Re: Comparing BC's ferry services to those of the U.S.

[JM]

"(ಠ_ಠ) " wrote:
> Look very closely at the section dealing with the salaries of their
> CEOs.
> ________________________________________________________________________
>
> http://news.nationalpost.com/ | October 10, 2014
>
> Tired of skyrocketing ferry costs, B.C. ferry users grow envious of
> 'no frills' service provided by U.S. neighbours
>



[...]


>
> Staffing was also an issue, noted Mr. Corrigan. Transport Canada
> forces BC Ferries to carry abnormally large amounts of crew. While a
> 2000-passenger Washington State Ferry can take to the sea with only
> 14 crewmembers, a similar-sized B.C. Ferry will carry 48 staff.
>

[...]


>
> Mr. Corrigan, for instance, took home $563,000 in 2013. The wage is
> far less than the $1-million paid to his predecessor, David Hahn -
> but nearly quadruple the $152,000 paid to the head of Washington
> State Ferries.

[...]



Agreed that the remuneration of the CEO could be seen as extremely
generous.
Agreed also that the requirement of Transport Canada -- 48 mainly
unionized crew for 2000 passengers vs. 14 (maybe or maybe not union)
for the same amount of passengers on the Washington State Ferries --
does make an enormous difference.

Furthermore, I do remember having read somewhere -- although, very
honestly said, I could not find any source to that effect, but I still
do remember having read it -- that any x-minute delay [I think the "x"
was 10 minutes; someone correct me if I'm wrong] in either departing
or landing time of any given sailing would kick off automatic overtime
or some kind of premium for the whole unionized crew. That could
translate as very big bucks.

[Király]

In van.general "(?_?) " <Pa...@nyet.ca> wrote:
> Ferries, the Americans run a ferry system that carries the same number of
> passengers in the same waters - and all for a fraction of the cost.

"Same waters" is a falsehood. Washington State Ferries' major routes
go across Puget Sound. Drivers have an alternative to them; driving the
long way around through Tacoma, which I did once when there was a 4
sailing wait for the Edmonds-Kingston route. WSF has to keep fares low
or people will just drive.

There's no "long way around" to drive between the Lower Mainland,
Sunshine, Coast, or Vancouver Island. The ferries are the only game in
town, and so BC Ferries can charge whatever they want. I'm not saying
that is right, or that BC Ferries management even knows what it is
doing. I'm just saying that comparing BCF to WSF is comparing apples to
oranges.

--
K.

Lang may your lum reek.