New boat, New paint, New rates!

BC Ferries didn’t wait long to drop the other shoe, after the long awaited announcement of a replacement vessel for the Queen of the North. With the ink barely dry on the transfer papers and the Sonia on its way to Victoria for a minor refit, before taking up here duties, BC Ferries announced that oh, by the way it’s going to cost 4.4 per cent more to sail those coastal waters in 2007.

Now true they will hold off on until October 1 of 2007, before Northern route users have to pay the increased rate, but considering the state of the ferry service this past season, the increase will still stick in the craw of many of the ferry service users in the North.

The Northern routes increase follows a general across the board rate increase that went into effect on November 1, including a 2.8 per cent increase on the three major routes between the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island.

As well the current fuel surcharges will remain in place for the foreseeable future, despite the fact that price of fuel has actually dropped significantly over the last few months. BC Ferries still owes over $30 million dollars in something called a fuel deferral account, and that has to be paid off before they can consider removing or reducing the fuel surcharge. Or so the PR spin goes from the Ferries head office, one would not necessarily be called a cynic if they suggested that the chance of the fuel surcharge being reduced or removed any time in the near future, is rather slim.

The Daily News had a full report on the front page of Wednesday’s paper with full details on the rate hike.

ANOTHER FERRY FARE HIKE ON THE HORIZON FOR TRAVELLERS
But BC Ferries will wait a year to bring in 4.4 per cent hike on northern routes
By Patrick Witwicki
The Daily News
Wednesday, November 1, 2006
Pages one and three

Fares are going up again for B. C. Ferries, but the northern routes have been left alone for the moment.

As of Nov. 1, fares will increase by an average of 2.8 per cent on the three major routes connecting Vancouver Island, and an average of 4.4 per cent on the remaining routes.

However, there will be no fare increase for the two major North Coast routes p Prince Rupert to Skidegate (and return), and Prince Rupert to Port Hardy (and return) for now. The increase will take effect until Oct 1, 2007.

“That’s traditionally what we’ve done in the past,” said B. C. Ferries spokesperson Deborah Marshall. “It gives tour operators time to book in advance.”

“They usually work at least a year in ahead, booking those tours.”

Tourism on the North Coast was severely affected by the sinking of the Queen of the North in March, and although B. C. Ferries recently purchased the MV Sonia as a replacement for the sunken vessel, it also made sense to leave the fares where they were for another full year, said Marshall.

The only slight increase that affects the North is the Skidegate-Alliford Bay (return) rate on Haida Gwaii, that goes up 60 cents per vehicle, and 25 per passenger.

The current fuel surcharges on B. C. Ferries trips will remain in place for the time being, however.

The cost of fuel has dropped significantly during the past two months, but it will be some time before B. C. Ferries can remove that fuel surcharge from the cost of a ticket, said Marshall.

“We have a fuel deferral account,” she said. “And there’s an outstanding balance of over $20 million that we still have to pay off.”

Once that amount is paid off, then B. C. Ferries can look at either removing or reducing the fuel surcharge, she said.

“It’s something we would like to do,” said Marshall. “But we can’t do it until that (20 million) is paid off.

“With the price of gas dropping like it has , it helps us pay it off quicker.”

Currently, it costs $62 for an adult passenger to travel from Prince Rupert to Port Hardy (or reverse) and $146 for an undersize vehicle, although that price will be $83 and $193 respectively for the “shoulder season” (Dec 1`5-Jan 7, and March 8-May 17). The fuel surcharges stand at $16.20 per passenger, and $34.10 per vehicle.

For the Rupert to Skidegate run (or reverse), it currently costs $22.50 for an adult passenger and %83.25 for an undersize vehicle. The fuel surcharges for the Charlottes run are $3.95 per passenger and $14.65 per vehicle.