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Captains Log, August 2, 2007…
The Daily News has caught up to the Podunkian entry of July 17th and the latest developments at BC Ferries.
A couple of weeks ago through the Queen Charlotte Islands Observer we found word of a new GPS based tracking system.
Thursday’s paper features a front page story on the new system by BC Ferries and how the Ferry Corporation hopes to use it to keep customers informed.
FERRY USERS CAN NOW CHART VESSELS’ PROGRESS ONLINE
BC Ferries sharing GPS information in bid to keep their customers informed
By Christian Webber
The Daily News
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Pages one and two
You can now track the course and speed of the Northern Adventure and Queen of Prince Rupert on the BC Ferries website, along with every other ferry from here to Victoria.
The tracking system was implemented in the Victoria area about a year ago and customers have found it quite interesting, said B. C. Ferries spokesperson Deborah Marshall, so the company has implemented the program in Northern B. C. as well.
The system is run entirely by Global Positioning System (GPS), right now they are being used on the Northern Adventure, the Queen of Prince Rupert and the Queen of Chilliwack.
Marshall said the company hopes to extend the GPS system to the vessel that operates between Alfred Bay and Skidegate.
“I think it is a point of interest for the customers, they can see where the vessel is heading, what time it departed which is also a big feature too,” said Marshall.
The northern runs have been viewable on line at http://orca.bcferries.com:8080/cc/conditions/maps.a.sp%20since%20July%2024.
The program us being run off the Transas satellite, it is a company that provides electronic marine charts for BC Ferries. The cost to BC Ferries is unknown but Marshall said the service is being welcomed by the 135,000 visitors each week to the BC Ferries website.
“It was something we hade internally and we figured it was something our customers might be interested in, and they certainly are,” she said.
The site is updated every minute and tracks the location of ferries from Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen, Horseshoe Bay to Bowen Island, Swartz Bay to the Southern Gulf Islands, Tsawwasseen to the Southern Gulf Islands, Tsawwassen to Duke Point, Horseshoe Bay to Langdale, Swartz Bay to Fulford and Northern routes.
“I think it is a valuable service for people, if they have access to computers,” said MLA Gary Coons.
Coons said that ever since BC Ferries stopped allowing local customer service agents to field telephone calls, replacing them with a call centre in Victoria, people have been out of touch.
He said having the new GPS system used on the major routes to the south is making sure we keep up with the times.
As technology advances, GPS is being used in many ways, from vehicles to hand-held, and Coons said people increasingly expect it to be used.
“It gives you a good idea that it is on its way because quite often the communications have been very minimal with the contact out of Victoria,” added Coons.
Coons said that although it is good to make the most of available technology, it is also crucial to have knowledgeable and helpful people available on the other end of the phone. He said B. C. Ferries still needs to work on its communications around northern routes.
“In the North, what happens is it is weather dependent, especially in the winter, and in Massett looking at the ferry to Skidegate,” said Coons.
The Daily News has caught up to the Podunkian entry of July 17th and the latest developments at BC Ferries.
A couple of weeks ago through the Queen Charlotte Islands Observer we found word of a new GPS based tracking system.
Thursday’s paper features a front page story on the new system by BC Ferries and how the Ferry Corporation hopes to use it to keep customers informed.
FERRY USERS CAN NOW CHART VESSELS’ PROGRESS ONLINE
BC Ferries sharing GPS information in bid to keep their customers informed
By Christian Webber
The Daily News
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Pages one and two
You can now track the course and speed of the Northern Adventure and Queen of Prince Rupert on the BC Ferries website, along with every other ferry from here to Victoria.
The tracking system was implemented in the Victoria area about a year ago and customers have found it quite interesting, said B. C. Ferries spokesperson Deborah Marshall, so the company has implemented the program in Northern B. C. as well.
The system is run entirely by Global Positioning System (GPS), right now they are being used on the Northern Adventure, the Queen of Prince Rupert and the Queen of Chilliwack.
Marshall said the company hopes to extend the GPS system to the vessel that operates between Alfred Bay and Skidegate.
“I think it is a point of interest for the customers, they can see where the vessel is heading, what time it departed which is also a big feature too,” said Marshall.
The northern runs have been viewable on line at http://orca.bcferries.com:8080/cc/conditions/maps.a.sp%20since%20July%2024.
The program us being run off the Transas satellite, it is a company that provides electronic marine charts for BC Ferries. The cost to BC Ferries is unknown but Marshall said the service is being welcomed by the 135,000 visitors each week to the BC Ferries website.
“It was something we hade internally and we figured it was something our customers might be interested in, and they certainly are,” she said.
The site is updated every minute and tracks the location of ferries from Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen, Horseshoe Bay to Bowen Island, Swartz Bay to the Southern Gulf Islands, Tsawwasseen to the Southern Gulf Islands, Tsawwassen to Duke Point, Horseshoe Bay to Langdale, Swartz Bay to Fulford and Northern routes.
“I think it is a valuable service for people, if they have access to computers,” said MLA Gary Coons.
Coons said that ever since BC Ferries stopped allowing local customer service agents to field telephone calls, replacing them with a call centre in Victoria, people have been out of touch.
He said having the new GPS system used on the major routes to the south is making sure we keep up with the times.
As technology advances, GPS is being used in many ways, from vehicles to hand-held, and Coons said people increasingly expect it to be used.
“It gives you a good idea that it is on its way because quite often the communications have been very minimal with the contact out of Victoria,” added Coons.
Coons said that although it is good to make the most of available technology, it is also crucial to have knowledgeable and helpful people available on the other end of the phone. He said B. C. Ferries still needs to work on its communications around northern routes.
“In the North, what happens is it is weather dependent, especially in the winter, and in Massett looking at the ferry to Skidegate,” said Coons.
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