In a stunning revelation made on the Voice of BC political channel last week, BC Ferry Corporation CEO David Hahn, in answer to a question by panelist Bill Tieleman admitted that the new German built Super-C Class Ferry “Coastal Renaissance” is being moored in Nanaimo due to its high level of fuel consumption says BC First spokesman, Chris Delaney.

Delaney says Hahn explained that the new Super C- class ferry, delivered to BC Ferries in 2008, has been sitting due to its extremely high fuel consumption costs. Instead, Hahn says they are using The Queen of Oak Bay and other 1960’s built ferries in its place.

“Kind of defeats the purpose of the whole exercise, doesn’t it?” said Delaney. “These new ferries were built to replace the so called ‘failed Fast Cats’ that purportedly were not able to go as fast as designed on a full tank of fuel, and whose jet thrusters were considered unsuitable for use on the ferry runs.”

“But rather than retro-fit the Fast Cats with prop engines at a cost estimated at $60 million, the Liberals sold the $300 million units for less than the cost of scrap metal at $16 million. They then ordered new ferries from German shipyards at a cost of over $500 million which are now considered by the corporation to be such gas guzzlers that they are not economical to run. We’ve gone from the ‘Fast Ferries Fiasco’ to the ‘Fuel Ferries Fiasco’!”

Delaney says the revealing comments by Hahn show that the BC Ferry Corporation may have mismanaged the contract for the new ferries. “It also proves that the old ferries have stood the test of time and not only can we build better ferries here, but we know the right kind to build for our market.”

“Instead, we have the equivalent of a 'Mercedes Benz' sitting in the doc in Nanaimo collecting barnacles, while we continue to drive our older 'Honda Civic' versions that can still do the job after 40 years of use. It is ridiculous.”

Delaney says the BC First party has submitted an FOI request to get information on the other two Super C class ferries to see if the same “mooring” is taking place with them, and to what degree the new ferries are not operational.

“What is becoming more and more clear is that a comprehensive review of how our ferry system is run is badly needed. We simply cannot afford to spend billions on ferries that don’t serve our needs, and which have only resulted in higher and higher rates for service,” Delaney concluded.