the corner of Virginia Street and First Avenue in downtown Seattle — will close after “failed negotiations for an equitable lease” with its landlord, Pike Place Market Preservation & Development Authority (PDA).

[Victoria Watcher]

For the two companies that ferry passengers between Victoria and Washington state, however, things aren’t quite as rosy, as some Canadians continue to boycott U.S. travel amid tensions between the two countries.

 

Mark Collins, chief executive at Clipper Navigation, said while things have not improved much for the passenger ferry that runs between Victoria and Seattle, “at least they have not significantly worsened.”

 

Collins said traffic is stable at about 20% below last year’s levels. “Every time there might be an improvement in the international relationship, something gets said somewhere that turns off Canadians or Americans. None of our marketing efforts appear able to overcome these macro issues on either side of the border.”

 

Collins said his team has decided to focus on 2026, as nothing seems to be able to change the narrative this year. “We are preparing ourselves for three to four weak years, taking the long view that relations with the U.S. may hopefully improve by 2028 or 2029,” he said.

 

Black Ball Ferry president Ryan Burles said ridership on the Coho between Victoria and Port Angeles has also taken a hit this year due to the trade war with the U.S.

He said the car ferry’s ridership overall is down about 20%, with the biggest hit coming from a substantial drop in southbound traffic — Canadians are not travelling south in numbers, while American ridership is down just 5%.

 

 

https://www.timescol...region-11012772

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 31 July 2025 - 04:21 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

President of Black Ball Ferry, Ryan Burles, told CHEK News the loss in Canadians travelling to the U.S. matches what he experienced in terms of fewer Canadian passengers aboard the seasonal ferry service between Victoria, B.C. and Port Angeles, WA.

 

This season, from March to August, Burles says Black Ball Ferry saw an average monthly decline of 15 per cent fewer passengers on board, with Canadians making up the bulk of the declining passenger numbers (30 to 35 per cent).

 

“Generally we’re down about 15 per cent. Our Canadian travellers are about 30 per cent of our travel. We’re down about 30 to 35 per cent Canadians and maybe 0 or five per cent down on Americans,” says Burles.

 

After noticing the declining trend in March and April, the ferry line started to adapt its services.

 

“We started the four trips later than we normally do,” he says. 

 

 

 

https://cheknews.ca/...engers-1277586/

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 11 September 2025 - 02:48 PM.

[Victoria Watcher]

“We were going to be doing some dolphin work over in Port Angeles. We postponed that work where the boat moores up,” he says.

 

 

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 11 September 2025 - 02:49 PM.

[max.bravo]

A dolphin is the barrier where the ferry lands and presses against while loading and unloading.

[LJ]

A dolphin is the barrier where the ferry lands and presses against while loading and unloading.

I'm not sure that is correct, a dolphin when I've used them is to tie up to, I think your thinking of fenders.

[Fox]

I think they were planning to use some trained dolphins for underwater welding and other repair work.  Since sealand has closed down, they've had to reskill the dolphins.

[Mike K.]

They have a new porpoise.

[Victoria Watcher]

Clipper plans extra sailing to Seattle from Victoria as Blue Jays fever rises

Extra Victoria-to-Seattle sailing planned if Blue Jays face Mariners in the ALCS


https://www.vicnews....r-rises-8295961

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 08 October 2025 - 01:54 PM.

[Bambam]

I'm not sure that is correct, a dolphin when I've used them is to tie up to, I think your thinking of fenders.

 

Correct a good example of a dolphin is the one at Ogden Pt where cruise ships will occasionally tie up when the available berths are already occupied by other ships: here is a picture and accompanying story of what a mooring dolphin is - 

 

Pier B Mooring Dolphin Extension - GVHA

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