6598 replies to this topic

[Matt R.]

Yeah, toxic fumes or a gas leak, but was it just 300mg of thc and a wicked case of the spins? Guess it doesn’t really matter as long as they fix the gas leak.

[Victoria Watcher]

This summer, ferry passengers will be able to travel directly from Vancouver’s Tsawwassen terminal to Nanaimo’s Departure Bay terminal after BC Ferries announced the once-a-day service to help manage peak-season demand.

 

On Wednesday, BC Ferries announced the new summer service, where passengers will board the Queen of Alberni, at the Tsawwassen terminal and leave for its final trip at 4:30 p.m. to Departure Bay. This is a one-way service with no returns to Tsawwassen.

 

“This new direct sailing to Departure Bay gives our customers more choice and convenience when travelling to central Nanaimo this summer and will help ease congestion for passengers at other busy terminals,” said Melanie Lucia, VP of customer experience at BC Ferries. “It also allows us to dock the vessel overnight at Departure Bay, maximizing our fleet utilization and improving operational efficiency.”

 

The daily one-way 4:30 p.m. service starts June 19 and runs until Sept. 1, 2025. BC Ferries hopes the service provides more options to travellers and improves overall efficiency of the ferry operations.

 

This provides Nanaimo-bound passengers with two terminal options and bookings for the new route are open via the BC Ferries website and app.

 

https://cheknews.ca/...summer-1246072/

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 26 March 2025 - 04:27 PM.

[Victoria Watcher]

If it's a "one-way" service, how does the Alberni get to Tsawwassen each day?  Empty?  Or does it overnight at Departure Bay then go to Duke Point empty each day?

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 26 March 2025 - 04:33 PM.

[vortoozo]

If it's a "one-way" service, how does the Alberni get to Tsawwassen each day?  Empty?  Or does it overnight at Departure Bay then go to Duke Point empty each day?

 

The Alberni is the third boat on Duke Point to Tsawwassen in the summer. Since there's only one berth at Duke Point, it can't tie up there since it ends its day prior to the other sailings, and begins after the others have already started. One presumes the plan is for it to run from Departure Bay to Duke Point empty every morning in time for the first run at 9am.

[Victoria Watcher]

The Alberni is the third boat on Duke Point to Tsawwassen in the summer. Since there's only one berth at Duke Point, it can't tie up there since it ends its day prior to the other sailings, and begins after the others have already started. One presumes the plan is for it to run from Departure Bay to Duke Point empty every morning in time for the first run at 9am.

 

How did it do it last year?  Like where did it tie up each night?

 

I'm guessing this means it's changing from a Mainland-based crew to a Nanaimo one.   

 

I'm not so sure BCF is being all that transparent here.  Instituting a first of its kind, a one-way ferry trip.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 26 March 2025 - 09:11 PM.

[vortoozo]

Believe the 3rd route 30 boat has been based on the island since they started it in 2023. It likely deadheaded both ways between Duke Point and Departure Bay for the last two years. The new schedule avoids the evening deadhead move. A morning Departure Bay to Tsawwassen probably isn't feasible due to vehicle space at Departure Bay. Don't think they have enough lanes to segregate traffic to both ports as well as manage vehicles waiting for standby space. So the Duke Point departure/deadhead move is still necessary.

[Victoria Watcher]

Believe the 3rd route 30 boat has been based on the island since they started it in 2023. It likely deadheaded both ways between Duke Point and Departure Bay for the last two years. The new schedule avoids the evening deadhead move. A morning Departure Bay to Tsawwassen probably isn't feasible due to vehicle space at Departure Bay. Don't think they have enough lanes to segregate traffic to both ports as well as manage vehicles waiting for standby space. So the Duke Point departure/deadhead move is still necessary.

 

Oh, I see, that makes sense.

 

Although I'm still not sure how poplar a one-off sailing will be each day.   Although if I'm a motorist I probably do not care much what Nanaimo terminal I end up at.

[Victoria Watcher]

Mill Bay-Brentwood Bay ferry sailings cancelled Saturday afternoon due to crew shortage

 

 

 

https://www.timescol...ortage-10448814

 

 

 

 

The company recommended customers with suitable vehicles to travel via the Malahat.       

[Mike K.]

BC Ferries is not thrilled with a decision to approve only four of its five requested vessel replacements, which the ferry operator says will impact its services to the public. More from BC Ferries:

The independent BC Ferry Commission has approved the procurement of four New Major Vessels (NMVs), marking a significant step forward in BC Ferries’ long-term fleet renewal plans. With today’s decision—which includes not approving a requested fifth vessel—the Commission has also highlighted significant challenges facing the ferry system, primarily the systemic funding gap, that will need to be addressed for customers and communities to benefit from the level of service they expect.

This decision identifies two main areas of uncertainty that are foundational to the health of our marine highway in British Columbia:

There is a systemic funding gap and significant investment is needed to deliver even the same level of service as today, either by taxpayers or customers through fare increases; and,
There is disagreement about future traffic demand pressures and what ferry customers see as acceptable levels for waits, delays, and risks of mechanical breakdowns.

“We’re disappointed, and obviously at odds with this decision. We put forward the strongest possible case on behalf of our customers to increase capacity and resiliency at the most affordable price,” said Nicolas Jimenez, President & CEO of BC Ferries. "Our customers have been clear—they need more sailing capacity, fewer delays, and a ferry system that keeps up with demand in the coming years. While four vessels will still provide some much-needed benefits, we believe we’re missing a critical opportunity to build a more resilient transportation network for the future at a lower price now."

BC Ferries had proposed to procure five vessels now on a fixed-price basis to add capacity and resiliency on its busiest routes to meet the needs of BC’s growing population, tourism industry, supply chains, and local economies. There are four key areas where the Company’s position and the Commission’s decision differed:

Affordability: BC Ferries believes that a fifth vessel, which will be needed in the future, will only get substantially more expensive and put even more upward pressure on fares over time. Due to unique market conditions, fixed-price bids, and economies of scale, building a series of five now will be significantly cheaper than building one or two at a time. Independent market experts agree that the favourable conditions for the current shipbuilding procurement process that BC Ferries has conducted will not be repeated, meaning costs for future ships – and fare pressures – will certainly be higher tomorrow than today. Further, supported by business leaders in the province, there’s a real question about whether the system can afford not to keep up with demand and what harms that could risk for taxpayers, local economies, the tourism industry, and the province’s supply chain.

Future demand: BC Ferries’ data shows that the major routes are already almost at capacity during peak season. Long-term planning models submitted as part of the Company’s application to the Ferry Commission, based on BC Stats’ data, were conservative. They identified that there is significant strain on the system today and that without procuring all five vessels now, the risk of waits and delays will be much worse within the next decade than they are today.

Shifting demand: Through offering discounted Saver Fares on off-peak sailings over the last four years, BC Ferries has successfully created significant additional space on its busiest sailings by enticing customers to choose other sailing times—17% on its busiest route, in fact. While the Company will continue to leverage Saver Fares, reservations, and scheduling changes to manage peak period demand, these tools are already showing diminishing returns.

Ferry system funding: This is an issue that’s well-understood by the Company, the Commission, and the Provincial government since before the last performance term (PT) submission in 2023, and BC Ferries agrees a long-term fix is needed. However, in this case, BC Ferries can finance the five vessels with no impact on fares until at least 2028. Further, the incremental cost of procuring a fifth ship on a fixed-price basis now relative to the broader system funding gaps is fractionally very small. Government has already committed to working with BC Ferries to identify the best ways to address these systemic issues.

“The is a missed opportunity to take advantage of fixed pricing to build five ships in a very affordable way for our customers," said Jimenez. "We fully expect shipbuilding costs and demand will continue to grow, putting even more pressure on future fares and reliable service, and may hold us back from meeting the expectations of our customers and the communities we serve. We’ll now reassess how we can best deliver service in the future that customers, coastal communities, and local businesses expect."

BC Ferries will continue to advocate for long-term investments in the ferry system that are designed to ensure a reliable and affordable ferry service for British Columbians. This work, including how to manage the need for additional NMVs in the future, will now happen in parallel with the Company’s next performance term negotiations with the Province and related submission to the Commission, anticipated in late 2026, for the 2028-2032 performance term.

BC Ferries is currently in the middle of a transparent, competitive global procurement process to select the highest quality, most affordable bid for the shipyard that will build the New Major Vessels. This process is expected to complete by early summer.

[vortoozo]

100% behind BC Ferries on this one. Jimenez is earning his keep by fighting for it.

[Victoria Watcher]

B.C. Ferries' four new major vessels will not be made in Canada

The executive director of shipbuilding says no Canadian shipyards submitted proposals for the major vessel program


https://www.timescol...canada-10529361

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 16 April 2025 - 05:10 AM.

[lanforod]

We just don’t have that level of shipyards anymore, do we. A shame.

[Mike K.]

We do, but not when money matters. BC Ferries does not have unlimited funds to procure Canadian ships.

[Victoria Watcher]

Yet the coast guard and military does.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 16 April 2025 - 07:54 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

The BC Ferry Commissioner recently approved the transportation company to purchase four new ferries, not the five it requested, and now various agencies on Vancouver Island are calling on the province to intervene.

 

The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce wrote the letter on behalf of itself and 14 other chambers of commerce and five tourism groups.

 

In it, Bruce Williams, CEO of the Greater Victoria chamber, asked that B.C. Premier David Eby intervene to approve the fifth ferry.

 

https://cheknews.ca/...denial-1251238/

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 25 April 2025 - 01:18 AM.

[Mike K.]

Get ahead of the game and approve seven.

And start investing into highways with meaningful upgrades and expansion.

[Victoria Watcher]

Residents of Mission, B.C., told to shelter in place after fire on derelict vessel

Abandoned Queen of Sidney ferry on fire, city says; emergency alert sent around 4 a.m. PT on Saturday


https://www.cbc.ca/n...ferry-1.7525873



Good times!

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 03 May 2025 - 09:50 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

[G-Man]

Such a sad end for one of the original two BC Ferries running between Tsawwassen and Sidney.