8 MARINE TRANSPORTATION

PASSENGER TRANSPORTATION

FERRY SERVICES

Most major ferry operators in Canada belong to the Canadian Ferry Operators Association (CFOA). However, Canada's ferry services are marked by wide differences in services, ownership and vessel type used. Owners range from small, private operators to provincial governments and federal Crown corporations. Terminals and docking facilities are also owned, leased and operated by ferry companies, municipalities, private companies and federal and provincial governments. Vessel types vary from small cable ferries to large cruise-type vessels and fast ferries. Operations range from seasonal to year-round service.

For details on the major ferry services, see Addendum Table A8-11. In addition, most major ferry services have their own Web sites, routes and rates.

Traffic figures for 2004 for all members of the CFOA are not yet available. However, the 2003 traffic figures give a good indication of the relative size of CFOA operations. An estimated 38.8 million passengers and 16.3 million vehicles used Canadian ferry services. The British Columbia Ferry Services Inc. is by far Canada's largest operator, carrying 21.4 million passengers and 8.3 million vehicles in 2003. British Columbia's Ministry of Transportation and Highways and Fraser River Marine Transportation also operate inland ferry services; they carried another 7.2 million passengers and 3.3 million vehicles in 2003. In Quebec, La Société des Traversiers du Québec carried 5.2 million passengers and 2.6 million vehicles.

In 2004, Marine Atlantic Inc., a federal Crown corporation, carried 419,548 passengers and 223,044 vehicles between Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia. Private ferry operators subsidized by the federal government carried fewer passengers and vehicles in 2003, approximately 930,000 passengers and 317,000 vehicles. The remaining CFOA members, including provincial operators in Newfoundland and Labrador, Manitoba, Ontario and New Brunswick, accounted for approximately three million passengers and 1.3 million vehicle crossings.

In Atlantic Canada, federally supported ferry services are now limited to those provided by Marine Atlantic Inc. and two private-sector operators, Northumberland Ferries Ltd. and C.T.M.A. Traversier Ltée. The federal government also provides an annual grant to British Columbia that is directed to BC Ferries.

CRUISE SHIP INDUSTRY

Ownership of large cruise vessels calling at Canada's ports rests with foreign-based companies. Flying foreign flags, these vessels offer two basic types of extended cruises: the luxury cruise and the "pocket" cruise, distinguished by vessel capacity of typically less than 150 passengers.

After the Caribbean and the Mediterranean, Alaska cruises through British Columbia's scenic Inside Passage are the third most popular in the world. For these voyages, Vancouver and, increasingly, Seattle serve as "home ports," where passengers embark and/or disembark. In 2004, Vancouver experienced a 2.5 per cent decline in cruise traffic from 2003 to 929,976 passengers. This decline was attributable mainly to the Port of Seattle's ability to attract cruise ships by opening new facilities, and the impact of world events on travel and tourism.

In eastern Canada, luxury cruise vessels regularly depart New York and, travelling up the eastern seaboard, call in at Halifax, Charlottetown and other east coast ports before entering the St. Lawrence River and heading to Quebec City and Montreal. Shorter cruises also sail out of New York or Boston for Halifax, Saint John and other Atlantic ports. Many ports, including Saint John, have been investing in new facilities to serve cruise passengers.

Other Canadian ports also benefit from calls by cruise lines, including Victoria, St. John's, Newfoundland and Sydney, Nova Scotia.

Table 8-15 shows international cruise ship traffic at major Canadian ports in 2003 and 2004. Addendum Table A8-12 gives a longer time series.

Source: Canada Port Authorities

Major Events in 2004

Infrastructure

Marine Pilotage

Industry Structure

Passenger Transportation

Freight Transportation