The quest by B. C. Ferries to replace the sunken Queen of the North is progressing on at a seemingly glacial speed, as discussions to acquire the Sonia to be the next coastal connector gets down to the fine print and possibly that fine art of playing one bid up against the other. According to the front page story in the Daily News on Friday, some sources are suggesting that another company is bidding to purchase the Sonia, possibly driving up the price in the process.
Regardless of what is really the reason, the grand announcement by B. C. Ferries of a replacement acquisition has been pushed back at least a week. In addition to the possible purchase of the Sonia, the Ferry Corporation is working on a plan B, possibly The Atlantic Traveller, that will ensure that a vessel is on the coast by the New Year.
The way the Sonia saga has dragged on, Plan B may quickly move into Plan A status.
The Daily News had the latest episode of Everyone loves Sonia, under the masthead in its Friday edition.
SONIA DEAL AFLOAT BUT DELAYED SAYS FERRIES
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Friday August 25, 2006
Page One
On the day that B. C. Ferries was hoping to announce the purchase of a new northern vessel, the company has pushed back its deadline by at least a week and is continuing to tout a ‘Plan B’.
Ferries stakeholders were told yesterday that the company hoped to complete the purchase of the 117-metre Sonia by noon today.
The ship is currently managed by TTT Tomasos Transport and Tourism, part of Italy’s Tomasos Group, and is based in Spain.
“We are still doing final negotiations and just waiting for some paperwork, “ said Deborah Marshall, B. C. Ferries spokesperson this morning.
She said the company hopes to make an announcement within the next week.
Some sources have suggested another company is also bidding to purchase the Sonia, potentially driving up the price. However, Prince Rupert Mayor Herb Pond says he’s been told it has more to do with tracking down the appropriate people.
“My understand is they are very, very close and that their perception of the challenge of closing this deal has far more to do with European approaches to summer vacation.
“The people they are dealing with are in Italy and it’s summer.”
During yesterday’s stakeholder conference call, B. C. Ferries said again that they do have a ‘Plan B’ to provide full service next summer.
“The one thing David Hahn has always stressed is they do have a Plan B. they have a chartered vessel they are going to hold to it … until they have a chartered vessel in hand,” said Pond.
North Coast MLA Gary Coons said the second option that has been discussed would be a lease arrangement.
“Plan B was to go with a vessel that listed in their search report to the B. C. Ferries Commissioner,” said Coons.
“The Atlantic Traveller”
In the report, B. C. Ferries had three top choices listed, the Sonia, as their second choice, the Atlantic Traveller, their third choice, and their first choice, the Nissos Mykonos.
“I don’t know the total plan for Plan B but I would suggest it would require a new build (in the long run,)” said Coons. “The timeline for this is very disturbing for us.”
According to the B. C. Ferry Commissioners report, the Sonia would be more costly to operate over the long term than building a new ship but would cost less initially and solve the immediate need for vessel on the Inside Passage.
“When all costs of putting this (used) vessel into service were considered, including modifications to the vessel and to the terminal facilities, its cost is estimated at $204 million, including $33.4 million for terminal capital expenditures,” wrote Martin Crilly, the B. C. Ferry Commissioner in his report.
“The operating costs were expected to be much higher than for a new vessel.”
The cost to construct a new vessel was estimated to be around $233 million, however over 40 years it would cost $35 million less to operate a new vessel, he said.
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