Tag: ferry

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Affluent US state built no new ferries in period when Scotland built TEN

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From the Sequim Gazette, in Washington State, USA, today: Washington’s ferry system is in jeopardy. It is struggling to meet the demands of its routes, and officials say it may be three to four years before any new ferry can go into service. Currently, 19 ferries serve the island communities of Washington, but the state needs 26 boats to fully fill the sailing schedule. While some are blaming a switch to electric boats for the delay in getting new vessels built, the problems go back nearly 25 years. In 1999, voters approved Initiative 695, which repealed the state’s motor vehicle … Continue reading Affluent US state built no new ferries in period when Scotland built TEN

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Exclusively repetitive on a ferry story from the Herald

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Talking-up Scotland costs nothing so donate to our friends at  https://www.broadcastingscotland.scot/donate/ or take out a subscription to my favourite, nearly 100 year-old, paper-based, to your door, Scots Independent newspaper, at: https://scotsindependent.scot/FWShop/product-category/subscriptions/ I’m saying nothing about knobs but from the Herald today: Nationalised Ferguson Marine have denied a breach of the ferry fiasco agreement after cutting the contracted size of the two lifeline ferries by 300 passengers. The Herald can confirm that a redesign of the two ferries, as a result of safety concerns, will cut its passenger carrying capacity below that specified when the contract was signed in October, 2015. The … Continue reading Exclusively repetitive on a ferry story from the Herald

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Audit Scotland satisfied with SNP ferry contract awards

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This site costs nothing to run so donate to our friends at  https://www.broadcastingscotland.scot/donate/ Scotland’s narrowest ferry correspondent cannot hide his huff as Audit Scotland decide not to carry out further inquiries into the new ferry procurement procedures. In 2022, they had concerns but, according to the Herald today (unsourced), they appear to have accepted that due process was followed. Here’s the end after all the hissyfitting: Audit Scotland previously questioned why a builder’s refund guarantee – which would protect the buyer – was not part of the contract with Ferguson Marine despite usually being a mandatory consideration. But Audit Scotland … Continue reading Audit Scotland satisfied with SNP ferry contract awards

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Ferry captain accused of causing millions of dollars in damage accident had a history of workplace problems at Washington State Ferries

johnrobertson834

This site costs nothing to run so donate to our friends at  https://www.broadcastingscotland.scot/donate/ There’s so much bad news out there about ferries, from Alaska to New Zealand, you have to wonder how ‘our’ journos have the time to write every day about CalMac. Today, in the US Times Post: Ferry captain accused of causing millions of dollars in damage accident by MV Ferry Cathlamet July 2022 had a history of workplace problems at Washington State Ferries (WSF)KING 5 Investigators found. State records show that in the months and years leading up to the accident, colleagues and ferry managers expressed concerns about Capt. Dave’s … Continue reading Ferry captain accused of causing millions of dollars in damage accident had a history of workplace problems at Washington State Ferries

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Canadian ferries vibrating too much due to cost-saving in German yards

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This site costs nothing to run so donate to our friends at  https://www.broadcastingscotland.scot/donate/ B.C. Ferries vessel Coastal Inspiration. B.C. FERRIES As the new Clydebuilt CalMac ferry is reported to have had ‘overwhelmingly positive trials, clearly demonstrating the advanced technology which MV Glen Sannox will bring to the CalMac fleet‘, troubled BC Ferries in Canada, seem to have bought cheap but not ‘properly built’ in a foreign yard. In the Times Colonist yesterday: The reliability of Coastal Class ­vessels hinges on B.C. Ferries addressing their inherent vibration issues, stemming from partially submerged ­propellers. These issues, present since inception, necessitated the avoidance … Continue reading Canadian ferries vibrating too much due to cost-saving in German yards

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Saturday Night Misery as Isle of Wight Ferries leave motorists stranded

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This site costs nothing to run so donate to our friends at  https://www.broadcastingscotland.scot/donate/ From BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight today: Passengers were left stranded after a ferry company cancelled its late-night crossings. Wightlink, which runs services between Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, suspended car ferries on Saturday night, blaming “technical issues” in an email to customers. In a message on X, posted 25 minutes after the 22:00 crossing had been due to depart, Wightlink said there would be an additional FastCat sailing for foot passengers at 00:15 on Sunday. One passenger told the BBC he had to leave … Continue reading Saturday Night Misery as Isle of Wight Ferries leave motorists stranded

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Despite a failing ferry service, Canadian media support local shipyards over cheap, unsafe, unreliable, outdated, foreign vessels

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From the Times Colonist in British Columbia, yesterday: Editorial: B.C. Ferries’ vessels should be built in B.C. B.C. Ferries has decided to buy four more Island class boats to serve the Nanaimo-Gabriola Island and Campbell River-Quadra Island routes. Here’s the problem. All four boats will be built at a Romanian shipyard. And this makes no sense. So how can such a small economy beat out local yards here at home? No doubt part of the reason is wage rates. Romania is a poor country, and its workers earn less than ours. https://www.timescolonist.com/opinion/editorial-bc-ferries-vessels-should-be-built-in-bc-8316651 Add to the above factor – low wages … Continue reading Despite a failing ferry service, Canadian media support local shipyards over cheap, unsafe, unreliable, outdated, foreign vessels

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Urgent calls for a state of emergency to be declared for Washington State Ferries

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From KOMO News today: More than a dozen Washington state lawmakers are pushing Gov. Jay Inslee to declare a state of emergency for Washington State Ferries (WSF). The end goal of the move is to make it possible for the state to get two new ferries within two years. “We have a state of emergency. The question is, do we have the political will to call it what it is,” said state representative Spencer Hutchins, (R) Gig Harbor. KOMO News has documented countless issues that WSF has and continues to face. WSF is working with fewer boats than it needs … Continue reading Urgent calls for a state of emergency to be declared for Washington State Ferries

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Only 9 out of 21 Washington State Ferries in good condition

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From the Courier-Herald, in Seattle, yesterday: There are so many problems with our ferry system. Constant delays, breakdowns, and staffing issues, our ferry fleet has become known around the region as one of the easiest ways to ruin your commute. While Washington currently has the largest ferry network in the nation, only nine ships of our 21 are considered in good condition1. This has resulted in some routes sporting a reliability rate as low as 75 percent. The effect on passengers is late arrivals to work, added hours to their commute, and increased frustration with a transportation network. If almost … Continue reading Only 9 out of 21 Washington State Ferries in good condition

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Scandal as NZ Government seeks to buy unavailable second-hand ferries and keep ‘very end-of-life’ wharf

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From Radio New Zealand today: KiwiRail says it is now looking at buying second-hand ships for the Cook Strait ferry service, and is asking what to do about the terminals. It has blamed poor project governance in part for cost escalations in its Interislander replacement Project Irex, sunk when the government balked in December at rising terminal rebuild costs. Chief executive Peter Reidy told MPs at a select committee at Parliament there are only 22 second-hand ships worldwide that fit the bill – such as being rugged enough for the Strait – and none are for sale. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/509283/kiwirail-considers-buying-second-hand-ships-for-cook-strait-ferry-service And from … Continue reading Scandal as NZ Government seeks to buy unavailable second-hand ferries and keep ‘very end-of-life’ wharf