New fast foot-passenger ferries servicing Nanaimo and Vancouver are expected to set sail in mid August.
In a press release, Vancouver Island Ferry Company said its pair of Hullo ferries 香蕉视频直播� Sthuqi香蕉视频直播� (pronounced sta-key) and Spuh茅ls (spah-els) 香蕉视频直播� will begin service Aug. 14, with reservations beginning early next week.
The vessels will leave the terminal in Nanaimo at 6 a.m., 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. and the Vancouver terminal at 8 a.m., 12 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. initially, with more sailings to be added later, noted the press release. Sailings from Nanaimo at 8:30 p.m. and from Vancouver at 10:30 p.m. will occur for events and special occasions.
At a media event on Thursday, July 20, Alastair Caddick, Hullo CEO, said the company is anticipating the official launch. With 354 seats, the first price level of the ferry will offer comfort seating for $39.99, while the upper level offers premium ($49.99) and business ($59.99) seating.
香蕉视频直播淲e think the demand will be very high,香蕉视频直播� said Caddick. 香蕉视频直播淲e think people are going to like [that it香蕉视频直播檚] 100 per cent reservable 香蕉视频直播� You香蕉视频直播檒l be able to select a seat the same way when you香蕉视频直播檙e going on a flight or to a concert and you香蕉视频直播檙e like, 香蕉视频直播業 want to sit next to my friend and I want to in this seat.香蕉视频直播� So that香蕉视频直播檚 to be expected now of modern travel.香蕉视频直播�
Regional District of Nanaimo Transit is working on shuttle bus service, with an estimated start in January, and Caddick said Hullo is also working on its own service, which he hopes will be in place for Aug. 14, but not guaranteed.
香蕉视频直播淲e will have a brand new parking lot that will have 300-plus spots and so certainly people can park here and that香蕉视频直播檒l help their connectivity,香蕉视频直播� said Caddick. 香蕉视频直播淲e will put in place a shuttle bus that will take people from the port, into downtown, and then we香蕉视频直播檙e working with buses, the rideshares. We香蕉视频直播檙e working with all of these different providers to ensure that we build greater connectivity over time.香蕉视频直播�
So far, 70 employees have been hired and Caddick estimated crews would be in the range of 10 people.
香蕉视频直播淚t will depend on the number of passengers that we have, and the service that we want to provide, but quite frankly, it香蕉视频直播檚 probably in the range of six to 10,香蕉视频直播� said Caddick. 香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝e got some flexibility based on how many passengers are on board and the service we香蕉视频直播檙e going to provide.香蕉视频直播�
Sam Chaudhuri, Hullo operations manager, said the engine is fueled by a blended fuel comprised of biofuel and diesel, which is more environmentally friendly.
香蕉视频直播淭he propulsion system for this catamaran is water jet propulsion and we have four MTU engines for that,香蕉视频直播� said Chaudhuri. 香蕉视频直播淓ach engine is capable of delivering 1,440 kilowatts, so that makes it 5,760 kilowatts for the entire propulsion system. Apart from that, we have two Caterpillar generators for supplying electricity and hotel load.香蕉视频直播�
Tickets can be booked from Aug. 14 onwards, said the press release, but earlier sailing dates may come online after July 28.
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