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Bay Ferries News

26 Jan 2023

Interview: Brendan Smith, President, Seaward Services

Brendan Smith (Photo: Seaward Services)

Brendan Smith brings more than a decade of maritime experience to his role as president of Seaward Services, a marine services company specializing in the operation, maintenance and repair of government and privately owned vessels. The company is part of the Hornblower Group.During his 6.5 years with the U.S. Navy, he served aboard the nuclear-powered submarine USS Santa Fe, and his roles included chemistry and radiological controls assistant (CRA), quality assurance officer (QAO) and combat operations instructor.

16 Aug 2017

Detyens Sees Uptick in International Repair Work

Photo: Detyens Shipyards, Inc

International vessels have been trading in the Port of Charleston, S.C. for centuries. While Charleston is the sixth largest container port in the U.S., it is also home to Detyens Shipyards, Inc (DSI). In the past several years, DSI has seen an increase in the number of dry dock inquiries and bookings from International vessel operators. “In the last two quarters, we’ve dry docked eight internationally owned and operated vessels,” explained Peter Browne, Vice President of Estimating.

01 Jun 2016

Ferry Refit: The CAT Floats Again

The Cat as she was about to exit drydock following an extensive refit (Photo: Bay Ferries Limited)

The CAT high-speed ferry has been refloated following an extensive refit, upgrades and repairs at Detyens Shipyard in Charleston, S.C., which began in early April. Following the refloating, final work, including completion of regulatory inspections and dock and sea trials, will be undertaken before the vessel departs South Carolina for Yarmouth and Portland. The final schedule for the vessel's northern voyage has not yet been set. The vessel, under charter by Bay Ferries Limited from the U.S.

29 Jan 2015

Maintenance Woes Led to Digby Ferry Grounding

Maintenance deficiencies and lack of adequate emergency procedures led to the November 7, 2013 loss of electrical power and grounding of the passenger ferry Princess of Acadia in Digby, Nova Scotia, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) found in its report, M13M0287. The incident caused no injuries or pollution. According to TSB, Princess of Acadia was approaching the ferry terminal at Digby, Nova Scotia with 87 passengers and crew aboard. In preparation for docking, as the bow thruster was started, the main generator blacked out causing a loss of electrical power and disabling the main propeller pitch control pumps. Once the pitch control pumps stopped…

16 Jul 2014

Canadian Ferries Welcome Govt. Funding

Photo: CFOA

The Canadian Ferry Operators Association (CFOA) welcomed today’s announcement of $58 million over two years to support ferries in Eastern Canada. “We are happy to see the government reaffirming its commitment to Canada’s ferries. This is a step in the right direction,” said Serge Buy, CEO of CFOA. This funding will help support ferry operations and assets for three interprovincial ferries: Saint John, NB / Digby, NS (operated by Bay Ferries Ltd); Wood Islands, PEI / Caribou, NS (operated by Northumberland Ferries Ltd) and Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC / Souris, PEI (Operated by C.T.M.A.

24 Jun 2013

Veteran Nova Scotia Ferry to be Replaced

MV Princess of Acadia: Photo credit Wiki CCL

Government of Canada to invest in replacement of 'MV Princess of Acadia' for Digby to Saint John ferry service. The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Member of Parliament for Central Nova; Greg Kerr, Member of Parliament for West Nova; and Rodney Weston, Member of Parliament for Saint John, have announced that the Government of Canada will invest in a replacement vessel for the federally-owned MV Princess of Acadia. Travelling the 70 kilometres between Digby…

12 Oct 2011

WETA Awarded Blue & Gold Fleet Five-Year Contract

Water Emergency Transportation Authority Awards Ferry Operating Contract to Blue & Gold Fleet. At its October 6 Board of Directors meeting, the San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) awarded Blue & Gold Fleet ("B&GF") a five-year contract for the operation of WETA's San Francisco Bay Ferry services. San Francisco Bay Ferry, which recently assumed operation of the Alameda/Oakland and Harbor Bay Ferries, provides daily commute and excursion service between Alameda, Oakland, San Francisco, and Harbor Bay. In early 2012, San Francisco Bay Ferry plans to launch new ferry service between South San Francisco and the East Bay and to assume operation of the City of Vallejo's Baylink ferry operating between Vallejo and San Francisco.

15 Apr 2009

WETA Solicits Public Input on Ferry Transition

Under new state legislation passed last year the San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) was charged with consolidating City of Alameda and City of Vallejo ferry services and all planned public transportation ferries under WETA. WETA also has expanded responsibility for coordinating emergency response activities for public waterborne transit services. These responsibilities are to be carried out in accordance with a Transition Plan and an Emergency Water Transportation System Management Plan. WETA is required to create and adopt both plans by July 1, 2009 and to take public input prior to their adoption.

30 Nov 2001

The Cat Completes Record Canada-Australia Passage

A new record for the fastest sea passage between Canada’s East Coast and Australia has been established by the Incat’s The Cat. The Cat set out on her 10,294 nautical miles passage to Hobart, Tasmania from Nova Scotia’s Bay of Fundy on November 13. Just 15 days, two hours and 30 minutes later the craft was safely alongside at Incat’s shipyard in Hobart. The first leg of the voyage, a distance of 2,238 nautical miles averaging an impressive 37.5 knots, was completed on November 15 when The Cat arrived at the Panama Canal. The next stage of the voyage, 4,500 nautical miles at an average speed of 26.47 knots, was accomplished when the craft arrived at Tahiti on 23 November.

29 Jul 1999

Maritime Education On The Upswing

The pressures - political, financial and environmental -to ensure onboard personnel are skillfully trained at operating increasingly complex vessels is tremendous. Simply stated, vessel owners and operators must employ increasingly advanced training courses - both system- and vessel-specific - as well as general courses, in order to avoid costly accidents and litigation. In just the past few years, mariners have proven these courses work, as the amount of oil spilled into the sea has decreased dramatically. According to the USCG, in 1990, tankbarges moved 72 billion gallons of oil, spilling 992,000 gallons, or one-one millionth of a percent.

13 Jan 2005

‘The Cat’ Starts Trinidad to Tobago Service

Incat Australia announced that the fast ferry, ‘The Cat’, has been Time Chartered by Bay Ferries of Canada to the Port Authority of Trinidad & Tobago. ‘The Cat’, which operates on the 85 nautical mile route between Port of Spain and Scarborough, entered commercial service on January 10, 2005. After more than three years of investigating tonnage options, involving the Tobago House of Assembly, the Port Authority of Trinidad & Tobago, the Ministry of Transport and Works, the Government Shipping Service and several technical sub committees…

13 Jan 2005

Incat-Built Fast Ferry Begins Service

Incat Australia announced that the fast ferry, ‘The Cat’, has been Time Chartered by Bay Ferries of Canada to the Port Authority of Trinidad & Tobago. ‘The Cat’, which operates on the 85 nautical mile route between Port of Spain and Scarborough, entered commercial service on the January 10. After more than three years of investigating tonnage options, involving the Tobago House of Assembly, the Port Authority of Trinidad & Tobago, the Ministry of Transport and Works, the Government Shipping Service and several technical sub committees…

02 Feb 2007

Trinidad & Tobago Purchases Second Incat

The government of Trinidad & Tobago has purchased its second Incat Wave Piercing Catamaran in as many months. The former US Army Theatre Support Vessel Spearhead (Hull 060) has been purchased from its Delaware, United States based Owners, Bollinger / Incat LLC. To that end the four-year-old fast ferry, to be renamed T&T Spirit, is currently being refitted for passenger service after a well documented career with the US Army. When she emerges from her refit at Incat’s Hobart shipyard T&T Spirit will be sporting a new white hull along with the Trinidad & Tobago national colours of red, white and black on its sides. Recently, the Port Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (PATT) purchased the Incat 91 metre Wave Piercing Catamaran The Lynx in a $21m deal with Australian owner Allco Finance Group.

29 Sep 2006

Bay Ferries Thrown a Lifeline

According to reports, Ottawa and the province of Nova Scotia will hand over a combined $6m to keep the vital Bay of Fundy cargo ferry service afloat. Nova Scotia Premier Rodney MacDonald announced a $2m lifeline to Bay Ferries Ltd. in order to keep the Digby-Saint John cargo service operating, reports the Halifax Chronicle Herald. That's on top of the $4 million Ottawa says it will kick-in. New Brunswick is also expected to contribute. The government money is a short-term solution to keep the ferry sailing while a long-term solution is developed, MacDonald added. In July, Bay Ferries announced skyrocketing fuel costs, a drop in tourism and forestry exports, were forcing the company to anchor its service permanently.

06 Jul 2006

Bay of Fundy Ferry Service to End

Bay Ferries Ltd. announced on June 30 that the Princess of Acadia will make its final three-hour trip between Digby and Saint John, N.B., on Oct. 31.High fuel prices and declining tourist and commercial traffic were among factors in the decision, the company said in a news release. Local government officials are working together to find a way to maintain the area’s ferry service. Many officials are expected to travel to Halifax for talks with cabinet ministers and, possibly, the premier, with the hope that the Bay Ferries decision can be reversed if there is some financial help from the federal government. At the legislature, Premier Rodney MacDonald said the government is playing an active role in finding a solution, although that won’t include an operating subsidy from taxpayers.

16 Jan 2006

Rochester Ferry Contracts May Cost $3.1M

Rochester city officials estimate that they will need $3.1 million to buy out existing high-speed ferry contracts or continue them if necessary, according to legislation before City Council, according to the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle. The amount is included in an expense list justifying the mayor’s request to borrow $9.4 million from the city insurance reserve and close out ferry operations. Other expenses include repaying manager Bay Ferries Great Lakes LLC, which is owed $2.5 million; payments on the $40 million borrowed to buy the ship and begin operations last year; and maintenance, personnel and insurance until the ship is sold. The latter expenses are just an estimate and assume that the boat will be here through the fall.

23 Nov 2005

Bay Ferries to Pay $75,000 Fines

The company that operates the high-speed ferry the CAT has been fined $75,000 for failing to protect the health and safety of passengers and workers by not ensuring its passenger gangway was inspected and maintained, according to a CBC News report. Bay Ferries pleaded guilty to the charges under the Canada Labor Code. They stem from an incident on June 25, 2002, when the passenger gangway collapsed at the terminal in Yarmouth just as the high-speed ferry from Maine was being unloaded. Three workers who were preparing to attach the gangway to the ferry were injured when they fell, crashing 10 meters to the ground. Because of the injuries, the company must also pay more than $11,000 in victim fine surcharges. Source: CBC News

08 Aug 2001

Bollinger INCAT USA -- Marking Its Territory

Known for its sleek, fast and high-performance wave-piercing catamarans, Incat Australia expanded its reach to U.S. shores with its decision last year to partner with Lockport, La.,-based Bollinger Shipyards for the construction and design of a new breed of high speed, aluminum fast craft for operation in the U.S. Wanting to break into the U.S. military market, Bollinger Incat USA is poised to establish a new breed of fast ferry construction that will meet the needs of the U.S military forces. The company also plans to position its vessels as a means to alleviate traffic on highways with its plan for high-speed, high-performance freight vessels, which will be able to carry a mix of semi-trailers and freight vehicles.

19 Oct 2005

Broken Fuel Line Cancels Ferry Promo Trip

According to News10 NBC, Rochester's fast ferry ran into some problems on Lake Ontario Tuesday causing the cancellation of a planned trip. Bay Ferries officials’ say the fast ferry was on a special promotional trip to Toronto and halfway through the trip, the captain decided to turn the ship around and head back to the Port of Rochester. Officials say high waves on Lake Ontario affected a fuel line Monday and that caused the ship not to have full power on its trip Tuesday. Crewmembers also reported 12-ft. swells on the lake. Because of the weather conditions and the fuel line problem, the captain made the decision to return to port. The fuel line is being replaced. “It is unfortunate.