Transportation on the North Coast-- BC Ferries/Alaska Marine Highway

Our quick reference and archive of items pertaining to BC Ferries and the Alaska Marine Highway System.

2014

December 29-- Alaska Marine Highway Fares going up in summer of 2015
December 29-- Despite reduced schedule, Inside Passage ridership up
December 24-- Tourism Prince Rupert / Chamber of Commerce speak out on Ferry Terminal Dispute NCR
December 23-- Alaska Ferry renovations shift from trade issue to political irritant  NCR
December 18-- More Canadian Anger Over "Buy America" Policy at Alaska's Prince Rupert Ferry Dock
December 17-- BC Ferries adjusts Thursday schedule owing to oncoming weather  NCR
December 17-- Canadian ambassador: Buy America restrictions on Prince Rupert ferry terminal unacceptable
December 16-- BC Ferries channels Santa, eliminates fuel surcharge as of Wednesday  NCR
December 7-- Northern Expedition schedule revised owing to weather  NCR

November 28-- Alaska Marine Highway Terminal renovations find a bit of international controversy  NCR
November 28-- North Coast MLA finds success in bid to remove extra charge on BC Ferries for wheel chair users NCR
November 25-- MLA Raises issues of wheelchair fees on BC Ferries  NCR
November 25-- AMHS Terminal project on the radar for Canadian Business Group  NCR

September 27-- B. C.'s transportation minister reveals a heart of Stone over impact of high ferry fares
September 26-- Province floats gas tax shift to ferries
September 25-- Discussion on BC Ferries issues highlights gap between Province and coastal communities  NCR
September 22-- BC Ferries converting Spirit Class vessels to LNG
September 22-- Switching to liquefied natural gas could save millions for B. C. Ferries
September 22-- Ferries to be converted to use LNG
September 12-- New BC Ferries report highlights cost to economy of recent fare increases/service changes  NCR
September 10-- Ferry Fare Hikes Killed $2.3 Billion in Economic Activity: Report
September 10-- Ferry fares' ripple effect hurts economy: study
September 8-- Regional District issues call for Nomination of Directors to the BC Ferry Authority  NCR
September 2-- Bleak summer for coastal ferry remake

August

August 25-- DOT draft plan calls for fewer Prince Rupert trips
August 22-- Alaska Transportation planners look to road-and-ferry solution in SE

July 

July 21-- Traffic up on Northern Adventure, down on Kwuna
July 11-- Tourism operators in the Bella Coola Valley say they've had hundreds of cancellations due to B. C. Ferry cuts (audio)
July 10-- Mechanical difficulties put Northern Adventure behind schedule  NCR

June

June 30-- BC Ferry issues of concern to Interior tourism officials  NCR
June 23-- Alaska Marine Highway Terminal Plan moves forward with release of Environmental Management Plan  NCR
June 19-- BC Ferries to expand sailings for summer... for southern routes  NCR


May

May 21-- Todd is the stone in the North Coast's shoe
May 21-- Ferry traffic drops to Haida Gwaii
May 21-- Haida Gwaii feeling the impact of ferry cuts
May 16-- Northern Communities concerned Ferry Cuts will affect Tourism (video)
May 14-- Hey Victoria, this is our highway!
May 14-- Prince Rupert businesses losing out as space limited on Haida Gwaii ferry
May 14-- Regional District seeks alternate ferry service between Sandspit and Skidegate
May 8-- Space on Haida Gwaii bound Northern Adventure hard to come by  NCR
May 5-- MLA Rice highlights Ferry issues for Haida Gwaii in Legislature  NCR

April

April 22-- BC Ferries Service Reductions Take Away from Haida Gwaii Students Sports and Clubs
April 4-- MLA Rice raises Highway 16 and Ferries issues in Thursday morning session NCR
April 1-- Ferry Advisory Committee outlines "three realities" for Province regarding BC Ferry service NCR

March

March 31-- Inland support continues for bid to reverse proposed Ferry Cuts  NCR
March 30-- History exposes transport minister's claim about our ocean highways
March 28-- Snapshots from the City's Ferry Study  NCR
March 26-- Alaska Marine Highway System signs 50 year lease for Fairview Terminal NCR
March 25-- Ferry cuts to aboriginal tourism route will go forward, minister says
March 25-- Pressure on to Restore Northern BC Ferries routes
March 25-- Fraser Fort George RD opposes cuts to BC Ferries Services
March 24-- B. C. Ferry cuts set tourism efforts adrift
March 24-- BC Ferries cuts leave aboriginal tourism under dark cloud
March 17-- BC Ferries' Discovery Coast debacle turns into pure farce
March 12-- City of Prince Rupert's Ferry Study highlighted in Legislature debate on Ferry Cuts NCR
March 11-- Why is Victoria willing to sink a $1 billion tourism industry
March 10-- Ferry Cuts to be felt downstream
March 10-- Building more Ferries in BC would benefit the local economy: report
March 9-- Protest against BC Ferries planned for Tuesday in Victoria
March 6-- Bill would cut Alaska Ferry workers' salaries
March 6-- Study shows BC Ferries Service Cuts will impact Northern BC tourism
March 5-- Northern Ferry route cuts threaten tourism across the province
March 5-- Report prepared by City of Prince Rupert shows ferry cuts could close businesses
March 4-- Northern Ferry route cuts threaten tourism across the province
March 3-- Ferry cutback proposals may undercut British Columbia Tourism ambitions  NCR
March 3-- B. C. government committed to Discover Coast Circle Tour
March 1-- Take the Circle Tour of Embarrassment

February

February 28-- Ferry to be upgraded for Circle Tours 
February 28-- BC Ferries austerity program is based on false assumptions
February 28-- With survey in hand, the Mayor heads off to the BC Ferries Committee  NCR
February 27-- Minister says Ferry Cuts Going Ahead
February 19-- Who is charting the course for BC Ferries
February 19-- Rupert Ferry Comments (video)
February 18-- BC Ferries a bloated, inefficient and recessionary drag on the province
February 18-- BC Ferries warned service cuts could hurt tourism
February 17-- Mayor looks to add Municipal representation to Ferry Cutback response NCR
February 14-- BC Ferries math doesn't add up
February 12-- BC Ferries wants input on service cut options
February 12-- Ferry releases proposed schedules, seeks comments
February 12-- Cuts looming, ferry traffic surging
February 7-- Rising B. C. Ferry fares and service cuts an 'economic' disaster
February 7-- Liberals unlikely to suffer backlash from BC Ferries cuts
February 7-- MP to meet with Federal Minister on Ferry Cuts
February 7-- Cullen on Ferry Cuts (video)
February 6-- Full Speed Ahead for BC Ferries Northern Route cuts  NCR
February 5-- Province Steams ahead with Ferry Cuts
February 5-- Little relief for Haida Gwaii in Minister Stone's announcement
February 5-- Rumours of saved sailings in Sandspit

January 

January 27-- North Coast Ferry Users Worry Medical Care will be Slashed with the Ferry Service Cuts
January 27-- North Coast Health Needs (video)
January 25-- Northern Adventure returns from refit, Northern Expedition heads in for one  NCR
January 24-- NDP send out an SOS on Ferry Services  NCR
January 24-- Northern Adventure Back Saturday
January 24-- Alaska Ferry Matanuska in Ketchikan for repairs
January 23-- Rice Asks Residents to Write to NDP about the Affects of Ferry Cuts on the North Coast
January 23-- Rice on Ferry Cuts (video)
January 22-- Ridership drops on Inside Passage (N View e edition pg A9)
January 22-- BC Ferries pricing themselves out of the market
January 17-- Ferry Protest Rally Saturday
January 13-- Ferry cuts to have major negative economic impact: report
January 13-- Severe Weather Forecast results in Sailing Cancellation for Northern Expedition  NCR
January 13-- Upgrade underway at Skidegate Ferry Terminal
January 10-- Ferry Traffic rebounds 
January 8-- Minister Stone still not available to talk Ferries
January 7-- BC Ferries outlines Schedule for All Native Tournament NCR
January 6-- Northern Routes spared BC Ferries increase in Fuel surcharge NCR


Archive of items from 2013 and 2012 can be found here.

Arriving storm to have impact on BC Ferries, with Delayed sailing for Northern Adventure Thursday

As we outlined on the blog earlier today, Haida Gwaii and the North Coast are about to feel the effects of the first major scale windstorm of the fall season, with winds anticipated to gust towards 100 km/h before the system abates on Thursday afternoon,

You can review our item on the weather system here and access updates to the situation from the Environment Canada weather website here.

With the wind however will come a service interruption to the BC Ferry schedule, with BC Ferries issuing an advisory on Wednesday night that Northern Adventure sailing schedule will be modified over the next few days owing to the Severe Weather situation.

Details on that modified schedule can be found below.

For further updates on the BC Ferries schedule consult their twitter feed or  the Service Notices feature on their website.

Coastal Ferries Consultation set to begin

The province of British Columbia is about to launch a nearly two month long consultation process into the long-term sustainability of the provinces coastal transportation network.

The public sessions get underway on November 6th in Sandspit, where a three hour open house is planned for the Sandsipt Community Centre, other sessions are planned for Haida Gwaii in Queen Charlotte City on November 7th and in Masset on November 8th.

The consultations then move across Hecate Strait with a two hour  Small Group Meeting session planned for Prince Rupert at the North Coast Convention Centre on November 9th.

The remainder of the schedule will go up and down the coast from Victoria to Port Hardy and many communities in between, on both the west and east sides of the Strait of Georgia.

Some background on the sessions can be found from the website dedicated to their efforts, it includes a comprehensive schedule of all the sessions and their locations.

The province is seeking solutions to the challenge of the running the ferry service, considering ways to make the service more financially self sufficient, a process that among other prospects, would seem to include the reduction of some runs up and down the coast.

BC Ferries is facing a crisis situation with higher costs, lower ridership and what seems to be an unsustainable financial picture.

So far BC Ferries has chopped 15 million dollars in costs and service cuts, but still needs to revisit all of their financial options.

One thing that seems certain, just injecting more provincial cash into the service isn't in the future, at least that's what one can glean from the final comment of the Documents and FAQ section of the consultation's web page, which offers up this telling Q and A :

Why doesn't the provincial government add an additional $26 million? 

There is a need to address the $26 million shortfall, the system overall is facing rising costs and declining ridership. Even with financial support, the service cannot continue at its present level or current prices without a significant adjustment.

Of particular interest to residents of the North Coast and Haida Gwaii will be the current financials on routes that run from Prince Rupert, Port Hardy and Skidegate, the northern runs are the most expensive of all the routes currently in place with BC Ferries, with losses of 28.6 million on the Port Hardy to Prince Rupert route and 24.2 million on the Prince Rupert to Skidegate run.

The two northern routes are not alone,  only two main routes to the south turn a profit, all other runs on the BC Ferry schedule lose money and run at far less than capacity. The Prince Rupert to Port Hardy run for instance only runs at a 40 percent capacity and features a subsidy of over 2,000 dollars per vehicle.

They are all routes that clearly can't be financed at the same level of service, on a fare based prospect alone.

Key to the discussions will be the ability of local users, residents and politicians to impress upon the consultation  panel of the importance to the region of ferry transportation and the need to find a financial blue print that allows that service to remain a vibrant part of the transportation network of the north.

For those that can't attend the public sessions, the Consultation process has made allowances for submissions by Internet, you can weigh into the discussion from this link.

The CBC provided a helpful backgrounder on the purpose of these sessions, which you can view below.
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Some other reaction and background on the consultation process can be found below.

The Tyee-- BC Government asking public where to cut ferry service
QCIobserver-- Government begins open consultation on future of coastal ferries
Vancouver Sun-- BC Ferries riders asked for ideas of most pain-free cuts to aid money losing service
Victoria Times-Colonist-- B. C. Ferries studies which routes to cut
CBC.ca-- BC Ferries public hearings to focus on costs, services
CTVBC.ca-- Province seeks public input on BC Ferries

Negative reviews from some for BC Ferries fare increase plans

Earlier this week BC Ferries was given approval by the BC Ferries Commission to implement a fare increase totalling 12 per cent over the next three years.  A move that as would be expected, isn't exactly getting almost a universal endorsement across those parts of the province that rely on ferry service.

The increases will come in yearly increments with 4.1 percent allowed on April 1, 2013, 4 percent on the same date one year later, followed by a 3.9 percent increase in 2015.

In a story in the Tyee, Andrew MacLeod outlines that since 2003 the cost of riding the B C Ferries has increased by 47 percent on the major routes and an astounding 80 percent on the Norther routes and other coastal routes.

And  as MacLeod details in his story, despite that cash injection its estimated that BC Ferries will still require some 54.2 million dollars in cuts over the four year performance term.

The latest increase to the cost of travel along the B. C. coast, comes amid concerns about the future of the service and the seemingly never ending spiral of costs associated with it.

Gary Coons, the outgoing NDP MLA for the North Coast (he will be retiring prior to the next election) and long time critic of the Liberals handling of the Ferries file, was, as could be imagined, less than impressed with the latest increase, offering up his thoughts that the increase will have a large impact on coastal communities.

At the heart of the discussion going forward will be the required decision as to whether BC Ferries is an essential transportation link for the province, requiring subsidies to keep it as affordable as possible, or if it is just another transportation option, one where the financial picture will ebb and flow with the marketplace it serves and dependant on a financial plan that can fund it.

The decision by the BC Ferries Commission is providing for much in the way of discussion this week over the fate of the Ferry Service, the recent developments can be found below.

The Northern View-- BC Ferry Commission releases decision on cap for price increases
Vancouver Sun-- B. C. Ferry Commission to allow rate hikes up to 12% over three years
Vancouver Sun-- Ferry rates are going up again. As they should
Vancouver Province-- BC Ferries to hike fares 12% over three years
Vancouver Province-- BC Ferries nets $3.3 million in first quarter earnings
Vancouver Province-- Latest ferry fare hikes make waves
Vancouver Province-- Bigger subsidy, not higher fares, needed
Vancouver Province-- B. C. Ferries more like 'boutique tourist operator' than service to core customers
CBC-- BC Ferries advisor slams fare hikes
CTV BC-- BC Ferries announces 12 per cent rate hike
CTV BC-- BC Ferries facing rough financial seas
National Post-- Nothing B. C. Ferries does will turn struggling ship around
Globe and Mail-- BC Ferries allowed to raise fares by 12 percent by 2015

Past North Coast Review Items on BC Ferries can be found below:

BC Ferries increase no April Fools Day joke

Background on previous items regarding the fate of BC Ferries can be found as follows:

The Northern View-- Ferry fare caps allow major hikes in years ahead
Vancouver Sun-- Ferries debate hinges on affordability
Vancouver Sun-- The future of B. C. Ferries: tough decisions needed to stay financially afloat
CTV BC-- BC Ferries cuts 98 sailings to reduce costs
The Tyee-- As BC Ferris lost money and traffic, executives got bonus bump
The Tyee-- Public ferry process aimed at finding $30 million in cuts, says minister
The Tyee-- More ferry consultation delays fixing problems: NDP's Coons
The Tyee-- BC Ferries passenger traffic dropped to lowest level in 21 years

BC Ferries delays Northern Adventure Sailing for Friday by 2 hours

BC Ferries has issued a Service Notice for passengers travelling aboard the Northern Expedition on Friday October 5, 2012.

Owing to what is described as an unforeseen operational issue, the Northern Expedition will be delaying its departure from Prince Rupert on Friday until 3 PM,  BC Ferries advises that the revised schedule will not affect arrival times to calls on the Mid-Coast or Port Hardy.

No details on the nature of those operational issues were provided in the Press Release, which was posted to the BC Ferries website on October 3rd.

Transportation on the North Coast-- BC Ferries / Alaska Marine Highway

Our Quick reference and archive of items pertaining to BC Ferries and the Alaska Marine Highway.

2013

December 18-- Momentum Building Against Ferry Cuts
December 18-- Regional District planning to participate in protest of ferry service cuts
December 17-- Mechanical issues have Northern Expedition running behind schedule   NCR
December 16-- Weather once again has impact on BC Ferries Schedule  NCR
December 14-- Severe Weather impacts BC Ferries schedule for Saturday  NCR
December 13-- Prince Rupert Council ready to take BC Ferries battle to the Premier  NCR
December 13-- Haida Gwaii united in opposition to BC Ferries proposed cuts
December 11-- Ferry Service Cuts will be Devastating, Coastal Communities tell B. C. Liberals
December 11-- BC Ferries open houses an insult
December 6-- Kwuna's return delayed
December 6-- BC Ferries told cuts unacceptable during open house in Prince Rupert
December 5-- BC Ferries Community Engagement session set for tonight in Prince Rupert  NCR

November 28-- Central Coast residents try to save ferry service
November 27-- NDP weigh in with rebuke of Ferry plans by Government  NCR
November 27-- Ferry cuts a slap in the face
November 26-- North Coast residents can share their BC Ferries thoughts in December NCR
November 26-- Regional district taking concerns about ferry cuts to Premier Clark
November 20-- North Coast leaders react to BC Ferry cuts
November 18-- North Coast route reductions among BC Ferries Cuts announced today  NCR
November 18-- Ferry Cuts to Hit Haida Gwaii hard

October 25-- Ferry Advisory Committee calls Ferry Funding issue an "unnecessary crisis"  NCR
October 9-- Active-shooter drill planned on AMHS Ferry Matanuska

September 11-- Southeast Alaska residents weigh in on Draft AMHS ferry schedule

August 20-- Ongoing bonuses at BC Ferries send 'wrong message'
August 20-- B. C. Ferries top executives hit the jackpot ... again

July 15-- Latest AMHS shuttle ferry plan closes car deck

May 31-- AMHS Driver discount gone after winter 2014

April 18-- Alaska invites us up for a visit NCR
April 18-- Floating a new Ferries strategy NCR
April 17-- BC Ferries Hold Off on Service Reductions
April 15-- Planned ferry reductions put on hold until next March
April 15-- Cruising for crisis: report (audio)
April 11-- Service Cuts to Northern BC Ferry routes to be delayed until 2014 NCR

March 21-- A summer sail on the North Coast with BC Ferries NCR
March 13-- Ferry report a 'waste of time, waste of money': Gary Coons
March 6-- Fare increases on the way for BC Ferries users NCR
March 5-- BC Ferries consultation report released NCR

February 21-- Stormy weather leads to BC Ferry Sailing Cancellation NCR
February 17-- BC Ferries gains 20 percent reduction on Terminal Taxation NCR
February 15-- PR Ferry Tax (video)
February 15-- BC Ferries Reach a Property Tax Agreement
February 4-- BC Ferries announces Sailing Delay in effect for Monday  night for Northern Expedition NCR

January 29-- 50 years of North - South travel commemorated NCR
January 11-- Six month trial ahead in Queen of the North Sinking NCR

2012

December 8-- SE leaders concerned about ferry plan change (audio)
November 28-- Ferries Fuel Surcharges Dropped
November 27-- BC Ferries Reassessment (video)
November 23-- Ferry traffic rebounding
November 23-- BC Ferries to appeal value of Prince Rupert terminal
November 14-- Please take time to fill out this BC Ferries survey (Northern View e edition pg 8)
November 11-- Northwest Transportation issues on City Council's Agenda
October 30-- Coastal Ferries Consultation set to begin
October 4-- Negative reviews from some for BC Ferries fare increase plans
October 3-- BC Ferries delays Northern Adventure sailing for Friday by 2 hours
August 16-- Captain Monaghan to the bridge!
August 2-- Alaska moves forward with AMHS Terminal rebuild plans in Prince Rupert
March 28-- BC Ferries increase no April Fools Day joke

2011

February 4-- BC Ferries seeking massive ferry rate increases