Metro Vancouver & Interregional Passenger Ferry Service Discussion

[Migrant_Coconut]

It might be viable for HB in conjunction with the Purple Line, if it could get all-day half-hourly service... but that's unlikely to happen. Tourists and vacationers are also willing to pay a lot more than 9 to 5 commuters.

[jollyburger]

Sthuqi left dry dock and is running scheduled runs today

[jollyburger]

Hullo's CEO left, looking for a new CEO

https://www.biv.com/news/transportation/...s-down-interim-leader-appointed-10635836

[logan5]

OH MY GOD!! Hullo is going bankrupt.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by logan5

oh my god!! Hullo is going bankrupt.

^^ True!!!!!! Are you allowed to release that confidential information!??!?!??!?!?!

[jollyburger]

Video of the most recent Hullo dry dock. You can see the damage from the log strike (?) The other ferry forum said the rumor mill suggests the Victoria expansion is coming soon.

• Video Link

[logan5]

I hope that rumour is true, but it seems like an awfully fast expansion. Hullo would have to buy at least 2 more boats, and that would only get you one sailing every 3 hours approximately, with a trip time in the 2 hour 20 min range, unless they get faster boats.

The fastest foot ferry currently in service is the HSC Francisco, a high-speed catamaran that reaches speeds of 58 knots (107 km/h; 67 mph). It operates between Buenos Aires and Montevideo, covering the 146-nautical-mile route in approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Yeah, if they're already bleeding money, it doesn't make sense to bleed even more money. The V2V before them didn't have much success on that route either.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

Yeah, if they're already bleeding money, it doesn't make sense to bleed even more money. The V2V before them didn't have much success on that route either.

Well the infrastructure fund partner raised 1 billion CAD last year so they seem well funded to spend a hundred million or so on 2-4 more ships.

I wonder how they would price the tickets though. Would it be around $100 for their cheapest seats?

[mcj]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

Well the infrastructure fund partner raised 1 billion CAD last year so they seem well funded to spend a hundred million or so on 2-4 more ships.

I wonder how they would price the tickets though. Would it be around $100 for their cheapest seats?

At that point they'll really be competing with Harbour Air/Helijet for their non-cheapest seats. I would have expected Gibsons/Sechelt as the next stop.

[jollyburger]

Also when the CEO quit earlier this month they gave an updated passenger count.

As of early this month, Dermody says Hullo Ferries has recorded over 700,000 passengers since its launch — an achievement he describes as “amazing,” highlighting the company is “definitely on the ridership curve” of growth.

And expansion

“Now I think what we need to do is just take a step back, enjoy the successes, and then look at how we stabilize the operation, ramp up our commercial curve, and then look for the next exciting route, which we’re all super excited about,” Dermody told Daily Hive Urbanized during the interview.

When asked, Dermody said that while the expansion has yet to receive approval from the company’s board of directors, he reaffirmed that expanding into more markets has always been a core part of Hullo Ferries’ strategy — with the acquisition of additional vessels seen as a key step toward enabling that growth.

But he also emphasized that further fine-tuning and operational optimization are needed before any expansion can proceed — work he intends to focus on during his interim leadership.

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/hullo-ferries-ceo-new-leadership-search

[RedArbutus]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

Also when the CEO quit earlier this month they gave an updated passenger count.



And expansion







https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/hullo-ferries-ceo-new-leadership-search

I'm assuming he's just being coy in CEO-speak when he says "the next exciting route". Is there anywhere else they would conceivably expand to other than Vancouver Harbour to Victoria Harbour?

[logan5]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

Well the infrastructure fund partner raised 1 billion CAD last year so they seem well funded to spend a hundred million or so on 2-4 more ships.

I wonder how they would price the tickets though. Would it be around $100 for their cheapest seats?

It's twice the distance of the Nanaimo route, which is 40$, so at most a Victoria ticket would be 80$, but there are probly costs outside of just fuel and wages to cover a longer voyage that would be the same as the Nanaimo route - docking fees or things of that nature, so maybe a Victoria ticket for 60 to 70 dollars.

Victoria is 4 times the size of Nanaimo, so there is potentially 4 times the number of passengers, so economies of scale could mean a lower cost per passenger, which would reduce ticket prices.

Originally Posted by mcj

At that point they'll really be competing with Harbour Air/Helijet for their non-cheapest seats. I would have expected Gibsons/Sechelt as the next stop.

I looked it up and the cheapest seat, one way to Victoria on Friday June 6 is $380. Monday to Thursday ticket prices range from $100 to $140. Friday June 13, it's $180 for the cheapest seat. These prices are for "Light", where you can have 10 pounds or less of baggage. It would be considerably cheaper and more convenient to take a Hullo ferry to Victoria, where you can take luggage with no cost penalty and get the same price no matter when you book a ticket.

[csbvan]

A little over 2 hours from Downtown Vancouver to Downtown Victoria, at less than $80 each way? I would finally make it over to Victoria as much as I would like. I never go now and it's only because of lack of convenience (or Harbour Air being too pricey to justify).

[Migrant_Coconut]

AFAIK Vancouver-Victoria traffic falls into two categories: enough time and no money, or enough money and no time.

Is there enough of a missing middle to make "3/4ths the trip length for 4x the fare" worth it? So far, there isn't even enough to make the Nanaimo route break even: 700k riders over ~28 months works out to 800-900/day... or about 60 a sailing.

[madog222]

I think it would likely be around a 2:45 voyage.

[Changing City]

Another new ferry operator preparing to enter the water. Greenline (linked to Victoria's Clipper operation) are showcasing the Artemis all electric ferry technology that they propose to operate between Vancouver, Gibsons and Bowen Island in 2027. They've already operated the first demonstration [Global TV] [CTV] of a smaller vessel in Victoria on Monday, built by the Belfast builder.

June 20: Vancouver Demonstration Voyages

June 21: Bowen Island Demonstration Voyages

June 22: Gibsons Demonstration Voyages

Vancouver City Council approved the operating earlier this year. The ferries will recharge from a barge/dock with the necessary charging equipment.

[jollyburger]

It just took them 6.5 hours to get from Victoria to Salt Spring Island

(They sailed most of the trip for 5kts and did two 25kts runs right before docking. Not sure if it's because they can't recharge in Salt Spring)

Thank you Victoria! After a successful day of tours and trials, we are enroute to Salt Spring Island for a stop over. See you soon Vancouver!

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/capt-darr...ul-day-activity-7340764917521596416-3Lfm

[logan5]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

It just took them 6.5 hours to get from Victoria to Salt Spring Island

(They sailed most of the trip for 5kts and did two 25kts runs right before docking. Not sure if it's because they can't recharge in Salt Spring)



https://www.linkedin.com/posts/capt-darr...ul-day-activity-7340764917521596416-3Lfm

They'll be bankrupt in 6 months!.

[Migrant_Coconut]

The Bowen dock is at a campsite on the south end of the island rather than Snug Cove. One way or another, that one's not going to be a long-term solution.