A private commuter ferry will launch 6 a.m. sharp Tuesday morning from military property in Colwood as the Blue Boat service sails into the sunset.
The Baseline ferry service will shuttle civilian and military Department of National Defence staff across Esquimalt harbour during morning and evening rush hours.
The 40-foot, 40 passenger boat Grey Selkie is scheduled to carry its first batch of customers on May 1 at 6 a.m. from the Colwood D jetty to Dockyard, offering a service similar to the Blue Boats. Grey Selkie will also stop at Naden during the day, timed to employee shift changes.
Barry Hobbis, owner of Victoria Harbour Ferry, which operates the Baseline, said he is happy to provide a shuttle service at a price comparable to bus transit. A one-way ride is $2.50.
B次元官网网址淭hat (cost) works for us and we think it will work for the riders,B次元官网网址� Hobbis said. B次元官网网址淲e worked with a number of individuals who ride the boats to ensure itB次元官网网址檚 affordable and it does what they need it to do. We tried to be careful and stay as close as reasonable with transit costs.B次元官网网址�
CFB Esquimalt decided to end the Blue Boat shuttle, first reported by the Victoria B次元官网网址 in early March, due to the struggle to find staff for the auxiliary fleet of tugs and fire boats. In operation since 1955, Blue Boats originally shipped personnel and equipment around base property in the harbour, but evolved into a popular, and free, commuter service.
About 400 military and civilian staff from the West Shore and Sooke used the ferry daily, and faced the prospect of joining the jam-packed Island Highway and Trans-Canada Highway starting May 1. Nearly 750 DND personnel responded to a survey supporting a private ferry.
B次元官网网址淚t appears to be a desired service. Many people told us point blank that they need it,B次元官网网址� Hobbis said.
In past months, Baseline ferry staff and its boat have been undergoing security and safety certification to work within DND property. A second boat is expected to enter operation mid May.
B次元官网网址淲e had to jump through a number of hoops to meet the requirements of Her Majesty the Queen,B次元官网网址� Hobbis said. B次元官网网址淭here was rigorous attention to detail. The base commander, Canex staff and our staff worked through it as an affective team.B次元官网网址�
In early April, Colwood entrepreneur Cynthia Cummings moved to launch a B次元官网网址淏lue BusB次元官网网址� service to transport DND personnel from Colwood to Dockyard, but that effort was cancelled in the wake of the ferry service.
B次元官网网址淚 endorse the ferry service 100 per cent,B次元官网网址� said Cummings, who is now working with Hobbis on managing Baseline. B次元官网网址淚t makes sense to offer a service people already know.B次元官网网址�
Hobbis said this DND ferry service could lay the groundwork for a civilian ferry between Colwood and Victoria, although a lot of peices would need to fall in place. B次元官网网址�(A civilian ferry) not out of the scope of where we might go,B次元官网网址� he said.
See for times and prices of the Baseline ferry service. The service is open to DND personnel only who are authorized to access CFB Esquimalt property in Colwood. From May 1 to 4 the service is free.
editor@goldstreamgazette.com
