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Horseshoe Bay News

06 Jun 2016

BC Ferry Cancellations After Truck Gets Stuck on Ramp

A number of ferry sailings between Horseshoe Bay and Nanaimo have been cancelled after a semi truck got stuck on the loading ramp.   BC Ferries said the truck was boarding Sunday morning when it got stranded.  The truck got hung up on the ramp while it was loading on the 6:20 a.m. sailing at Horseshoe Bay, said spokeswoman Deborah Marshall.     Six sailings have been cancelled on the busy Sunday travel day, while BC Ferries works to bring in a replacement ferry.   According to BC Ferries, they had to wait for the tide to move the truck, which wasn't expected until 7 p.m.

28 Feb 2008

BC Ferries Releases 3Q Results

British Columbia Ferry Services Inc. quarter results for fiscal 2007/08. last year. Net earnings before extraordinary gain for the nine-month period ended December 30, 2007 were $67.7 million, down from $82.0 million for the same period in the previous year. of its fiscal year. maintenance and refits and to undertake mandatory inspections on the majority of its vessels. compared to the same period last year. $53.0 million to $448.8 million, compared to the nine months ended December 31, 2006. $172.0 million and $251.9 million in the nine months ended December 31, 2007. Super C-class vessels, the Coastal Renaissance, Coastal Inspiration and Coastal Celebration. BC Ferries’ President & CEO David L. Hahn. summer and fall of 2008, respectively.

12 Dec 2001

Pacificat Explorer Replaces Queen of Cowichan

On Wednesday, December 12 at 10:30 a.m. until late Saturday, December. 15, the PacifiCat Explorer will replace the Queen of Cowichan on the Departure Bay– Horseshoe Bay route to facilitate repairs on one of the Cowichan's four clutches. This temporary vessel deployment will not affect the scheduled sailing times. However, the PacifiCat is unable to accommodate commercial vehicles over 5500 kilograms gross vehicle weight or single-unit recreational vehicles over 28 ft. long. The Queen of Cowichan is expected to be back in service late Saturday December 15.

08 Aug 2002

BC Ferries to Issue Request for Expressions of Interest

BC Ferries is issuing a Request for Expressions of Interest—both locally and internationally—for the construction of a new, intermediate-size ferry. route, which has a ferry crossing of approximately 20 minutes. shortlist of qualified ship builders. for the construction of the new vessel, which will carry approximately 125 vehicles. able to facilitate quick loading and unloading of vehicles. to handle the peak traffic demand on this route. and the Queen of Tsawwassen during the summer months. expensive to maintain. Tsawwassen. retired and put up for sale in 2001.

21 Sep 2004

Flensburger Wins Canadian Ferry Contract

A contract to build three double-ended RoRo Ferries for the Canadian Shipping Company British Columbia Ferry Services Inc. has been won by Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft. The total value of the contracts is approximately $325 million Canadian. The new ships are called “Super C-class” type. BC Ferries´ specification for the new Super C-class vessels, which are planned to operate on BC Ferries´ Horseshoe Bay-Departure Bay, and Swartz Bay-Tsawwassen routes, are for 160 m vessels that can accommodate 370 vehicles and up to 1,650 passengers.

01 Jul 2005

Ferry Loses Power and Runs Aground

Queen of Oak Bay, a ferry operated by BC Ferries and sails between Departure Bay and Horseshoe Bay, ran aground while approaching Horseshoe Bay, British Columbia. The vessel drifted into Sewell’s Marina, damaging several boats. Preliminary reports are that the vessel lost power. An investigation is currently underway. Emergency-response divers have completed their work at the grounding site of the Queen of Oak Bay. No injuries have been reported. Emergency and regulatory authorities have been contacted. Tugs are standing by and passengers onboard the Queen of Oak Bay will be released as soon as possible. BC Ferries’ President and CEO, David L. Hahn, is onsite to speak to customers and inspect the vessel.

04 Sep 2007

BC Ferries Launches Another Vessel

The hull and superstructure of BC Ferries’ Coastal Inspiration was officially launched at a special ceremony today in Flensburg, Germany. The ship is the second in a series of three new vessels being built at FSG Shipyards, and is expected to be completed in early 2008. The keel of the third Super C-class vessel, Coastal Celebration will be laid in Germany, and during the third week of September, the first vessel, Coastal Renaissance will set sail for British Columbia. The Super C-class vessels will be the largest double-ended ferries in the world. Each will carry 370 vehicles and 1650 passengers. Passengers will find more space, more comfortable seating and better viewing areas on the two passenger decks of these ships than on any other passenger ferries.

16 Aug 2007

New BC Ferries Vessels to Set Sail Next Month

BC Ferries is pleased said that preparations for the arrival of its new Super C-class ferries is proceeding according to plan. All three new vessels are on schedule and under budget. The first of the new vessels, the Coastal Renaissance, will depart the shipyard in Flensburg, Germany amid international fanfare on September 21. BC Ferries will be hosting a special British Columbia barbecue at the shipyard to mark this major milestone of the first new Super C-class being completed and ready for delivery to British Columbia. The program for these ships has received broader focus following the announcement in June that each of the three Super Cs will be outfitted with customized graphics promoting the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

18 Jul 2007

Queen of Oak Bay Returns to Service

The Queen of Oak Bay is scheduled to return to service on BC Ferries’ Horseshoe Bay – Departure Bay route on July 20, 2007. Repairs to a gear box are expected to be complete on Thursday, July 19, 2007, and after a full inspection by Transport Canada representatives, the vessel will undergo vigorous sea trials before returning to full service. The Queen of Esquimalt will provide extra service to both the Horseshoe Bay – Langdale and Horseshoe Bay – Departure Bay routes on July 19, 2007. BC Ferries’ full summer schedule on both of these routes will resume on July 20.

11 Jan 2007

Construction Begins on BC Ferries New Vessel

BC Ferries announced that construction has begun on the second of the company’s next generation Super C-class vessels at Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft shipyards. Coastal Inspiration is the second in a series of three new double-ended ferries that will arrive in B.C. in late 2007 and early 2008. Construction of the first vessel, Coastal Renaissance started in August 2006 and construction of a third vessel, Coastal Celebration is expected to begin in April 2007. When completed, the Super C-class vessels will be the largest double-ended ferries in the world, featuring two passenger decks providing an unprecedented travel experience for BC Ferries customers.

12 Oct 2006

Work Begins on Ferry Terminals

The News Bulletin said that ferry passengers heading to Vancouver via Departure Bay and returning from Horseshoe Bay may experience some short delays over the next nine months as both terminals undergo major renovations. The work is necessary to accommodate new state-of-the-art Super C-class vessels, the first of which is slated to sail the Strait of Georgia in late 2007. The twin upgrades, costing $28m, will create alternating berth closures at both terminals. After work on berth 2 is complete, berth 3 will get a refit. Three Super-C class ships - Coastal Renaissance, Coastal Inspiration and Coastal Celebration - are expected to be in full operation by the summer of 2008.

30 Aug 2006

Construction Begins on New Super C-Class Ferries

After nearly two years of design work and testing, B.C. Ferries began the construction of the new Super C-class vessel, Coastal Renaissance, on August 30 at Flensburger Schiffbau – Gesellschaft Shipyards (FSG), in northern Germany. The event was marked by a steel cutting ceremony involving representatives from BC Ferries and the shipyard. The Super C-class vessels are expected to be the most advanced vessels in the BC Ferries fleet. They will feature a diesel-electric propulsion system that is the largest and most fuel efficient of its kind and are designed to be the largest double-ended ferries in the world. The three 160 m, 21,980 gross ton vessels will be built from 88 large steel sections at Flensburger’s shipbuilding facility.

28 Jun 2006

BC Ferries Vessel Ready After Upgrade

BC Ferries' Queen of Surrey returns to service today on the Langdale – Horseshoe Bay route following a $40m extensive upgrade. The vessel’s extensive upgrade included mechanical and safety improvements, as well as upgraded passenger amenities. This mid-life upgrade which took almost seven months to complete, will prepare the 25-year old vessel for another 20 years of service. Some of the major project work included, main engine and shaft upgrades, steel replacement, electrical upgrades, installation of new emergency evacuation equipment, modernization of service functions such as elevators, heating and ventilation and air conditioning systems.

18 Dec 2002

Coquitlam Begins Upgrade

The Queen of Coquitlam left for Vancouver Drydock this morning to begin a major upgrade as part of a strategy to improve operational efficiency on the services between Horseshoe Bay and Nanaimo. The Washington Marine Group of Vancouver was awarded the contract to upgrade the 26-year-old Queen of Coquitlam following an international competitive bidding process. The Queen of Coquitlam, built in 1976, is one of five double-ended vessels that operate on major routes between Vancouver Island and the Mainland. The vessel will undergo extraordinary maintenance, regulatory compliance modifications and renovation of the restaurant and passenger accommodation to prepare the vessel for an additional 20 years of service.

28 Jan 2003

Pacificat Trials For Potential Buyers

BC Ferries’ PacifiCat Explorer will be operated on limited trials between the end of January and early March to enable interested buyers to experience the vessels in operation. The trials will be conducted between Departure Bay and Horseshoe Bay and will be open to legitimate, potential bidders only. Interested buyers must contact Ritchie Bros. at (604) 273-7564 to participate in the trials. Additional trials will also be made available to registered bidders who have made a deposit of $2 million US. On January 9, BC Ferries announced that Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers had been selected to sell the three PacifiCat fast ferries at an international unreserved auction in Vancouver on March 24, 2003. Marine consultant, Stephen Phillips, managing director of Seaspeed Technology Limited, of the U.K.

17 Aug 1999

Are Fast Ferries Too Fast?

British Columbia's fast ferries may be too fast for their own good, according to CANOE columnist Jim Hume. The British Columbia Ferry Corporation first sailed The Explorer on June 17, 1999, with regular service from Vancouver Island (Nanaimo) to Mainland (Horseshoe Bay) starting July 1. While the fast-cats can operate faster than traditional ferries, they are currently only shaving off 14 minutes of their scheduled run, not the 25 minutes promised. It turns out when the fast boat operates at top speeds in the confined waters of its scheduled route, it raises six-ft. waves along the shore. Additionally, high-speed fast ferry Snohomish, built by Dakota Creek Industries, Inc.

14 Jan 2000

One PacifiCat Delivered; One in Dry Dock

Following a phasing-in period last year, PacifiCat Explorer became the first vessel out of Departure Bay in the morning, and the last one out of Horseshoe Bay at the end of the day. Now, BC Ferries has brought PacifiCat Discovery, its second fast ferry, into action on the crossing between Nanaimo and West Vancouver. As Discovery was delivered, Explorer went into dry dock for scheduled maintenance work. Pacificat sailing times will change because Discovery will be the lead vessel out of Horseshoe Bay. Once Explorer is out of dry dock, both will become the primary vessels on BC Ferries' Horseshoe Bay-Departure Bay route, with conventional ships brought on for supplementary sailings at peak travel times.

27 Jan 2000

Vessels Change on Route

A conventional ferry will replace one of the PacifiCats on the Horseshoe Bay-Departure Bay route starting February 1 to allow the fast ferries to be phased in more gradually, BC Ferries' board chair Michael Francis and president Bob Lingwood announced. The BC Ferries' board of directors has reviewed the fast ferry implementation program, taking into account concerns of reliability, customer issues and financial considerations. As a result, the corporation's board approved a plan to bring these vessels into service more gradually. The PacifiCats' operational issues have lessened over the past few weeks; however, it is important the vessels demonstrate more reliability before they resume full service.

14 Jan 2000

BC Ferries Commissions Second PacifiCat

BC Ferries' second fast ferry, PacifiCat Discovery, was officially commissioned at a ceremony attended by Gordon Wilson, minister responsible for BC Ferries; Michael Francis, chair of BC Ferries' board of directors; and Bob Lingwood, president and CEO. The second PacifiCat delivers considerable cost savings and construction efficiencies compared with the first PacifiCat. Discovery was completed eight months faster and cost $10 million less than the first vessel. PacifiCat Discovery will begin scheduled service as the lead vessel out of Horseshoe Bay. At the same time, PacifiCat Explorer will enter dry dock for scheduled maintenance work. During the busy Christmas period, the two fast ferries and a conventional vessel will be in service on the Departure Bay-Horseshoe Bay route. On Jan.

14 Jan 2000

Terminal Improvement Plan Presented

A draft long-term plan for terminal improvements at Horseshoe Bay was presented by BC Ferries president & CEO Bob Lingwood at a public council meeting in West Vancouver. · A terminal maintenance facility beside Berth 3. "We've put a great deal of effort into addressing the concerns expressed by the community, while meeting the corporation's operating requirements at Horseshoe Bay," said Lingwood. "This plan represents a long-term solution to the lack of terminal space at Horseshoe Bay and the need for improved safety and traffic flow.

02 Mar 2000

BC Ferries Announces Schedule Changes

Effective Feb. 1, travellers using the Horseshoe Bay-Departure Bay route will be able to choose either a PacifiCat or a conventional vessel, BC Ferries' President and CEO Bob Lingwood said. The conventional vessel's return to the route will mean trucks, buses and longer recreational vehicles will once again be carried between Horseshoe Bay and Nanaimo. This service will be offered on a revised schedule for the rest of this calendar year during the gradual phase-in of the PacifiCats. In addition, assured loading tickets will again be accepted on this route effective March 15. Assured loading tickets on the Horseshoe Bay-Departure Bay route were discontinued at the end of June in anticipation of fast-ferry-only service and expanded reservations…