DrT
April 22nd, 2009, 09:11 PM
This would be very cool. A similar ferry link between Rochester, NY and Toronto did not work out mostly due to haggling between governments over paying for customs facilities. No such problem here though.
From yesterday's Vancouver Sun:
Fast ferry needs input to float
Website survey key to landing $150 million for harbour project
By Carla Wilson, Times ColonistApril 21, 2009.
A survey is being conducted with hopes of targeting potential riders of a proposed high-speed ferry service between Victoria and Vancouver that would cost $150 million to start running.
Results from the survey are key to securing required funding for the 90-minute service on 500-passenger ferries, said Don Stein, founder and CEO of Nautisol marine and aeronautical solutions.
"I have three major foreign groups ready to give me the $150 million," Stein said yesterday. He would not provide details.
"This is just a sweet project for this region."
The survey was posted on his website last week and has garnered 400 responses, he said. It will run until the second week in May and Stein said the vast majority of respondents have been favourable.
It would be a tourist draw and bolster the local economy. Conference organizers in Vancouver could send hundreds of delegates to Victoria using this service, Stein said.
If all goes according to plan, two 50-metre-long, hybrid hovercraft-catamaran ferries would be built in Vancouver and launched late next year, he said. A third ferry, possibly serving Nanaimo or used on the main run during busy times, would be launched six months later.
A one-way fare would be $50. A business-class ticket would be $85 and provide work stations and mini-conference areas, Stein said. The first ferry of the day would depart at 7 a.m. Ferries would have wireless Internet service.
The vessels would offer a comfortable ride, he said, responding to a question about seasickness on catamarans. Based on blueprints from Norway, the vessels could operate most days in our waters, Stein said. "It's the smoothest technology on the planet."
These ferries would operate out of floating terminals in the harbours of each city, Stein said. The Victoria terminal would be in the Inner Harbour "front row centre" but he would not give the location or say whether he has a signed lease.
The issue of marinas is a sensitive one in Victoria, where controversy is flaring over the merits of a proposal for a marina for mega yachts in front of the Songhees neighbourhood.
Plans call for ferries to run six times daily, each way, Stein said, predicting that they would carry about one million passengers a year.
Today's changing economy has prompted people to look at existing costs to travel between the cities and at how much their time is worth, Stein said.
Car ferries aren't needed on ferry runs anymore, Stein said. People can use public transport. "This is what they do in Europe."
Stein dealt with the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority more than two years ago, promoting the idea of harbour-to-harbour service.
At that time, the harbour authority entered a six-month letter of understanding with Stein to put together a detailed business plan.
Paul Servos, harbour authority CEO, said the letter of understanding expired and the authority has not heard from Stein since May 2008.
Harbour-to-harbour service was tried in the early 1990s when Royal Sealink Express ran catamarans between the cities but the vessels were blamed for causing seasickness and the service was eventually halted.
Web survey is at: nautisol.com
From yesterday's Vancouver Sun:
Fast ferry needs input to float
Website survey key to landing $150 million for harbour project
By Carla Wilson, Times ColonistApril 21, 2009.
A survey is being conducted with hopes of targeting potential riders of a proposed high-speed ferry service between Victoria and Vancouver that would cost $150 million to start running.
Results from the survey are key to securing required funding for the 90-minute service on 500-passenger ferries, said Don Stein, founder and CEO of Nautisol marine and aeronautical solutions.
"I have three major foreign groups ready to give me the $150 million," Stein said yesterday. He would not provide details.
"This is just a sweet project for this region."
The survey was posted on his website last week and has garnered 400 responses, he said. It will run until the second week in May and Stein said the vast majority of respondents have been favourable.
It would be a tourist draw and bolster the local economy. Conference organizers in Vancouver could send hundreds of delegates to Victoria using this service, Stein said.
If all goes according to plan, two 50-metre-long, hybrid hovercraft-catamaran ferries would be built in Vancouver and launched late next year, he said. A third ferry, possibly serving Nanaimo or used on the main run during busy times, would be launched six months later.
A one-way fare would be $50. A business-class ticket would be $85 and provide work stations and mini-conference areas, Stein said. The first ferry of the day would depart at 7 a.m. Ferries would have wireless Internet service.
The vessels would offer a comfortable ride, he said, responding to a question about seasickness on catamarans. Based on blueprints from Norway, the vessels could operate most days in our waters, Stein said. "It's the smoothest technology on the planet."
These ferries would operate out of floating terminals in the harbours of each city, Stein said. The Victoria terminal would be in the Inner Harbour "front row centre" but he would not give the location or say whether he has a signed lease.
The issue of marinas is a sensitive one in Victoria, where controversy is flaring over the merits of a proposal for a marina for mega yachts in front of the Songhees neighbourhood.
Plans call for ferries to run six times daily, each way, Stein said, predicting that they would carry about one million passengers a year.
Today's changing economy has prompted people to look at existing costs to travel between the cities and at how much their time is worth, Stein said.
Car ferries aren't needed on ferry runs anymore, Stein said. People can use public transport. "This is what they do in Europe."
Stein dealt with the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority more than two years ago, promoting the idea of harbour-to-harbour service.
At that time, the harbour authority entered a six-month letter of understanding with Stein to put together a detailed business plan.
Paul Servos, harbour authority CEO, said the letter of understanding expired and the authority has not heard from Stein since May 2008.
Harbour-to-harbour service was tried in the early 1990s when Royal Sealink Express ran catamarans between the cities but the vessels were blamed for causing seasickness and the service was eventually halted.
Web survey is at: nautisol.com