Skip to content

Ferry woes can be solved

NANAIMO – Best way to reduce costs is to move the Nanaimo B.C. Ferries terminals to the southeast side of Gabriola Island.

To the Editor,

The best way to reduce costs is to move the Nanaimo B.C. Ferries terminals to the southeast side of Gabriola Island.

This cuts the distance and travel time in half and reduces fuel and can increase the sailings per vessel.

Tsawwassen terminal is one of the most efficient in the world and the most logical choice – the shortest distance to Swartz Bay.

It was cheap to build as no land aquisitions were required. Sand was pumped from the ocean floor to create the island, enough to build the causeway and highway connecting the terminal to the freeway.

When they needed more parking, just pump up more sand at minimal cost and no protests as happened in Horseshoe Bay.

A new terminal near Iona Island was considered, reducing traffic on the Lions Gate and Ironworkers Memorial bridges and the Massey Tunnel.

This could be the most desirable route for foot passengers. All this was the plan until a new government in power caved in to their friends on Gabriola, resulting in the inefficient mess we have today.

There are a lot of efficiences of scale at Tsawwassen; when a ferry leaves the shore crew  do not have long to wait for another one as they do now.

During July and August, up to 25 people are directing traffic on city streets near Departure Bay.

Unused terminals can be sold as prime waterfront land. Truck ferries might find Duke Point better than downtown Nanaimo.

Departure Bay could become a shipyard, replacing some of our aging C-class vessels that have served us so well, creating jobs here rather than offshore.

Who knows – we might get all-night service again.

Ray Roy

Nanaimo