Tag: islands

1 Comment

Shocking 40% of Toronto Island ferries out of service on peak tourism weekend

johnrobertson834

From another Canadian CTV News Toronto, today: Those visiting the Toronto Islands this weekend could see longer wait times when returning to the city as two of the five ferry boats will be out of service. The city says the Thomas Rennie, which has a capacity of 915 passengers, and The Trillium, an 815-passenger heritage ferry that only operates in certain weather conditions, are undergoing repairs and aren’t anticipated to be back in service for a couple of weeks. In Scotland, sometimes 2 or 3 out of the 34 ferries can be out of service, less than 10%, but imagine … Continue reading Shocking 40% of Toronto Island ferries out of service on peak tourism weekend

1 Comment

‘Stranded and dying’: Canadian cancer patient’s family calls for improvements to ferry service

johnrobertson834

From CTV News, Vancouver, yesterday: Gracie MacDonald snapped a photo of her brother on a sailing boat a Good Samaritan was using to take them from Denman Island to the closest hospital on Vancouver Island never suspecting it would be the last image of his life. He died hours later at North Island Hospital Comox Valley. Andy MacDonald was terminally ill with cancer but hadn’t expected to succumb within months of his surprise diagnosis, and none of the family had anticipated it would be a scramble to get him to the hospital after the cable ferry broke down yet again … Continue reading ‘Stranded and dying’: Canadian cancer patient’s family calls for improvements to ferry service

5 Comments

Canadian ferry service is 44% more expensive without the kind of massive £173 MILLION subsidy given by SNP Government for islanders in Scotland

johnrobertson834

By Professor John Robertson Washington State Ferries in the USA have just announced new prices for the popular 15 miles, 1 hour crossing of the sheltered Puget Sound, between Bremerton and Seattle – $54.35 or £43.30. https://mynorthwest.com/3959021/travel-alert-washington-ferry-prices-go-up-amid-waves-riders/ The popular 14.3 miles, 1 hour 20 minutes crossing of the, at times very stormy, Firth of Clyde, from Brodick, Arran to Ardrossan, is £30.20. How is this possible? In 2022/2023, the SNP Government ferry subsidy to keep prices down to affordable levels for hopefully grateful islanders, native or settler, was £173 MILLION! https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/24276739.calmac-gets-63-real-terms-public-subsidy-rise-despite-drop/#:~:text=Then%20the%20grant%20to%20CalMac,space%20of%20just%20one%20year. There are many mainland villages in Scotland with far … Continue reading Canadian ferry service is 44% more expensive without the kind of massive £173 MILLION subsidy given by SNP Government for islanders in Scotland

10 Comments

Scotland’s ferries policy manifestly functional says this expert

johnrobertson834

In the Herald today: Scotland’s ferry policy is “manifestly dysfunctional” and must be overhauled, an expert has said. In a submission to a Transport Scotland consultation on its Island Connectivity plan, Roy Pedersen criticised the current process of “the state procuring large, inefficient ships! which he says “will increase the already high financial cost to the Scottish taxpayer”.  Pederson’s report is 36 pages long but judging by the above claims, he has missed any international comparisons of the kind any rigorous research would require. Academics call it a ‘review of literature’ without which no research will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. If … Continue reading Scotland’s ferries policy manifestly functional says this expert

1 Comment

Elderly Canadian ferries major maintenance woes and climate change failures after severe government cuts to funding

johnrobertson834

By Professor John Robertson After years of crew shortages and breakdowns in elderly ferries (average age 37 compared to 24 in Scotland) BC Ferries customers faced new disappointments at the end of 2023. From CTV News in August 2023: BC Ferries says it will be more than a month before its Coastal Renaissance ferry returns to service. The vessel has been docked for days now, after an issue with its motor took it out of service on Aug. 17. In an update Tuesday, the provincial ferry provider said the Coastal Renaissance will not be back in service until October. and … Continue reading Elderly Canadian ferries major maintenance woes and climate change failures after severe government cuts to funding

5 Comments

Islay ferries – Massively subsidised by the rest of us and seriously under-used yet still not good enough – Go tell Shakespeare?

johnrobertson834

STV today has this: Islanders say Scotland’s ferry service is stumbling from crisis to crisis due to a lack of resilience in the system. Breakdowns and cancellations are causing disruption to businesses as well as missed hospital appointments. A new ferry for the Islay route was launched in Turkey at the weekend. It is due to be in service by the end of this year, with another due next year. While a welcome addition, residents there claim they have been dealing with a second-rate service while they are built and are facing another summer of disruption. https://news.stv.tv/west-central/tough-summer-looms-for-islay-businesses-suffering-from-second-rate-service-despite-promise-of-new-calmac-ferries There’s more, much … Continue reading Islay ferries – Massively subsidised by the rest of us and seriously under-used yet still not good enough – Go tell Shakespeare?

11 Comments

Labour Dame and oily journalist lie about ferry service

johnrobertson834

Facts: Arran? ‘Be aware’ warning only as core single vessel operating. Yesterday, 1 out of 8 cancelled but plenty spaces on the others. Barra? Barra Eriskay ‘Normal service’, Oban Barra ‘one of more sailings disrupted due to strong winds.’ Yesterday, all 3 Barra services at 100%. The Dame lies about this. Coll? ‘Due to an oil leak, the vessels port stabiliser has been temporarily taken out of operation. As a result, there are now limitations in place regarding the weather and sea states in which the vessel can safely operate and service is at risk of short notice disruption or … Continue reading Labour Dame and oily journalist lie about ferry service