Tag: ferry

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Anger as New Zealand ministers told ferries needed ‘urgent attention’ BEFORE project axed

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Yesterday, we heard that aging Australian ferries were being brought back into service to replace cheap Chinese-built ferries blowing up. Today, we hear: KiwiRail told ministers its ill-fated ferry project required “urgent attention”, just days before it got axed. The Interislander operator today released its briefing to the incoming ministers, which had been prepared at the end of November. Shortly after the report was written, the project to buy two new ferries and upgrade two ports was axed when the government refused to spend an extra $1.5 billion. In recent times, we’ve heard of cheap Vietnamese-built privately-owned ferries running aground on Orkney … Continue reading Anger as New Zealand ministers told ferries needed ‘urgent attention’ BEFORE project axed

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Ferry fiasco as older Australian ferries have to be brought back into service when cheap Chinese replacements fail

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From North Beaches Advocate tomorrow: Emerald-class ferry fiasco Feb 12, 2024 – Unreliable engines will be replaced with ‘renewable ready’ upgrades in the three Emerald-class Manly ferries. Concerns over the reliability of the new Generation 2 Emerald-class ferry fleet have been mounting since they first entered service in October 2021. Although criticised for being Chinese built, the shipbuilder claimed the design of the ferries and propulsion systems were all sourced in Australia.As the new Generation 2 Emerald-class fleet entered service, the older Freshwater-class ferries were due to be retired, but gradually, all but one has re-entered service as concerns over safety and reliability issues mounted. https://www.northernbeachesadvocate.com.au/2024/02/12/emerald-class-ferry-fiasco/ Cheap … Continue reading Ferry fiasco as older Australian ferries have to be brought back into service when cheap Chinese replacements fail

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CalMac now significantly more reliable than both comparable North American ferry services

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Today, we read in Global News (Canada) that BC Ferries are running at only 85% reliability, as they head in to the year, with 20 of 41 vessels due for major maintenance and stricken by a staffing and breakdown crisis. https://globalnews.ca/news/10263918/bc-ferries-repair-update/ BC Ferries and Washington State Ferries, serving archipelagos with around 30-40 vessels and 40-50 locations, in northern waters, are the most comparable with CalMac, though both operate at lower latitudes and in less stormy conditions. As several island reps have told BBC Scotland, we should learn from other ferry services. CalMac is running at around 99% reliability in the … Continue reading CalMac now significantly more reliable than both comparable North American ferry services

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Non-Scottish Ferries Operating Without Seaworthiness Certificates 

johnrobertson834

Our international ferry performance research has been criticised for its narrow focus on more developed countries. Personally, I think our coverage of Washington State Ferries ticks the third-world box. Anyhow, see this from Uganda today: Despite the increased accidents on Ugandan water bodies, many ferries continue to operate in dangerous mechanical conditions, a special audit has revealed.   The Auditor General (AG) in his report for the year ending June 2023, noted that “in some instances, ferries operated without seaworthiness certificates, insurance, adequately qualified staff, rescue boats, or accessibility for persons with disabilities.” “These safety and accessibility gaps could result in … Continue reading Non-Scottish Ferries Operating Without Seaworthiness Certificates 

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Horrifying video shows how seawater enters ferry – Imagine this happened in Scotland

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From Spark Chronicles yesterday: Ferries are one of the most efficient modes of transportation for transporting goods or people over short water distances. That doesn’t mean they’re protected from the elements. A video showing how seawater entered a ferry in Washington shocked social networks this week. In this 1 minute and 14 second video, you can see how water filled part of the boat called the M/V Issaquah due to strong waves, an incident that occurred in northeastern Washington state. The ferry was heading to Anacortes near the Strait of Juan de Fuca, according to Washington State Ferries, which clarified … Continue reading Horrifying video shows how seawater enters ferry – Imagine this happened in Scotland

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CalMac is the only decent ferry service in the world

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It’s chaotic out there on the seas, as regulars here will know. BC Ferries in Canada can’t get crew to run their aging fleet but can make huger profits. Washington State Ferries has just told their customers they’ll have to grin and bear it for six years with only half of their boats serviceable, until they get new vessels built. Kingston Ferries in Lake Ontario, Canada, are still using the old ferries two years after two new vessels built in Romania arrived unfit for service. Condor Ferries in the Channel Islands can’t get a boat that will run for any … Continue reading CalMac is the only decent ferry service in the world

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New Zealand’s ‘catastrophic’ ferry service may be worse than CalMac judging by Mull councillors silence these days

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Today in the NZ Herald: Another fault with a Cook Strait Interislander ferry is being investigated after the vessel experienced an engine issue at sea today. The engine issue is the latest in a string of faults experienced by the increasingly unreliable and ageing Interislander fleet. In November last year, sailings for Kaiarahi were cancelled after a large hole was ripped in the hull of the boat. Wellington harbourmaster Grant Nalder said at the time the hole above the waterline in the Interislander ferry looked “quite dramatic”. “You can actually see through to the other side of the ship.” In a … Continue reading New Zealand’s ‘catastrophic’ ferry service may be worse than CalMac judging by Mull councillors silence these days

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Poisoned Waters: The War Between BC Ferries in Canada and its workers but in Scotland….

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From the Penticton Herald, today: A four-letter expletive ended talks aimed at bringing peace between BC Ferries and its union — and better service for travellers. It was Nov. 28, and union leader Eric McNeely had just logged in to a video conference call with two company executives. The stakes were high. The company and the union had accused each other of intransigence and lying in a series of memos to employees. The meeting ended badly. McNeely said he left the call after Dean Dobrinsky, the corporation’s executive director of labour relations, told him and another union official to “just … Continue reading Poisoned Waters: The War Between BC Ferries in Canada and its workers but in Scotland….

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Maybe Scotland’s ferry-user ‘representatives’ would like CalMac to learn from this operator in the richest country in the world as it warns ‘Normal service is not possible. Don’t expect improvements for 5 years!’

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Two days ago, we heard from the Herald: The Scottish Government’s bid to provide a direct public contract to CalMac to run the ageing ferry fleet without going through a competitive tendering process is opposed by its community board. Today, to warn the board to be careful what it wishes for, we can read of how a large, failing but profit-making ferry operator, in the USA, is doing for its users: After several years of trying to predict when normal ferry service might return, Washington State Ferries is now acknowledging what most regular riders likely already suspected: Until new boats … Continue reading Maybe Scotland’s ferry-user ‘representatives’ would like CalMac to learn from this operator in the richest country in the world as it warns ‘Normal service is not possible. Don’t expect improvements for 5 years!’

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Does their Ferries Community Board want to stick islanders with a more expensive and less reliable ferry service?

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Perhaps they only read the Herald’s Second-class Ferry Correspondent (Scotland only) but the CalMAc Ferries Community Board apparently  “unanimously” do not support a direct award of the next contract. So they want to open up the bid to for-profit operators like Washington State Ferries in the USA, BC Ferries in Canada, Condor in the Channel Islands, Red Funnel in the Isle of Wight or KiwiRail in New Zealand? Regulars here will know that all operate less reliable, older vessels, at far greater cost to the passenger. For confirmation of this and to get a sharp cold water shock, read these: … Continue reading Does their Ferries Community Board want to stick islanders with a more expensive and less reliable ferry service?