Despite the breakdown in negotiations with Coastal Link Ferries (CLF), the Gibsons Landing Harbour Authority (GLHA) said they remain open to proposals for a passenger ferry service to run out of the government wharf.
"The harbour authority recognizes the importance of a foot passenger ferry service offering a better quality of life to early morning commuters," said GLHA chair Carol Doyle in a press release. After months of negotiations but few face-to-face meetings with the GLHA, Coastal Link marketing and communications director Peter Green pulled the plug on the operation at the Sept. 16 meeting of Gibsons council - at least for the time being.
"We're shifting our initial operation from Gibsons to another regional port of service," he said, with Bowen Island being the company's current focus. The stumbling block in Gibsons was a docking agreement, which couldn't be reached due to the failure of both parties to agree on a moorage rate. After coming down from a starting offer of $3,600 per month, the GLHA's final offer of $1,500 per month still proved higher than what Coastal Link was willing to pay. "In light of things we've heard from other harbours, that may be the going rate," added Terry Rhodes, treasurer of the GLHA. "We've discovered through this whole process our lease rates may be a little low. It was quite a learning experience."
In addition to paying the commercial vessel rate of $4.42 per foot per month, Coastal Link was asked by the GLHA to cover the cost of additional maintenance to be carried out by the GLHA, such as dock maintenance, winter boardwalk de-icing, passenger information and washroom maintenance, Rhodes said.
"These costs were explained numerous times to Coastal Link Ferries at negotiation meetings and by email," said Rhodes. "Now that this has been identified, some of the other people who are running a lot of traffic through our facilities will start paying for these things."
The harbour currently has a waiting list for moorage space of 200 boats, and pleasure craft stopovers in the harbour have doubled in the past year. As a non-profit manager of the harbour on behalf of the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), the GLHA's priority is to accommodate commercial fishing vessels.
"Before a new boat can be admitted, such as a passenger ferry that requires more than the average docking space, other decisions must be made that will honour local vessel owners and fishing boats," reads the release. "Their needs must be first before the needs of other outside commercial ventures."
Green said he takes exception to Coastal Link being considered an "outside" company and said he hopes to show the company has the community's best interest in mind.
"It's been a real miscommunication, and I wish some leadership was able to bring both parties to the table," he said.
Gibsons Mayor Barry Janyk was quick to refute Green's statements.
"In my nine years of mayoral service, I have never had the necessity to write a letter on a matter of such severity," Janyk wrote. "I take this highly unusual action because of council's extreme offense at statements made by Mr. Green." (See more from Gibsons council in a paid ad on page A28).
Janyk noted council was not remiss in their unwillingness to enter into the negotiations "between a private company and the appointed board of a federally managed facility," as doing so would "not only be imprudent but unethical for council," he said.
Coastal Link is now preparing for a route between Bowen Island and downtown Vancouver. Green said the company may operate from the municipal dock on the island or from one of two private marinas. During a guests-only trial run last Thursday (Oct. 2), the 70-passenger Coastal Runner vessel had a mechanical problem near the south end of Bowen Island and had to be towed to Gibsons by water taxi.
"They had a fitting come loose on the gearbox and were leaking oil into the bilge" said Tom Stenner, owner of Dolphin Marine, who towed the boat into the harbour, along with the 19 guests onboard. "When boats are brand new, they're going to have a few problems."
