We are excited to announce that we will be holding a reception at the Vancouver Aquarium during CFA's 2015 Conference - September 13-15.
Enjoy appetizers among the colourful fish and sip wine while watching the dolphins swim.
Register today, click here.
Why you should attend CFA's Conference:
June 18, 2015
Today, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities released a report entitled "Updating Infrastructure in Canada: An Examination of Needs and Investments."
CFA submitted a brief to the Committee outlining the needs for further investment in ferries and ferry infrastructure. Our recommendations included:
Our opinions were taken into consideration, and are noted in the Committee's Report, available here.
The Government of Newfoundland & Labrador, Department of Transportation & Works, Marine Services Division is seeking to enter into a service contract with an experienced Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractor for the various refrigeration and air conditioning requirements onboard the provincially owned passenger ferries in service within the province.
For more information, please click here.
CTV Windsor - June 11, 2015
The Ontario government is moving forward with plans to build a new $40 million ferry to service Pelee Island.
The province has awarded a contract for a new ferry that will help transport the more than 60,000 visitors and residents that travel to the island each year.
ASENAV, a ship-building company located in Valdivia, Chile, was awarded the contract, valued at $40 million.
The new ferry will replace the M.V. Pelee Islander, which is 55 years old and has capacity for 196 passengers and 10 vehicles.
The M.V. Jiimaan, in operation since 1992, will also continue to service Pelee Island with capacity for 399 passengers and 35 automobiles.
The new ferry will be able to carry a maximum of 399 passengers and either 34 cars, or 16 cars and four tractor trailers.
It is expected to start operating in 2018 and will service the existing docks at Pelee Island, Leamington and Kingsville.
Read more, click here.
Nanaimo Business News - June 9, 2015
BC Ferries is making strides to maintain more environmentally-friendly practices, and has been formally recognized for its efforts. BC Ferries joined Green Marine this year and was certified on May 28 after being reviewed by an independent verifier earlier in the month. Green Marine is a globally recognized, voluntary, industry sustainability initiative for ship operators, ports, terminals and shipyards. It enables participants to reduce their environmental footprint by fostering a culture of continuous improvement and exceeding regulatory compliance. BC Ferries has been certified with Green Marine both as a ship owner and as a terminal operator.
“At BC Ferries, we are proud to sail in the pristine coastal waters of British Columbia and we have an obligation to protect the environment and reduce the footprint of our operations,” said Mike Corrigan, BC Ferries’ President and CEO. “Joining Green Marine and achieving this certification reinforces our existing commitment to the environment and ensures we will continue to look for ways to apply best practices and be a leader in sustainable marine transportation.”
Green Marine uses the following performance indicators:“As one of the largest ferry operators in North America BC Ferries plays a key role in showing how sustainable operations are within reach,” added David Bolduc, Green Marine’s Executive Director. “Joining Green Marine clearly reflects a strong commitment towards the greening of their operations. It will also significantly help us achieve our objective, which is to improve the environmental record of the marine industry in general.”
Green Marine will act as a benchmarking tool to measure performance and will provide the framework for BC Ferries to develop a continuously improving, robust, environmental program. Under contract to the Province of British Columbia, BC Ferries is the service provider responsible for the delivery of safe, efficient and dependable ferry service along coastal British Columbia.
Read more, click here.
Digby Courier - June 8, 2015
SAINT JOHN – The crew of the Digby Saint John ferry rescued an injured fisherman last night.
The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Halifax dispatched the Princess of Acadia to pick up a crewmember from the Compass Rose II in the Bay of Fundy about 5:30 p.m.
The JRCC Halifax tweeted at 8:19 p.m. that the ferry plus the Saint John Coast Guard boat Courtney Bay, plus a Cormorant and Hercules had all been dispatched.
But the Princess of Acadia was the closest ship to the fishing vessel and the crew used one of their lifeboats to make the transfer.
The transfer took place near the middle of the Bay of Fundy - 34 km from Digby and 43 kilometres from Saint John.
Capt. Liam Mather, spokesman for the JRCC said that a doctor and nurses happened to be on the Princess and were able to look after the man for the trip to Saint John.
The ferry arrived in Saint John about 8 p.m. where the injured fisherman was transferred to an ambulance.
The JRCC tweeted again about 8:26 p.m.:
“This is an excellent example of the #SAR system working with community assets to provide the #maritimecommunity with skilled SAR support.”
SAR stands for search and rescue.
Read more, click here.
Chronicle Herald - June 8, 2015
Crew members from the Princess of Acadia ferry picked up an injured fisherman Sunday evening while making the trip from Digby to Saint John.
The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Halifax asked the ferry for help, while also sending a Coast Guard ship. A Cormorant chopper and Hercules aircraft from 14 Wing Greenwood were also launched.
The ferry reached the fishing boat first and picked up the 43-year-old man, who was taken to hospital in Saint John by ambulance after the ship docked, the centre said on its Twitter feed. No one was available to provide more information Monday morning.
A doctor and nurse were on board and tended to the man until he arrived in Saint John.
“The crew on-board Canada’s ferries are trained to respond to emergencies just like these. We are glad to hear that the Princess of Acadia was able to rescue this individual and get them the care they needed,” Serge Buy, the CEO of the Canadian Ferry Association said in a release. “This is another example of how ferries are providing essential services to communities across Canada.”
Read more, click here.
CBC - June 5, 2015
Northumberland Ferries Limited is offering a new program this summer called Seaside Experiences for passengers travelling between P.E.I. and Nova Scotia.
In past years the company has offered Music on Deck, featuring local entertainers during some crossings.
But this summer, it's also adding wine tastings and food demonstrations at selected times, at no extra cost.
Jessica Frizzell, the marketing and sales coordinator for Northumberland Ferries, said it's part of an effort to give passengers a true Maritime experience when taking the ferry.
"And under that program we are going to have music as well as culinary demonstrations and product sampling," said Frizzell. " We have some local wineries and breweries that will be doing sampling on board. So it's all complimentary."
"It is an enhancement to our experience on the ferry. And our passengers will be getting a little taste of local culinary and some cultural things while they are on board. I think it's going to be really exciting for passengers."
P.E.I. and Nova Scotia food products will be featured such as mussels, Cows brand butter and cheese, local blueberries and preserves.
Frizzell said the company is hoping the added perks will entice even more people to take the ferry.
The new Seaside Experiences program begins in July.
Read more, click here.
Global News - June 4, 2015
Video available here.
To thousands of passengers on BC Ferries every week, Michelle Harbott is just a worker in the cafeteria.
But if an emergency breaks, it becomes all hands on deck.
“They don’t really realize what we’re capable of. We are the paramedics, we’re the police, we’re the security on the ship,” she says.
Harbott was one of the many crew members taking part in extensive drills on the Queen of New Westminster this week. In detailed simulations, they prepare for everything from people jumping overboard to large fires.
In total, they now have the equivalent of 15,000 training days on their 34 vessels, well above federal standards.
“We’ve been doing this for about three years. The feedback we get from the crews…are awesome,” says Captain Jamie Marshall, Vice-President of Fleet Operations.
“Safety doesn’t take a back seat to anything. It’s our most important thing,” added Chief Officer Brad Kramer.
Manitoulin Expositor - June 3, 2015
MANITOULIN— “We are sold out,” enthused Manitoulin Island Cycling Associates spokesperson Maja Mielonen, noting that the Manitoulin Passage Ride cycling partnership with the Chi-Cheemaun ferry has been growing by leaps and bounds with each passing year. “There will be 165 cyclists arriving by ferry, with over 230 riders taking part in the ride.”
Ms. Mielonen said that the Manitoulin Passage Ride success is thanks in large part to a “wagonload of volunteers” and the positive buy in by local businesses.
“We are very happy that the Manitoulin North Shore Dairy Producers have donated 250 chocolate milks,” she said. “That is a tremendous boost to us in terms of support.”
The Manitoulin Passage Ride will be focussing on the two Manitoulin legs of the Georgian Bay Cycle Route. “We will be highlighting the Manitoulin Core A and Core B legs of the route,” said Ms. Mielonen. “These are now recognized by the province as an official route and part of the Georgian Bay Cycle Route.”
The cyclists will be arriving on the 10:50 am ferry on June 6 and travelling across Manitoulin to arrive for 6 pm at a celebration dinner and entertainment at Batman’s Tent and Trailer Park in Sheguiandah. “There will be a pork roast from Burt Farm (from Ice Lake) and Garden’s Gate (restaurant in Tehkummah) will be providing the salad,” she said. “The Uppers will be performing live at the park as well. That is Peter Nelson and Jamie Mohammed and they are great entertainers.”
“We have a beautiful new T-shirt showcasing our brand,” said the cycling advocate.
Ms. Mielonen said that MICA was “absolutely thrilled” with the response to the Passage to Manitoulin program, a feeling shared by the ferry operators as well.
“It has been a great program and we are very pleased to be a part of it,” said Owen Sound Transportation Company President Susan Schrempf. “We really only provide transportation for the cyclists and their bikes on the Passage to Manitoulin cycling program, but this is the kind of program that we can work with.”
With a defined start and stop date and number of participants, the Passage to Manitoulin program can be fit into the ferry’s operations. “We really want to support that kind of program,” said Ms. Schrempf. “It focusses on the Island and that is a key part of our marketing strategy going forward.”
The Chi-Cheemaun is currently embarking on a marketing campaign focussed on making the ferry a travel destination (in conjunction with Manitoulin Island) in its own right as part of Destination Manitoulin.
Read more, click here.