Clipper Navigation and Riverside Marine have joined Island Ferry Services in submitting proposals to the City of Nanaimo and Nanaimo Port Authority in response to an expression of interest on launching a Nanaimo-to-Vancouver passenger ferry.
Island Ferry Services had taken issue with the expression of interest process as it wanted responses only from operators who had a proven track record of running a high-speed, passenger-only ferry service.
The company has claimed for years it is ready to start such a service between Nanaimo and Vancouver. It has also claimed it could run such a service between Sidney and Vancouver.
Nanaimo says it is pleased with the potential players.
“We look forward to working with the proponents to deliver this much-needed ferry service between downtown Nanaimo and downtown Vancouver,” said Bernie Dumas, Nanaimo Port Authority CEO.
The three responses will be reviewed by an independent technical advisory group, which intends to identify the recommended operator by October.
At that point, it will be up to the operator to negotiate a lease and operating agreement with the landlord.
According to a statement from the city and port, the ferry service could attract homebuyers who could commute to the Lower Mainland. The average cost of a house in the Harbour City is one-third that of Vancouver.
In April, Clipper announced it would not be operating its proposed direct, passenger-only ferry service between Victoria’s Inner Harbour and Vancouver this summer.
As a result, Clipper, which runs a high-speed, passenger-only service between Victoria and Seattle, said it was putting a plan for a Vancouver link on hold until spring 2017.
Riverside Marine had intended to start a passenger ferry between the Inner Harbour and Coal Harbour in Vancouver in July, but announced its vessel would not likely be ready for service this year. The company said the vessel requires a refit, which is expected to take five or six months.
A number of attempts at running a Nanaimo-to-Vancouver passenger ferry link have been started over the years, none of which proved profitable.
