BC Shipping News - July 6, 2015

By Serge Buy, CEO, Canadian Ferry Association

Every year, Canadian ferry operators transport over 55 million passengers and nearly 19 million vehicles. We help bring people to work, deliver goods to the marketplace and bring tourists to their destinations. Ferry transportation is a vital part of Canada’s transportation infrastructure and an important part of our heritage.

Canada’s ferry operators are growing, getting more environmentally friendly and we are on the cutting edge of new technology. Over the next five years, ferry operators in Canada will be spending over $1.3 billion on new vessels, retrofitting existing vessels and adding new technology to their fleets.

This is going to require a lot of partnerships with shipbuilders, technology companies and more and it will create many opportunities for suppliers across Canada and around the world.

Already, Société des Traversiers du Québec (STQ), BC Ferries and Seaspan have initiated several major procurements to improve their fleets.

STQ has received the first Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) powered ferry in North America from Fincantieri Shipyard in Italy. The MV F.-A.-Gauthier will be entering service later this summer to transport passengers and vehicles along the Matane - Baie-Comeau - Godbout ferry route. It will help lead the way as many ferry operators start to transition to LNG in the coming years.

STQ has also ordered two 92-metre LNG-powered ferries (classed by Lloyd’s Register) from Davie Shipyards in Levis, Québec. These will be the first two LNG powered ferries to be built in North America. Both vessels are expected to enter the STQ fleet in 2015. Not only are these new vessels modernizing the fleets, but they are reducing operating costs and lowering the environmental impact of ferry transportation.

Ferries are a vital element of the transportation network in Canada, but perhaps more so in British Columbia than anywhere else. Mike Corrigan, CEO of BC Ferries, when speaking about the decision to add new LNG vessels to their fleet, stated that, “We call this a game-changer for BC Ferries, as after labour our biggest operating cost is diesel fuel. We believe LNG is the fuel of the future.”

In January 2015, Remontowa Shipyards in Poland hosted the steel cutting ceremony for the first of three vessels for BC Ferries. This is part of a $165-million contract for three LNG vessels (classed by Lloyd’s Register) to replace 50-year old ferries. The first of these intermediate class ferries will be arriving in August 2016, each will be able to transport 145 vehicles and up to 600 passengers.

On an annual basis, BC Ferries consumes approximately 120 million litres of fuel. Even with the price of oil falling, LNG provides a considerable price advantage at 30 per cent less than marine diesel. It is estimated that BC Ferries will save $9.2 million per year in fuel costs just from the upgrading of two vessels (Spirit of Vancouver Island and Spirit of British Columbia). Both of these vessels are scheduled to be upgraded by 2018.

Seaspan Ferries has also procured two dual-fuelled (diesel and LNG) ferries from Sedef Shipyard in Turkey. These vessels, classed by Bureau Veritas, will be entering service in 2016. One of the interesting parts about this procurement was the partnership agreement that Seaspan entered into with FortisBC, an LNG supplier that contributed $5 million to the purchase of these ferries.

The new Seaspan ferries are also demonstrating the leadership of ferry operators in seeking out new technologies. In addition to operating with LNG and diesel, these vessels will also use an energy storage system that will work as a spinning reserve and power harbour manoeuvres. Both vessels will navigate the Georgia Strait between Vancouver and Vancouver Island when they enter operation in 2016.

With over 180 ferry routes across Canada, ferry operators will continue investing in their fleets. There has never been a better time than now for suppliers to get involved with the ferry sector.

The Canadian Ferry Association will be hosting our Annual Conference in Vancouver from September 13 to 15 at the Marriott Pinnacle. This year’s theme is “Cutting Edge: New Technologies in the Ferry Sector,” due to the demand that CFA members have for improving their fleets. Ferries are also looking for new ways on improving on-board service and other amenities using new technology. From online booking systems to on-board wifi, ferry operators are looking for new technologies to improve their fleets.

This is an excellent opportunity for operators and suppliers to network and develop business relationships. There are opportunities for suppliers to showcase their products, address conference delegates and meet key contacts from the major ferry operators in Canada.

To register for the 2015 conference or for more information about the work being done by the Canadian Ferry Association, visit our website at www.cfoa.ca/conference.

Read more, click here.

Williams Lake Tribune - June 30, 2015

The provincial government is close to signing an agreement with BC Ferries for a new vessel to replace the Nimpkish, said Todd Stone, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure.

“The Nimpkish will have to be replaced no later than 2018, possibly earlier,” Stone said while in Williams Lake Thursday. “Very soon B.C. Ferries will begin the process of procuring a new vessel.”

While he was not sure how big the new ferry will be, Stone said it is apparent the capacity of the Nimpkish with its capacity to hold 16 vehicles and 133 passengers is not large enough.

“Again the season is booked solid, as it was last season and the season before,” Stone said.

The new ferry will be a modern ship with all the modern amenities and fully accessible, he added.

Stone stressed, however, there will be no reinstatement of Route 40 with the direct link between Port Hardy and Bella Coola.

“I completely understand there is a level of frustration and disappointment with that and know there have been impacts to the tourism industry, with the hardest hit being Bella Coola, then the Chilcotin part of the province and some businesses here in Williams Lake,” he said, adding he hoped  the new ferry announcement brings certainty to the region’s tourism industry.

The announcement of a new ferry is good news said Petrus Rykes, chair of Save the Discovery Coast Ferry and president of the West Chilcotin Tourism Association.

“Right now if they get a bigger ferry and they have some amenities, that would bring back some of the players internationally,” Rykes said.  “It’s a doable proposition. It can make money if it’s run properly, otherwise we wouldn’t be bothered fighting for it.”

Stone promised to make sure there is a good amount of community engagement with people throughout the Bella Coola Valley and Cariboo-Chilcotin around the new ferry’s scheduling.

“All of that process will be led by B.C. Ferries,” Stone said. “It’s only our job to tell BC Ferries which routes we are prepared to fund and at what level of service.”

The province continues to receive $30 million annually from the federal government to provide the continuation of service between the mainland and Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii, Stone confirmed.

Read more, click here.

June 30, 2015

Traveling North? Take the Chi-Cheemaun and travel in good spirits!

Watch the new video here.

Sudbury Star - June 28, 2015

I stand at the South Baymouth dock on Manitoulin, to pick up a friend coming in on the Chi-Cheemaun ferry, my jaw drops and eyes open wide to see the magnificently coloured smokestack. Your Bonnie, Ms. Manhattan-Manitoulin in the Window Seat, is thrilled.

Woo hoo! When had the smokestack been so beautifully articulated on Georgian Bay's wonderful Chi-Cheemaun ferry? Then I saw the grand invitation on the side of the vessel, inviting passengers to "Travel in Good Spirits", a clear reference to both the island's aboriginal roots and the laid back nature of the experience on the boat itself. How many geniuses thought this up?

Officially, the M.S. Chi-Cheemaun ferry is owned and operated by Owen Sound Transportation Company Limited, an Operational Enterprise Agency of the Ontario government, with corporate headquarters in Owen Sound. The company is an integral part of Ontario's tourism and transportation system, drawing tourists to this region from May to October each year.

I've sailed many years and admire captains Rob Schreiber and Kerry Adams, and the friendly crew. Eagerly, I phone Kaleena Johnson, manager, customer and media relations, in Owen Sound. "The Chi-Cheemaun has undergone the first phase of a major facelift and we're delighted. You've obviously seen the colourful vinyl decal on the smokestack. It was designed by Cleansheet Communications, printed by Have1.com, and installed by 3M."

"How did your rebranding begin?"

"Our campaign was created by the Toronto-based ad agency, Cleansheet Communications," Kaleena told me. "Working under the direction of Dennis Mayer, account director, we've been able to create an amazing new branding of the ferry. We're featuring print, radio, collateral, animated video, new merchandise, and an entirely new website and mobile app (to come) that will guide passengers both on the boat and the island.

"The uniquely Manitoulin aboriginal art is central to the campaign, and was integrated into the vessel itself with the smokestack being turned into a stunning canvas for the new designs. We're thrilled. Do talk to Dennis."

Happily, Dennis Mayer has time for me. "Bonnie, what an opportunity to think about this offering. A totally authentic big ship, open-water experience to an island with a very rich and significant cultural history in our country. All this just a few hours from the GTA; there really is no experience like this in-land in Canada."

"Bravo, Dennis." Already I know he's smart, knowing my next questions.

"Our team took a trip on the Chi-Cheemaun and explored the island, stopped at markets, drove winding roads," he said. "We checked campgrounds and sat on docks. What would people identify with, when aboard? We became aware that being on a boat is completely foreign to what we live day-to-day. It slows you down and forces you to take a breath, to take a good look at the beauty surrounding us on the water. Combine that with a big boat experience, and there's something magical about being on the Chi-Cheemaun."

"Everyone I know loves the smokestack: how did the work of Ojibwe artist Norval Morrissau inspire you?"

"As a First Nations Ojibwe from Northern Ontario, Mr. Morrissau founded the Woodland style of painting, characterized by bold colours and vibrant outlines. When we were at the Conference Centre in Little Current, we saw other works by local artists like Duncan Pheasant, who were inspired by him. It seemed natural to emulate this style and work it into the over-all direction of the Chi-Cheemaun. To pay homage to this style."

"Bravo, Dennis, you surely have honoured this concept. While I own four of Duncan's paintings, I think every visitor who steps into a Manitoulin or Tobermory art gallery, comes home with something wonderfully Ojibwe," I gush. "How did you incorporate this?"

"For us, the bird symbolizes humility, the bear is truth and the fish is wisdom. We needed to reach out to those whose roots are truly embedded on the island. We worked with Susan Schrempf, president and CEO of the OSTC, to offer ideas to the leaders at the Great Spirit Circle Trail, making sure their knowledge, history, art and spirit enabled us to navigate the design process with respect."

"As a traveller, and a longtime student of everything Manitoulin and Anishnabe art, I'm deeply aware how you have incorporated brilliance into this presentation."

I can hear Dennis smile. "Credit goes to Denny Kurien, our digital art director, Dennis Fuentes, our designer and Neil McOstrich is our creative director; we have a fantastic team."

"Here's more. Inspired by learning about the deep history of the aboriginal people and First Nations on Manitoulin Island and the lands surrounding it, we learned that the name Chi-Cheemaun is Ojibwe for The Big Canoe. We wanted to show respect to history. It had to trigger people talking about all the changes going on inside. To illustrate this, we dressed up the boat in the same vibrant 'woodland' style graphics and carried the same theme through for its website, sailing schedule, posters and print ads."

I talk to Kaleena again. "Our Sunset Dinner Cruise is offered Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays during peak season, with departure from Tobermory, and every Thursday from South Baymouth. Once a month, we have performers on board to add something special to our dinner cruise experience. On Aug. 19, the popular aboriginal folk artists, Digging Roots, will be performing on the ferry as part of our All-Canadian Dining and Entertainment Cruise series.

"Also new this year, Chi-Cheemaun hosts a floating craft show and sale, titled Crafters on the Crossing. Organized by Morag Budgeon and Kate McLaren. The first show features seven local artists from the Grey Bruce area. We're working on organizing another show specifically highlighting our Manitoulin Island artisans. Events like these offer an entirely new element to the ferry passage. We're also fortunate to have Falcon Migwans, a well-known Manitoulin Island-based traditional storyteller, drummer and singer, performing on board daily. That's Wednesdays through Sundays through the month of August."

"Falcon's one of my favourite storytellers," I sigh. "What a gift from the Great Spirit Circle to have him aboard."

Magic words: summer, sailing, cuisine, art, breezes, relaxation, sights, and shopping. The Chi-Cheemaun.

I wonder if I can move aboard for the summer? OK, round trips will have to do.

Read more, click here.

Bayshore Broadcasting - June 26, 2015

Canadian Ferry Association backs funding, says Conservatives should do more promotion.

(Owen Sound)-

The Canadian Ferry Association is pleased Ottawa is supporting a Marine Emergency Duties Training Centre in Owen Sound, but the organization says the federal government should be doing more to promote the marine sector.

On Tuesday, Bruce-Grey Owen Sound MP Larry Miller announced that $2-million would flow from federal coffers to help construct a MED facility at the City's Georgian College campus.

Queen's Park has also committed $2-million, matching Grey County's investment.

Serge Buy is a lobbyist and CEO of the Canadian Ferry Association -- and he says the Conservatives should be promoting the marine industry as a desirable, well-paying career option.

Buy says upwards of 70 per cent of the industry's current sailors will be retiring in the coming years and there just aren't enough qualified people/students to replace them.

Instead of political posturing, Buy tells Bayshore Broadcasting News the federal government should focus on the marine sector throughout its mandate, rather than when it's convenient.

He says Larry Miller, who is the chairman of the House of Commons Transportation Committee, has been a valuable asset in securing government money for marine projects, but a recent study failed to address ageing ferry infrastructure.

According to Buy, Canadian ferry operators transport more than 55-million passengers annually, which is slightly less than the amount of people transported via airlines.

Again, Buy reiterates the funding for the MED Training Centre in Owen Sound is critical, but he also says Ottawa has an obligation to help promote careers/opportunities in the marine sector.

That being said, Buy says the industry is responsible too.

Recently, the Canadian Ferry Association held a conference to identify the problems and potential solutions to issues currently affecting ferry companies.

Among others, the Owen Sound Transportation Company, Marine Atlantic and B.C. Ferries all attended that conference.

In Canada, the ferry industry employs nearly 9,000 crew/staff.

Read more or listen, click here.

Kingston Whig-Standard - June 24

It wasn’t the announcement of the long-awaited second ferry to Wolfe Island, but it was a step in that direction.

Provincial officials gathered Tuesday morning at the Wolfe Island ferry terminal in Kingston to announce some of the plans for an environmental assessment of the potential for adding a second ferry to the route.

“Islanders, tourists and various services are wholly dependent on the Wolfe Island ferry for access on and off the island,” said Kingston and the Islands MPP Sophie Kiwala, adding that the ferry is a critical service to the island and an important economic driver for Kingston.

“I know that the ferry is operating near or over capacity during weekdays throughout the year,” Kiwala said.

“The increased capacity and reduced traffic congestion will most certainly have a most positive impact for commuters.”

Morrison Hershfield Ltd. has been hired to conduct the study, Kiwala added.

Ministry of Transportation officials declined to say how much the environmental assessment would cost.

MTO senior project manager Tina White said companies that submitted losing bids had yet to be formally notified of the government’s decision.

In 2011, a Wolfe Island transportation planning report recommended adding a second, larger ferry and improving the docks at Kingston, Marysville and Dawson’s Point.

An environmental assessment is needed because the second ferry would add capacity to the route. The work on land and in the water is to include assessment of how the proposed changes would impact wildlife and habitat, archeology and surveys, White said. Public information sessions are also to be held.

This is the first time the MTO has conducted an environmental assessment for the addition of a second ferry to an existing route, White said.

The results of the environmental assessment, which is expected to start in a few weeks and be completed by the end of 2017, will determine how the second ferry gets added.

“It is our desire on Wolfe to complete this study in early 2017,” said Frontenac Islands Mayor Denis Doyle.

“We’re hoping it’s finished early so that we can get the order in for that new 75-car ferry and hopefully launch it by 2018.”

Kiwala said more than a million people a year travel to and from the island, and Doyle added that tourists entering Canada on the Hornes Ferry from Cape Vincent have been frustrated by the over-capacity ferry to Kingston.

Doyle said a second ferry between Kingston and the island would also relieve pressure on other ferries in the area.

Currently, the Wolfe Islander III is in dry dock in Hamilton for a refit and scheduled inspection and maintenance. In its place is the smaller Frontenac II, which usually sails between Millhaven and Amherst Island.

The Quinte Loyalist is, in turn, taking the place of the Frontenac II, leaving the Glenora the only ferry operating between Adolphustown and Glenora.

A second Wolfe Island ferry would avoid the shuffle that happens whenever one ferry is pulled out of service, Doyle said.

Read more, click here.

June 24, 2015

Some critical words for the federal government despite the announcement that Ottawa, along with the province, is kicking in 4 million dollars for a Marine Emergency Duties Training Centre at Georgian College in Owen Sound.

The Canadian Ferry Association says they’ve been hounding the feds for years to do something about a looming massive shortage of marine industry workers with more than 70 percent set to retire in the next decade.

Association CEO Serge Buy says they’re hoping this is just the start.

Buy says they’re hoping the funding announcement didn’t just come because its an election year and it looks good for M-P Larry Miller to get some funding for his riding.

He adds however that Miller has been a good advocate for getting the support of his government and has done a good job in securing the funds but he also knows about the level of concern over the marine industry and its looming workers shortage.

Buy says this is obviously good news for the college but his association feels more needs to be done on a sustained level and not just because its an election year.

Buy says the shortage is a problem that’s been ignored for years

Buy admits they’ve been critical of Ottawa’s slow reaction to the looming shortage so the funding for the Marine Emergency Duties facility comes as good news.

He adds they are disappointed in Ottawa and their overall lack of support for the marine industry.

The association says there’s not just a shortage of mariners in the commercial shipping and cruise ship sectors; in the private sector they can raise salaries as needed but in the public sector, that’s not quite the case.

He says cruise ships, for example, can offer 150 to 200 thousand dollars a year but that’s not the case on ferries.

Listen or read more, click here.

Owen Sound Sun Times - June 23, 2015

Ottawa and Queen’s Park have approved nearly $2 million apiece in funding towards a project to build a new, state-of-the-art Marine Emergency Duties Training & Research Centre at Georgian College in Owen Sound.

The contributions, announced by government and college officials Tuesday at the local campus, pave the way for construction of the facility to begin this fall and, if all goes well, wrap up in time for the start of classes in September 2016, said Georgian College president and CEO MaryLynn West-Moynes.

“With this announcement, Georgian College and Owen Sound will become the marine training centre of excellence for all of Ontario,” she said during the announcement.

“This is indeed a great day.”

The entire project is expected to cost about $7.9 million.

It will include the MED centre, which will be built as an addition onto the existing Great Lakes International Marine Training & Research Centre, as well as a standalone fire training centre, which is already under construction.

West-Moynes said once completed, all emergency training needed for cadets and existing mariners will be at one location.

Hundreds of people each year will take courses at the facility, she said.

That will pump about $5 million a year into the local economy, she said, as people will stay in hotel rooms, eat at restaurants and shop in the area while attending courses that can take several days to complete.

Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound Conservative MP Larry Miller announced that the federal government will contribute up to $1.96 million for the project under Infrastructure Canada’s small communities fund.

Barrie Liberal MPP Ann Hoggarth, who attended the event on behalf of the Ontario Liberal government, said the province will match that $1.96 million investment.

Grey County committed $2 million over 10 years towards the project last August, which West-Moynes said was critical in getting the province and federal government to approve their grants.

She also credited Miller and Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound Progressive Conservative MPP Bill Walker, who was also at the announcement, for advocating for senior government funding for the project.

The college will also receive money from the marine industry, she said. Those contributions will be announced at a groundbreaking ceremony.

The proposed MED centre will be the only approved English-language facility of its kind in central Canada. The next closest is in Prince Edward Island.

MED training is compulsory for all new marine cadets.

Transport Canada also recently made it mandatory for all mariners to receive refresher training every five years.

Safety, survival, firefighting, first aid, lifeboat, immersion suit and freefall training are among the courses that will be offered at the Owen Sound facility.

Several marine organizations issued statements Tuesday to congratulate Georgian College for receiving the government funding.

The Chamber of Marine Commerce, of which the college is a member, said the announcement is great news for the college and marine shipping, particularly in the Great Lakes region.

“MED training is critical to the education of Great Lakes mariners, many of which live in Ontario. With this new facility, students and crew will now be able to access marine training in their own province. We need to make it as easy as possible for young people to join the marine industry, and for existing crew to refresh important safety skills, to ensure we have a future workforce. This funding goes a long way to achieving those goals and bodes well for the future of Great Lakes shipping,” said president Stephen Brooks.

Canadian Ferry Association CEO Serge Buy said the organization was pleased to learn of the government’s investment to support the training of individuals that may serve onboard ferries in the future.

About 9,000 crew and staff work on ferries across the country.

Buy said the government should also do “much more to promote careers in the marine sector and training for these professions especially in view of the looming labour shortage.”

Read more, click here.

June 20, 2015

Friday night, at approximately 9:45 p.m., the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre requested assistance from BC Ferries’ MV Quinitsa with a search and rescue operation for a kayaker in the water off Vancouver Island.

The ferry’s rescue boat was launched at 9:50 p.m. and the crew rescued the female kayaker from the water approximately one nautical mile north of the Buckley Bay terminal. The woman was transferred to RCMP and an ambulance on shore. The rescue boat crew also towed the kayak to shore for retrieval.

The JRCC contacted BC Ferries’ Operations and Security Centre later in the evening and credited the crew with saving the individual’s life.

“Our crew demonstrated their professionalism and their commitment to safety by performing this rescue,” said Deborah Marshall, BC Ferries executive director of public affairs.  “We are very proud of their actions and events like this one show that all of their training and the drills they routinely conduct are invaluable out on the water.”

At the time the ship was called by JRCC, the ferry was docked at Denman Island, unloading passengers and vehicles, and getting ready to tie-up for the night.

The MV Quinitsa operates on the Buckley Bay – Denman Island route.

Read more, click here.