Editor:
Re: “Late ferry leaves Langdale without filling to capacity,” Nov. 25.
I would like to comment on the BC Ferries (BCF) response to an email I forwarded to Coast Reporter and BCF regarding my displeasure in observing numerous empty vehicle spaces on the Queen of Surrey during the Remembrance Day long weekend sailing.
I provided photographs attached to the original email I sent to BC Ferries expressing my concerns. These photographs clearly show that the back of one vehicle row on Deck 4 of the ferry was left vacant – and seven vehicles could have filled this huge void.
BC Ferries official Deborah Marshall in her response tries to downplay this by indicating that there were tight vehicle spaces that were not filled, which would cause loading delays. This was not the case. It would have taken seconds – not minutes – to place seven vehicles in this space. This would account for 10 per cent of the 70 vehicles that were not loaded and would remain waiting for another two hours for the next ferry to arrive.
Marshall’s comment regarding leaving room for last-minute foot passengers, strollers, and wheelchairs is also without merit. For those familiar with Langdale to Horseshoe Bay ferry travel – all walk-on passengers embark on level 1 of the ferry and disembark at the front of the passenger level. The area where the empty row was not filled was at the back of the ferry on deck 4. This area does not impede foot passengers, strollers, wheelchairs or any other fictional traffic in this area.
I was extremely disappointed in the BC Ferries response to my concerns. I was hopeful that the response would have been something directed at an apology to the travelling public and a comment that BC Ferries would look into my concerns. But instead, I received excuses with no merit.
Barry Meyer, Madeira Park
