30-Year Lease for New Black Ball Owners
Port of Port Angeles commissioners have agreed to a 30-year lease with the new owners of Black Ball Ferry Line The lease also solidifies arrangements for a $4 million dock replacement for the ferry terminal. Commissioners were relieved that the ferry line is under regional ownership again, having been purchased from the Oregon State University Foundation. Commissioner John Calhoun said:
“I feel extremely comfortable having a local ownership group. It's a vital part of our community's infrastructure.”
“I feel extremely comfortable having a local ownership group. It's a vital part of our community's infrastructure.”
posted by Tom Harper at 1:33 AM
10 Comments:
Looks like the Port is extorting Black Ball, no wonder the old owners sold out.
I talked with a couple of the Coho crew recently as I was interested to hear their thoughts on the sale.
The first comment was how they were going to compete with all the government run ferries in the area.
I wish I could say they had a positive view for the future, but they did not.
The first comment was how they were going to compete with all the government run ferries in the area.
I've never been of the impression that was a concern being as there are no government ran ferries serving this port.
Pretty sure the Coho can charge what it wants to charge, and those wanting to go where it goes will have to pay the rate.
"Pretty sure the Coho can charge what it wants to charge, and those wanting to go where it goes will have to pay the rate."
Unfortunately, the Coho does not have that kind of monopoly.
The State ferries are undercutting the Coho rates by virtually 50% on a key area.
It is well known that the State run ferry systems have not been profitable, for years. And they are subsidized with taxpayer money, unlike the Coho.
I wish the Coho folks nothing but the best.
Unfortunately, the Coho does not have that kind of monopoly.
By my view of things they do, simply because there is no state ferry here they have to compete against. They must make okay money, they take pretty good care of that boat.
Scott has a bunch of seats in his shop to recover while it's over in dry dock. At least they give local folks as much business as they can.
"By my view of things they do, simply because there is no state ferry here they have to compete against."
BBC, the issue here is not Port Angeles, but Vancouver Island. You don't really think Port Angeles is the primary destination for folks who use the Coho? They come to Port Angeles because one of the ferries to Vancouver Island is located here. People on Vancouver Island use the Coho because it is one of a couple ferries off the island on their way to somewhere else.
The State of Washington operates a ferry to Sidney, on the south island, which offers cheaper fares than the Coho. A lot cheaper.
Yes, you are right. The Coho has no competition out of Port Angeles. But it does have competition on ferries closer to the I-5 corridor, where most of its' passengers come from. Or are going to.
Anacortes -Sidney One way car and driver: $46.50 Coho $57.00
Anacortes -Sidney One way walk on : $17.50 Coho$15.00
I don't think people headed to the Peninsula are going to drive all the way from Anacortes to save $11.50. The Coho walk on is cheaper and drops you off in downtown Victoria. I don't think Competion from a ferry terminal that far away, and going to distictly different destinations, is going to cause signifigant issues with profitablity on this route.
...A ferry connection from PA to Seattle would be great for residents and bring more tourists for business.
It would be a great addition to a Victoria route. It would also make it easier to pose Port Angeles as a destination not a gateway or happenstance way point.
Agreed - competition from government-run ferries is not an economic factor for the Coho route.
I also wish the Coho folks nothing but the best.
Look at what the RV rate is, for all the Snowbirds returning to Vancouver Island later this spring.
The reality is that all over, people are traveling less. Even here in Port Angeles, we see this. It was not long ago people waited overnight to get on the Coho, and Jack Harmon had his two ferries running people to Victoria at the same time. Now, with both of Jacks' ferries gone, the Coho can't even fill the boat halfway.
Beautiful, warm resorts are struggling to get visitors. Worldwide, tourism is diminishing.
We in Port Angeles will see how this affects us, here. We have already seen the decline. The question is only how far further will it go.
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