Latest news with #ferryservice
BBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Start of new inter-island Channel Islands ferry service postponed
A new inter-island ferry service which had been due to start on Friday morning has been postponed.A spokesperson for the ferry operator Islands Unlimited said it had "no choice but to delay" after it had "experienced delays to our operational readiness".Difficulties trialling the vessel this week had meant it had not been able to complete "operational preparations" in time for Friday, the company said. The spokesperson said the 316-passenger, high-speed catamaran San Pawl would begin its daily inter-island foot passenger service between Guernsey and Jersey on 5 June. 'Deep regret' It's statement said: "Regrettably, due to the weather earlier this week, we have only been able to trial the ship in Jersey today and had hoped that all of our operational preparations would have been completed in time for tomorrow. "Unfortunately, this is not the case and we have to delay our commencement date."The company said the delays "had impacted our ability to complete our obligations as required by the relevant authorities". It added: "We deeply regret to find ourselves in this situation and for the inconvenience this may cause."All customers affected were being contacted by email, the company said.
Malay Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Labuan-Kota Kinabalu ferry resumes after three-year Covid pause, first sailing at full capacity
LABUAN, May 29 — The Labuan–Kota Kinabalu–Labuan express ferry service officially resumed operations yesterday, restoring a crucial transport link between Labuan and the Sabah mainland after a suspension of more than three years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Labuan-based Kinabalu Express, at full capacity, departed the Labuan International Ferry Terminal (LIFT), which is managed by LDA Holdings, at 10am, with the return trip from Kota Kinabalu scheduled for today at 8am. The vessel, operated by Double Power, can accommodate 212 passengers, offering 146 economy and 66 business class seats. Daily trips will continue from May 28 to June 3 to coincide with the Harvest Festival and school holidays. From June 4 onwards, the ferry will operate every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, with possible adjustments based on demand. A promotional fare campaign is being introduced from yesterday until August 3 in conjunction with the Borneo Flora Festival (BFF), aimed at encouraging ridership. During this period, Malaysian adults can purchase economy tickets at RM35 and children at RM22.50, while first-class fares are RM45 and RM27.50, respectively. Foreign passengers will be charged RM80 (adults) and RM45 (children) for economy, and RM90 and RM50 for first class. Standard fares will apply starting June 4, with slight increases across categories. Tickets are available online at and can also be purchased at the Labuan International Ferry Terminal and Jesselton Point ticketing counters in Kota Kinabalu. Prior to the pandemic, the route served up to 120,000 passengers annually. LIFT chief executive officer Noor Halim Zaini, when met here yesterday, expressed hope that the ferry's return will spur regional tourism and help revitalise Labuan's local economy. — Bernama
Malay Mail
5 days ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Passenger ferry service between Kota Kinabalu and Labuan resumes after three-year hiatus
KOTA KINABALU, May 27 — The passenger ferry service connecting the state capital and Labuan has resumed operations after a three-year suspension, a move that Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said will boost public mobility and foster inter-regional economic growth. Hajiji described the resumption of the vital sea route as more than a logistical milestone, calling it a people-focused initiative. 'This service is crucial for the people. It is not just a transport route, but a connector for family ties, education, tourism, and long-standing business relations,' he said during the launch ceremony at Kota Kinabalu Port today. The ferry service had been disrupted over the past five years due to various issues, including unsafe jetty infrastructure, the removal of fuel subsidies for operators, and the COVID-19 pandemic. While its reopening was initially slated for earlier this year, safety concerns caused delays. The ferry terminal has now been relocated from Jesselton Point to Kota Kinabalu Port, with operations managed entirely by the port authority. Currently, passengers must purchase tickets at Jesselton Point before taking a shuttle bus from Jesselton Quay to the CIQ terminal at Kota Kinabalu Port. There, they go through customs and immigration before boarding the three-hour ferry to Labuan. According to Sabah Ports assistant manager Kane Primus, ticket counters at Jesselton Point operate from 6.15am to 7.20am for the 8am departure. Economy class return tickets are priced at RM45 for Malaysian adults and RM90 for non-Malaysians, while first-class fares are RM55 for Malaysians and RM100 for non-Malaysians. Promotional fares, valid from May 28 to August 3, are RM35 and RM45 for economy and first-class tickets for Malaysians, and RM80 and RM90 for non-Malaysians. From May 28 to June 3, the ferry will run daily, after which it will operate every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Hajiji said the federal government, through the Federal Territories Ministry, had allocated RM1.3 million for upgrading works related to the ferry service. The chief minister also highlighted the service's potential to enhance Sabah's tourism sector, especially ahead of Visit Sabah Year 2026, and its role in opening new trade and investment opportunities between Sabah and Labuan. 'Many Sabahans work and reside in Labuan, and vice versa. Therefore, the resumption of this route holds great meaning for many,' he added. Previously, travellers had to drive about two hours to Menumbok to board a vehicle ferry or take a 35-minute flight to reach Labuan. Meanwhile, Hajiji, who chairs the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) state government, said no decision had been made regarding potential political partnerships ahead of the state election. 'We have not decided yet. Our focus now is to defend the current GRS-PH government. This is our foundation, and we have conveyed this to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim,' he said. Hajiji added that discussions on electoral cooperation would take place at a later time, as the state assembly has not been dissolved. His comments follow recent calls from Sabah PKR chief Datuk Mustapha Sakmud for GRS to clarify its stance on collaborating with Pakatan Harapan in Sabah ahead of the polls.
BBC News
25-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Alderney ferry service secures subsidy for summer services
A ferry service will continue to offer a subsidised service between Alderney and Guernsey over the summer season. The States of Alderney said although Alderney Ferry Services was already running daily services between the islands, the subsidy period would begin on 26 May and continue until 26 Smith, Alderney Ferry Services co-director, said she was "very pleased" to have been awarded the subsidy for the service - which she said was "a vital transport link" for the States said there would be two scheduled round-trips every day, with more scheduled in August for Alderney Week. It added fares would cost £60 one-way for adults and £45 one-way per child up to 14 - with babies under two years old travelling for free. The States said while there was no extra charge for large luggage, dogs and bicycles would be £5 Clark, chair of the economic development committee said: "The States of Alderney is delighted to continue its partnership with Alderney Ferry Services which is under the directorship of a young local family."
CBC
15-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
B.C. Ferries prepares for busy summer as it maintains aging fleet
Social Sharing Officials with B.C. Ferries say they are preparing for the upcoming May long weekend and a busy summer season ahead. B.C. Ferries called last summer their busiest season ever, and said they're expecting even higher demand this year as they deal with an increasingly complex operating environment. "We are working with aging vessels and terminal infrastructure, and this means that we have to plan for worst-case scenarios to protect service," said Stephen Jones, vice-president of engineering with B.C. Ferries. "While we can't eliminate all risks, we are working hard behind the scenes to keep people and goods moving … We are prepared for summer, we're focusing on delivering for the people who count on us, but we are transparent about our limits." B.C. Ferries said they will work on maintaining vessels, adjust sailing schedules and hire 600 seasonal employees. Jones said there will be four new diesel hybrid vessels starting in 2026. The B.C. Ferries commissioner also approved four new vessels that are scheduled to arrive between 2029 and 2031. In the meantime, the company says it's doing the best it can with the resources it has. "We're stretching every mile out on our aging fleet, but relief is on the horizon," Jones said. Frustration in ferry-dependent communities On the Easter long weekend, passengers travelling between Langdale on the Sunshine Coast and West Vancouver's Horseshoe Bay were stuck on a ferry for several hours. The vessel had to be assisted into Horseshoe Bay by a tugboat after suffering a mechanical failure. Silas White, the mayor of the Sunshine Coast town of Gibsons, says he has concerns about summer travel. "We asked to have some input into the summer schedule, particularly to talk to B.C. Ferries about how it could be extended, because they're really difficult times for our community," White told CBC News. "The problem is it really falls apart ... just before that [summer] schedule hits and just after that schedule hits … We are a ferry-dependent community and residents here deserve a reliable and consistent service." White says unreliable ferry service can have a profound impact on residents, whether they need to attend a medical appointment, commute to work, or play sports. He said B.C. Ferries promised a replacement vessel for the Sunshine Coast in 2022, but it was sidelined by the COVID-19 pandemic. WATCH | Gibsons mayor on being reliant on ferries: B.C. Ferries neglecting ferry-dependent locals in favour of tourists, says Gibsons' mayor 8 hours ago Duration 3:03 Silas White, the mayor of Gibsons, responds to a BC Today caller from Salt Spring Island who says B.C. Ferries is not placing much importance on increasing service to small islands compared to routes from the B.C. mainland. White agrees with the caller and says the ferry corporation's messaging about improvements primarily targets tourists, when residents from ferry-dependent communities are the most concerned. "We're being neglected and we're not even considered as being the targets or the recipients of these communications, when really our residents are the people who are most concerned about B.C. Ferries on a daily basis," he told CBC News on Wednesday in response to a news release from B.C. Ferries about its plans to welcome millions of customers this summer.
