BC Shipping News, September 2015<\/p>\n
Kristin Baldwin, Director of Communications<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a call that we all dread.\u00a0 An emergency.\u00a0 Come as soon as you can. \u00a0That was the call received by the Bay Ferries\u2019 Princess of Acadia earlier this summer.\u00a0 A crewmember onboard a fishing vessel had been injured and needed emergency medical assistance.\u00a0 The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Halifax dispatched the ferry to perform the rescue.\u00a0 The individual was treated by medical professionals on board and was transferred to an ambulance when they got to shore.\u00a0 A fitting task for a passenger vessel that was about to be retired.<\/p>\n
A similar event happened just over a week later on our other coast.\u00a0 The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre dispatched a rescue boat from BC Ferries\u2019 M.V. Quinitsa to save a stranded kayaker from frigid waters just north of Buckley Bay.<\/p>\n
This is an element of passenger vessel service that is often overlooked: the role they play in marine emergencies.<\/p>\n
The crew onboard ferries in Canada are trained to respond to a host of emergency scenarios.\u00a0 It\u2019s just another way Canada\u2019s ferries are providing essential services to communities across Canada.\u00a0 With over 55 million passengers, nearly 19 million vehicles, and more than 260 vessels operating, our ferries have a profound impact in many communities across Canada.<\/p>\n
Remote Communities<\/strong><\/p>\n Navigating our waterways has been an important component of life in Canada since well before the first explorers.\u00a0 While infrastructure has expanded and populations have grown, there are still parts of Canada that are only accessible by travelling on a ferry.\u00a0 This means that everything to sustain a community \u2013 food, fuel, etc \u2013 needs to be put on a vessel before it arrives at its destination.\u00a0 It also means that the only way tourists can come to these remote places is through a ferry. \u00a0Oftentimes ferries are also critical in emergency situations, as a way to get to a hospital.<\/p>\n Communities served only by ferries include:<\/p>\n Without the ferry, remote communities would be far more isolated.\u00a0 This is a prime example of how ferry operators are bringing us all together.<\/p>\n Investing in Local Communities<\/strong><\/p>\n Ferries create jobs.\u00a0 It\u2019s just that simple.\u00a0 Across Canada, ferry operators employ over 9,000 people directly and over 22,600 people indirectly.\u00a0 But going even further, ferries are also paving the way for future investments.<\/p>\n Marine Atlantic\u2019s new terminal in Nova Scotia is more than just a cutting-edge piece of architecture, but it also provides a solid foundation for future investment in the community and across the province.<\/p>\n Over the next 5 years, ferry operators will be investing more than $1.5 billion to upgrade and renew their fleets, and much of this work can be done here in Canada, creating even more jobs.<\/p>\n Learn More!<\/strong><\/p>\n Join us in Vancouver at our Annual Conference to learn more!<\/p>\n September 13-15, 2015 at the Marriott Pinnacle.\u00a0 This year\u2019s theme is \u201cCutting Edge: New Technologies in the Ferry Sector.\u201d\u00a0 Across Canada, ferries are looking for new ways to improve passenger\u2019s onboard experience and make their vessels more efficient.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n\n