BC Ferries has no plans to go electric with its ships anytime soon despite the worldwide movement toward greener battery-powered ferries using technology made in British Columbia by Corvus.
Photo: VOLCAN DE TIJARAFE © Naviera Armas
“Your input is important to us and will help shape our future plans,” is the message that BC Ferries launched on May 1.
The Canadian company is embarking on an engagement process from now until the end of summer 2018 to gather community input that will shape future plans for Swartz Bay terminal.
BC Ferries would like to hear from customers and nearby residents as a new long-term vision for the terminal is being developed.
In its third quarter results for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2018, BC Ferries reported a net loss of CAD 14.8 million. (CAD 4 million in year before)
Net earnings for the nine-month period ended December 31, 2017 were
CAD 100.9 million, down from CAD 118.2 million.
The lower results can be explained by BC Ferries’ commitment to improve the customer experience. BC Ferries implemented service enhancements and provided additional round trips to accommodate the higher traffic volumes. The additional trips and the sea trials associated with the introduction of three new vessels in the nine months ended December 31, 2017 resulted in an increase in fuel consumption, labour and training related costs.
The Time Colonist brings a story about a safety exercise onboard BC Ferries’ ro-pax ferry SPIRIT OF VANCOUVER ISLAND. The scenario was based on a mock collision between the ferry and the SALISH EAGLE at Swartz Bay.
The Squamish Chief published an interesting article about how BC Ferries was looking at the future developments regarding self-driving cars.
Mark Collins, president of BC Ferries suggests that self-driving cars might deliver profound changes to ferry use. Some examples:
- A terminal would need more space for foot passengers, plus areas for self-driving vehicles to arrive and depart.
- Ferries could transport freight only, and no cars, because an autonomous vehicle on the other side could pick up the foot passengers. This would mean a different kind of garage deck.
- Ferries with flexible spaces, similar to hotels where flexible walls are used to create different sizes of meeting spaces.
Photo: BC Ferries
BC Ferries will be introducing a smoke-free environment in all BC Ferries locations, including terminals and vessels starting January 22, 2018. This also includes the interior of all vehicles on BC Ferries property.
The new smoke-free policy applies to tobacco and any other substance including e-cigarettes, and is expected to reduce the number of complaints BC Ferries receives from customers related to second-hand smoke.
BC Ferries published its results of the last three and six-month period ending on September 30.
Some highlights:
Three month ending September 30
- Revenue: 309.5 (298.9)
- Operating profit: 112.6 (108.5)
- Net earnings: 98.4 (95.2)
Six months ending September 30
- Revenue 535.4 (518.1)
- Operating profit: 144.1 (149.1)
- Net earnings: 115.7 (122.2)
- BC Ferries’ NORTHERN SEA WOLF, the small car ferry acquired for the new route from Port Hardy – Bella Coola, is on its way to British Columbia. Formerly known as AQUA SPIRIT she departed from the port of Piraeus on November 3 for the 10,097 nautical mile journey to her new home in British Columbia.
- High-speed ferry KRILO ECLIPSE arrived under tow in Piraeus. After one season in Croatia, she has been bought by Golden Star Ferries. Her new name will be SUPERSPEED.
- Grimaldi Group was awarded the “Leadership Excellence Award” by the US-based Panorama magazine. During a three-day event Italian excellence was introduced to an American audience.
- Faergen has sold ro-pax HAMMERODDE to Stena RoRo. However, it will continue to operate between Køge and Bornholm until 1 September 2018, when Molslinjen takes over the service from Faergen. Which plans Stena has for the ship is unknown.
BC Ferries have decided to send two ro-pax vessels to Remontowa Ship Repair Yard S.A. in Gdansk, Poland, for a mid-life upgrade. This includes the conversion of both vessels to dual-fuel.
The 1993-built SPIRIT OF BRITISH COLUMBIA has left Canada on September 12, bound for Poland. Sister vessel SPIRIT OF VANCOUVER ISLAND (1994) will follow the next year, after the summer season.
BC Ferries plans to operate these two vessels for another 25 years.
