one-of-bc-ferries-busiest-vessels-taken-out-of-service-for-6-months
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One of BC Ferries busiest vessels taken out of service for 6 months

ByEmma Crawford

Posted September 7, 2024 1:24 pm. Last Updated September 7, 2024 1:30 pm. The Queen of New Westminster, one of BC Ferries’ busiest vessels, will be out of service for approximately six months, the company says. The vessel services the Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay sailing — BC Ferries’ busiest route. Earlier this week, the company announced the 60-year-old vessel was being pulled due to mechanical vessels after one of its propellers was sheared off, leading to the cancellation of all the ship’s sailings for the rest of the month. “A preliminary visual inspection seems to indicate the fracture of the propeller shaft could be related to structural fatigue,” BC Ferries said. “The required repairs are anticipated to be significant and include work on both the port and starboard propeller systems before the vessel can be returned to service.” The affected parts need to replaced by specially manufactured systems. Return to service will be reliant on “global parts availability and manufacturing timelines.” “This situation highlights the clear need for resiliency in our fleet to meet customer expectations, and it’s why we will be seeking approval from the Ferry Commissioner to build and add a net new vessel to our major routes,” said BC Ferries president and CEO Nicolas Jimenez. “If we had a backup vessel available, this incident would have had minimal impact on service. It underscores the importance of our fleet renewal strategy to ensure we have the capacity and resilience to manage unexpected issues and vessel repairs.” Recovery of the 10,000-pound propeller, which was found half-submerged in the seabed, took two days. BC Ferries says it is still assessing the impact this will have on its sailing schedule. It says it is looking to see if it can add sailings by using other vessels and adjusting its refitting schedule. With files from Cole Schisler.

gas-prices-drop-across-lower-mainland;-report-suggests-change-related-to-trans-mountain-pipeline
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Gas prices drop across Lower Mainland; report suggests change related to Trans Mountain Pipeline

ByEmma Crawford

Posted August 24, 2024 5:01 pm. Last Updated August 24, 2024 5:02 pm. Drivers around the Lower Mainland in the last few days may have noticed the price of gas has dropped. Many reported seeing a gas station in East Vancouver sitting at 158.9 Friday, and according to GasBuddy, a station in Richmond went as low as 157.9 as of Saturday. GasBuddy shows that around this time last year, the price was around 205.2. A report issued by the C.D. Howe Institute this month suggests that falling prices are related to the completion of the Trans Mountain Pipeline (TMX) in May. More and more, the report says, supply being moved via rail has shifted to the pipeline — the less expensive option. The institute says that insufficient pipeline capacity prior to the completion of the TMX cost the average B.C. household over $1,000 per year. “B.C. gasoline consumption is generally around 1,100 litres per capita per year, and diesel consumption is around 900 litres per capita per year. Based on this, a rough calculation suggests that insufficient pipeline capacity costs the B.C. economy an average of around $500 per person per year. Since an average B.C. household consists of 2.4 people, the average household costs would be close to $1,200 per household per year,” the report says. “This is a remarkable burden, particularly given the recent inflationary issues in Canada.”