Already, one group of tourist kayakers, after conferring with BC Ferries, has pulled the plug on a trip months away.
Meanwhile, the NDP MLA representing the North Coast wonders why the government and BC Ferries still won't let his constituents in on the details of plans, at least four years old, for new ferries on northern routes.
Stop-gap measures?
At least 75,000 passengers take one of the three northern route ferries each summer. Some are residents traveling to and from summer destinations, but many are visitors looking to experience what BC Ferries has been increasingly marketing as a romantic summer cruise.
After a long, rainy winter, the summer schedules crank up a notch. The Queen of the North starts running daily between Port Hardy and Prince Rupert. The Queen of Prince Rupert covers the route between Prince Rupert and Skidegate six days a week, instead of three, and the Queen of Chilliwack sails the Discovery Coast between Bella Coola and Port Hardy with three round trips weekly.
http://thetyee.ca/News/2006/03/31/LostFerry
[Proofreader's note: this article was edited for spelling and typos on April 2, 2006]
Note: http://thetyee.ca/News/...
Loss Of Queen Of The North Is A Catastrophe, Like An Oil Spill In Alaska Or The
Posted on Friday, March 31 at 10:02 by BC MaryContributed By
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minutes cited a report by a company that warned a collision could
sink the ferry immediately. The company recommended buoyancy
chambers be added. "What those board minutes are telling you is
what, frankly, everyone has known for quite some time - that those
vessels need to be replaced," said Falcon.
"And it's why (the province) has had a process in place for three
years to make sure those vessels will get replaced, and they will."
The minister also said he liked the suggestion the Queen of the
North's replacement be named the Spirit of Hartley Bay.
He said that name would be an appropriate response to the
rescue efforts of the residents of the isolated native community.
The residents of Hartley Bay won wide praise for their quick
response to the late-night disaster.
Falcon promised the tiny village would not be deserted, amid
concerns from residents about environmental damage from diesel
fuel seeping from the sunken vessel.
Meanwhile, in recognition of the village's role in saving the wreck's
survivors, B.C. Ferries is donating the Queen of the North's four-
metre rescue boat to the village.
The rigid inflatable boat, equipped with a 40-horsepower engine,
will be used to re-activate the village's coast guard auxiliary unit.
A trust fund is being set up to help defray operating costs.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
In a new development, the RCMP has begun an investigation into
the possibility of criminal negligence having been the cause of the
disaster.
---
RickW
and ask Washington Marine Group if BC could buy one of the
FastCats back ... I wonder if the price will skyrocket? and how
many docks would need modification, any idea?
Why not present your suggestion to Kevin Falcon? They might
appreciate a bit of public support, if this is what they decide to do.
<br />
I will send my post to Kevin....though he is enamored with the Gateway Project<br />
<a href="http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/gateway/FAQs.htm">http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/gateway/FAQs.htm</a><br />
where there are more votes, the north coast only having a few thousand residents, and is NDP country anyway.<p>---<br>RickW
<a href="http://thetyee.ca/News/2006/03/31/LostFerry/">http://thetyee.ca/News/2006/03/31/LostFerry/</a><br />
that said the design of the fast ferries was changed so they could be docked at existing facilities..........there is a lot of guess work going on out there about these ships. Sure be nice to get the "straight poop". But right now, I am beginning to feel "pooped' on.............<p>---<br>RickW
And this:<br />
<a href="http://www.canada.com/vancouverisland/nanaimo/story.html?id=8a8651ee-9a60-48a7-8c7f-139fe110997c">http://www.canada.com/vancouverisland/nanaimo/story.html?id=8a8651ee-9a60-48a7-8c7f-139fe110997c</a><br />
The Harbour Lynx failure added some three + hours of extra sailing time for users as alternate transportation. As private companies have no compunction about declaring backruptcy, or suddenly suspending service, how will this sereve the needs of isolated communities in BC?<p>---<br>RickW