"Two (2) assigned ferries quite often ensures one (1) operating ferry"

What a two (2) ferry system means to Bell Islanders.

The 2-vessel year round ferry system for Bell Island introduced several years is the foundation of Bell Island's economy. It is the Province's only commuting worker ferry system and in 2005 over 500 Bell Islanders were approved and registered for commuter passes and thus were gainfully employed off Bell Island. Another 550 jobs were sustained on Bell Island including 75 at the local fish plant. The annual income generated by Bell Islanders now exceeds $30,000,000 annually per Revenue Canada.

The approximate net Provincial subsidy for the 8-person crew of the second vessel Beaumont Hamel is around $1,500,000. The annual second ferry subsidy is around $1,500 per employed person. On the other hand it costs Government upwards of $10,000 per year to sustain a family man on Government income support, which would likely be where a fair number would have to rely to sustain them if not for the second ferry. Welfare dependency is down significantly since the 2-ferry system was introduced.

Bell Islanders are grateful to Government for sustaining and improving the second ferry system. The economy is bustling. Tourism is surging with over 40,00O non-resident visitors in 2005 with record numbers close to 20,000 visiting the mine museum and tour this year. Over 225,000 round trips are made on the Bell Island ferry annually representing close to 50% of all ferry traffic on all services in the Province.

Since the second ferry system was introduced the number of unemployed now commuting to either permanent or seasonal work has increased to over 500 from levels around 300. People are investing in upgrading their properties and houses are retailing for record prices and many are choosing to locate or relocate on Bell Island.
The second ferry is Bell Island's lifeline

When is a second ferry system really only a one-ferry system? - Commuter impacts

A two-ferry system ensures you have a good chance that one ferry will actually operate on any given day. With union contract restrictions, hours of rest rules, federal regulations, ferry breakdowns, excess peak period traffic emergency overnight ferry runs and refits etc quite often only one ferry operates. If the availability of the second ferry was not assured than the "commuter worker system" is out the window with upwards of 500 job losses.

Bell Island commuters arise as early as 430am to ready themselves for the first of 5 workday early morning crossings on the 2 ferries if both are running. These 5 crossings before 830 am have a capacity for 150 vehicles. For the self employed, sales people and workers at small job sites etc having a car means having or not having a job. Having to pay $20.00 a day to taxi to and from the ferry is not viable for someone making $6.50 an hour. $50.00 a day a retail store.

When one ferry is out because of breakdowns or overnight medical emergencies causing one ferry to be tied up the capacity is 100 vehicles. The drivers of these 100 vehicles are mostly commuters and regular user shave to wait for later trips. With as many as 300 or more crossing to work in the early morning, one can easily see foot passengers and car-pooling are in effect.

These commuter trips are virtually full weekday mornings and often cars are left not accommodated especially when there is only one ferry operating. The end result in a one ferry system is that workers are under stress as they are late for work or cannot get to work at all with only one ferry which for several reason mentioned may not make early morning crossings. Bosses become upset, discipline and in some cases threaten to fire or release workers or force workers to either relocate to the City region or overnight their cars in Portugal Cove.

Consequences/Impacts to commuters:

Medical overnight emergencies average 30 per year and in a one vessel system the morning ferry is delayed until the crews get a 6-hour period of consecutive rest.

On average the ferries a re out of service for maintenance for 1 to 2 days per month and in a one-vessel system this means no ferry.

Ina one-vessel system workers are up as early as 430 am and due to peak evening return traffic may not home until as late as 8 pm and for others not get their cars home at all. It is not uncommon in a one-ferry system to have long evening line-ups of cars and 4 3hour waits and not uncommon to see 50 or more vehicles forced to overnight in the Mainland terminal denying workers of use of their cars at home in the nighttimes on Bell Island.

A one-vessel system means there is no backup if the main ferry is not operating and thus no service, no work etc.>

Business impacts of a one-vessel service

The ability of businesses to have their employees and products travel with minimal line-ups and waits for ferries is compromised when only one ferry operates.

At noontime especially in a one-ferry system there is a major break in service at noon hour. If one cannot be accommodated on say the 12-noon crossing to Bell Island than a driver and vehicle are tied up at significant expense for almost 3 hours for the 240 pm crossing. The same holds true foe the Bell Island side.

A One-ferry system is a disincentive to do business on Bell Island and makes it very difficult to attract new business.

Delivery trucks and other truck suppliers etc cost to do business is negatively impacted when one has to wait long hours in a one ferry system.

The fish plant is particularly impacted with one ferry as they often have perishable product hung up in the line-ups while a production crew is at duty and idle waiting for product to process linger than necessary.

One ferry system causes major frustrations and hardship to regular users

With Bell Island having no banking the two ferries system year round was a saviour. One cannot make a bank deposit on Bell Island and a one-ferry system is just not workable.

Many people rely on the mainland travel for medical visits shopping needs and other personal business and pone ferry just creates havoc and is especially difficult on seniors having to wait in line especially at peak periods.

Visitors to Bell Island are most likely to turnaround and abandon their trip when confronted with long lines in the one ferry system.



Government Impacts-Extra costs and support for rural Newfoundland

When only one ferry operates Government in order tom cope with traffic has to engage the remaining ferry to operate extra trips and incur significant overtime and call out pay for longer days for the crew. The second ferry allows Government to not have to incur overtime and the late evening callout trip-4.5 hours pay each day.

Additionally when the one ferry is operating flat out there is little time for maintenance etc and eventually the penny rich pound foolish motto comes into play with expensive repairs and frustrating breakdowns.

A sustained done ferry system will ferry system drive many out of the workforce creating pressures on Government's social programs and especially much higher dependency on Income support programs for those who cannot maintain jobs with the lack of dependability of a one ferry system. Each 100 less working and dependent on income support is $1,000,000 out of pocket for Government.

While in winter time the mid day trips may not be to full capacity collective agreements require a continuous 12 hours of consecutive pay such that the ferry crew cannot come in for 3 hours peak period, come in to provide the lunch service and then return a third time for the evening peak period and then return again to make the late evening run. All transportation systems have early morning and evening peak periods but therefore run below capacity during the day

If Government does not fund a second ferry it is a strong signal that rural Newfoundland and renewal in rural Newfoundland are not priorities. THE MARCH TO RESETTLEMENT!

COMMITMENT TO MARINE TRANSPORTATION-MISSION AND VALUES

Our Provincial Government may wish to consider adopting the BC Ferries Corporation vision and mission statement and its stated values.

OUR MISSION;
To provide a safe, reliable and efficient ferry service, which consistently exceeds expectations of our customers and communities and creates value for the shareholders.

OUR VALUES:

SAFETY:

QUALITY:

INTEGRITY:

ENVIRONMENT:

PARTNERSHIPS:
Work openly and constructively with our various business and community stakeholders to exceed expectations of our customers and advance ach others interests.

These are worthy and reasonable goals

ONE LARGE FERRY LIKE FOGO ISLAND'S FERRY IS NOT THE ANSWER:

• One large ferry of 65 vehicles to possibly replace 2 vessels is not an option.
• One large ferry means no ferry when it is broken down
• One large ferry means no ferry from 1200 noon to 200 pm daily as the one crew must take their paid meal hour and the second ferry is not available to be staggered.
• One large ferry means when it is on refit a smaller ferry only would be available to replace it.
• One large ferry means significant dock and dredging work to accommodate it and more crewmembers to run it.
• One large ferry means no back up ferry/
• One large ferry means no morning service when the crew have their 6 hours of rest disturbed by an overnight emergency call and thus there is no second ferry to full in.
  
  
  

SUMMARY:

A reliable 2-vessel service to Newfoundland's only commuter worker service on Bell Island is crucial to Bell Island's economic survival and the employment prospects of its citizens.

A one-vessel service cannot support the 500 working commuters, cannot provide morning service when there are medical emergencies overnight that delay commuter worker early morning ferry departures, cannot handle peak and evening morning peak period traffic, creates disincentives for visitors, tourists to travel to Bell Island, discourages businesses and runs up extra business costs due to long line-ups and extra long due hour tie-ups.

The two-vessel service ensures that most of the time there is one vessel operating.

The two-vessel service has revived Bell Island's economy and put Bell Island back in business.

The one vessel service in a worker-commuting environment is not workable and a recipe for resettlement and abandonment of Bell Island.

A sum of $1,500,000 invested for the second ferry subsidy to sustain jobs for 1000 Bell Islanders is a winner