tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post7961185508856769288..comments2023-10-25T07:29:40.789-02:30Comments on UNCLE GNARLEY: CHANGE FERRY NAME FROM ‘APOLLO’ TO ‘APPALLING’Des Sullivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02566013585647491614noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-63362506100834429262016-06-29T23:48:58.281-02:302016-06-29T23:48:58.281-02:30The ironic part of it all is that we reap do many ...The ironic part of it all is that we reap do many benefits from Labrador, and how Dover repay them? By allowing substandard infrastructure to continue, completely violating u re although and safety which we expect in all areas of the province. I was on the TLH there as well and between Cartwright and HVGB it was God awful. If I was a Labrador resident I would certainly expect more for the resources extracted from the big land.<br />Russell StockleyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-66859363837811709962015-07-17T08:36:51.306-02:302015-07-17T08:36:51.306-02:30"It is unNewfoundland to actually complain t..."It is unNewfoundland to actually complain that something isn't right"..... sounds the same as Mr Morine, an MHA here, originally from Nova Scotia I believe, who a century ago said that "Nflders are too green to burn", And of course, green then refered to fire wood that was not dry, where as now being "green" refers to energy conservation. Efficiency and conservation would have helped avoid the massive 8.3 billion Muskrat Falls, had we been green in that context. Instead, as ratepayers we subsidize Nova Scotia and the USA to be green. Winston Adams Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-89224309746380606342015-07-17T05:08:16.797-02:302015-07-17T05:08:16.797-02:30That is not the point. We don´t live in a 3rd worl...That is not the point. We don´t live in a 3rd world country. It is called a 1st world country for a reason. I don´t expect that standard of service and uncleanliness here. You are right, there are "worse modes of transportation", however, that attitude just keeps things as they are. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-28207826970471499402015-07-16T22:36:47.218-02:302015-07-16T22:36:47.218-02:30The condition of the Apollo is the equivalent of t...The condition of the Apollo is the equivalent of the Soviet era State Owned Enterprises (SOEs). There is no incentive or motivation to put in the extra effort or even adequate effort. The most important aspect for the management and crew is to get salted away with the job in the first place which often occurs through political connections and basic certifications after the fact. Job one for the owner is to make sure all the right moves are made to work the system at the political level to keep the contract. The actual service itself is farthest from their minds. It is “unNewfoundland” to actually complain that something isn’t right and this compounds the problem.<br /><br />Marine Atlantic does a better job at cleanliness because they do receive complaints and are more in the visible eye as such a vital link to the Mainland. Marine Atlantic’s solution is to load up on personnel and direct the complaints in turn to the Federal Government to seek more operational and new vessel funds. This has the added benefit of being a Federal responsibility so the whole populace can get behind the request for ever more money. One of the serious problems is that the fares have to cover a proportion of the costs and they have now reached the point of being unaffordable or practical for a family unless the trip is considered as a “cruise” or rare adventure. It is cheaper for a family of four to get an airline seat sale to Halifax and then a car rental for up to two weeks than pay to go return on the Argentia ferry and that is not even including the gas, the restaurant costs or the lost time. It is just the fares for the ferry.<br /><br />The solution is to make all services as competitive as possible such as Uncle Gnarley observed in the price and service at his destination in Labrador. Public / private partnerships are sometimes worse that SOEs if they are delivered as a monopoly. Consider that Air Canada could and did make a passionate argument that they needed a monopoly into St. John’s and Newfoundland Telephone (Alliant) made a similar argument for telecommunications services. Where would we be in both cases if both of these private enterprises had a monopoly? <br /><br />This brings me to our largest damage from SOEs, Nalcor which was reported on this blog previously :Bureaucrats Masquerading as Entrepreneurs". Who else on the planet is borrowing and spending $8.3 Billion and climbing on 660 Megawatts of electricity ($12.6 M per MW which is five to six times the turnkey cost of wind depending upon location). Who else would boast in the media about helping a US state achieve its greenhouse gas emissions when it is done so at about an 80% subsidy from the Newfoundland ratepayer at current market rates in the US. The US has a better opportunity to save the planet through charging the incremental rates for electricity that we will be charged and watch the energy conservation and alternate energy industries take charge. The whole deal is even worse given that there is no guarantee on the timing for the usage of the water (Water Management Agreement with Quebec) and much of the firm surplus energy is promised to Nova Scotia at the always low end of the spectrum New England market rate. Who else could do that to the whole population other than a state owned enterprise run by people with little experience in running a utility and following a flawed political vision.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-12644676100444064682015-07-16T18:10:01.564-02:302015-07-16T18:10:01.564-02:30Don't let that deter you from a great trip to ...Don't let that deter you from a great trip to Labrador.. it won't kill you and it not that bad to handle for 1.5hr trip.... been on worse modes of transportation.. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-14309053881329481022015-07-16T13:54:49.523-02:302015-07-16T13:54:49.523-02:30Done the Labrador coast about 8 years ago. Fairly ...Done the Labrador coast about 8 years ago. Fairly expensive, from Nain to Goose Bay, the service was run by Woodwards. It was early October. The food was poor, and it was explained that they do not permit taking water to drink to your room, but bent the rule on that. The room was cold and they had no spare blankets. The thermostat did not work, you could set it higher but it made no difference. There were no facecloths. it was explained that they can't keep them available as the "natives" steal them. The vessel was general shabby. I wondered how they expected to attract tourists. But I guess the idea is not to attract tourists..... the conditions of coastal Labrador is shameful due to neglect of our government. I intended to write Woodfords and offer them free facecloths, as they were available here at 4 for a dollar. Pity, as the people of the coast are so wonderful, and too quiet to put up with this. Example ; heat the houses and factories from Nova Scotia to new York with cheap Labrador hydro power, while coastal Labrador are on expensive diesel! Winston AdamsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-7470628035301710042015-07-16T13:26:04.902-02:302015-07-16T13:26:04.902-02:30Bell Island is more worthy of new ferry,then the ...Bell Island is more worthy of new ferry,then the people of Labrador.Bell Island contributes little or nothing to the economy.Its a suburb of St.John'sAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-59719998389662520962015-07-16T11:00:01.677-02:302015-07-16T11:00:01.677-02:30Well said! Our family lived in the Labrador Strait...Well said! Our family lived in the Labrador Straits for more than 30 years and we have always volunteered on one committee or another to improved and assist in our community. There is only so much one can do when your voice is not heard! The people of Labrador have identified over and over that they need improvements made to this Ferry/ Crossing yet Government has continued to turn their backs on these TAX Payers. This crossing is the highway link between Labrador and Newfoundland. It is there to not only serve the residence but everyone who wishes to visit the beautiful land of Labrador. The ferry if nothing else MUST be kept clean! This is an embarrassment to our Province....... Hopefully the politicians who we elect will take a stand on improved ferry services and the Labrador highway that our loved ones have to travel daily through ALL OF LABRADOR . Elaine Halbotnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-3550761165174398322015-07-16T07:42:31.644-02:302015-07-16T07:42:31.644-02:30Not having done the trip and actually planning if ...Not having done the trip and actually planning if for summer 2016, I am now certain that I will not take that route as I know that it will not have changed any by then. If it has been let go for so many years what is another year of bad service and filth for the populous? Apparently, those who travel that route are not worthy of better, according those who run it and the government who should be overseeing it. It is hard to believe that with the years of fabulous tourism marketing, that no one actually made the crossing to see for themselves what they are selling. This is tax payers money going to pay for less than sub-standard services. Where is competition? Where is the thought? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com