Tag: british-columbia

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New research shows that building ferries overseas means getting ‘the more expensive version of that vessel’

johnrobertson834

The troubled BC Ferries, operating in the less windy and more affluent conditions of British Columbia has an appalling record of unreliability, high prices and elderly vessels, set against record dividends for shareholders. Scotland’s islanders really need to do a bit of reading on them. Late in the day, the owners have put out a global competitive call for builders of 7 new vessels. B.C. shipbuilding giant Seaspan along with unions and suppliers have launched a new campaign dubbed Build Ferries BC that aims to have those vessels built in Canada. Their call is backed up by new research. The findings are well worth considering in … Continue reading New research shows that building ferries overseas means getting ‘the more expensive version of that vessel’

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Rudder and Crewless in Angry Canada

johnrobertson834

By Professor John Robertson One of Andy Fairweather Low’s lesser known releases? From CTV News, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, in February 2024: BC Ferries is cancelling multiple sailings between Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island until Sunday due to a mechanical issue with one of its vessels’ rudders. The ferry company says its Queen of New Westminster vessel has been taken out of service until the problem can be fixed. Only a few months ago, CTV News had: Once again, staffing issues have forced BC Ferries to cancel sailings on a major route between the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island. The … Continue reading Rudder and Crewless in Angry Canada

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Is this why the Scottish Government wisely rejected catamaran project as two 20 year-old $460 million Canadian catamaran ferries go on Facebook Marketplace for only $15 million?!!

johnrobertson834

On 1 May 2022, the Herald’s Ferry Correspondent, Martin Williams, announced: MINISTERS have been accused of a “scandalous” waste of over £110m  by failing to use catamarans instead of two new alternative lifeline vessels which are now being built in Turkey. This was the catamaran project: Ministers have come under fire as an £800m scheme to create a Clyde shipbuilding revolution and solve Scotland’s ferry crisis with a fleet of 50 catamarans has been sunk. Fronted by Stuart Ballantyne, a Scottish naval architect and chairman of Australian marine consulting firm Sea Transport Solutions whose designs are used in around 50 countries, the … Continue reading Is this why the Scottish Government wisely rejected catamaran project as two 20 year-old $460 million Canadian catamaran ferries go on Facebook Marketplace for only $15 million?!!