rsn48
Guru
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2019
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- 2,019
- Location
- Canada
- Vessel Name
- Capricorn
- Vessel Make
- Mariner 30 - Sedan Cruiser 1969
So I'm just going to do a copy from a newspaper article out of Victoria (Times Colonist): 14 Aug 2020
Charter Firm Raises Ire over Fuel Stops
Andrew A. Duffy
The Canadian owner of a Bellingham-based yacht charter operation says he's not surprised his boats caused a stir as they passed through B.C. waters, but he said the vessels were following the rules and heading straight to Alaska.
The flotilla of NW Explorations' boats that made its way to Alaska caught the eye of a number of Island residents; some contacted news media to complain while others offered a few thoughts while the crew refueled or checked in at Canada Border Services in Nanaimo.
"A Gentleman came by in a tender and gave people a piece of his mind," said Ross Tennant, noting his crew was left rattled by the experience. "I said to the crew that people were on egg shells right now."
Tennant, who bought NW Explorations in 2018 and has since expanded to add a Sidney location, said the boats were not filled with tourists, did not dawdle for sightseeing purposes and - other than fuel stops - headed directly to Alaska.
"It was a commercial transfer," said Tennant, noting a big part of the company's business is taking boats from Bellingham to Alaska and spending most of the summer in the North.
Tennant, who lives in Victoria, said a float plan for both trips was filed with the Canada Border Services Agency, which ensure the crews had proper protective gear and remained on docks during the refueling stops in B.C.
"The trip to Alaska was one that we did as a commercial delivery through British Columbia, to get the boats up to Alaska," he said.
In a typical year, there would be charter clients aboard the vessels for those legs of the tour, but Tennant said that was not on the cards this year.
"They were doing pretty much a beeline for Alaska. We had originally hoped they could tour around, but when that looked like it would not be appropriate, we took charter guests off those legs, " he said. "It wasn't appropriate to send people through B.C."
...."It did raise a few eyebrows as the boats were transiting to Alaska and then coming back down because they are U.S.-flagged boats in Canadian waters and people were rightly concerned about that," he said.
Tennant said some of the anger expressed to the crew during fuel stops was surprising, but he understands where it comes from given the lengths British Columbians have gone to in following the guidelines put out by provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry. "So when they see other people coming in here, there is a heightened sensitivity - and maybe rightly so given they have worked so hard."
Tennant said he's hopeful boaters in the U.S. and Canada will soon be good neighbours again and that comunities will once again open up......
Charter Firm Raises Ire over Fuel Stops
Andrew A. Duffy
The Canadian owner of a Bellingham-based yacht charter operation says he's not surprised his boats caused a stir as they passed through B.C. waters, but he said the vessels were following the rules and heading straight to Alaska.
The flotilla of NW Explorations' boats that made its way to Alaska caught the eye of a number of Island residents; some contacted news media to complain while others offered a few thoughts while the crew refueled or checked in at Canada Border Services in Nanaimo.
"A Gentleman came by in a tender and gave people a piece of his mind," said Ross Tennant, noting his crew was left rattled by the experience. "I said to the crew that people were on egg shells right now."
Tennant, who bought NW Explorations in 2018 and has since expanded to add a Sidney location, said the boats were not filled with tourists, did not dawdle for sightseeing purposes and - other than fuel stops - headed directly to Alaska.
"It was a commercial transfer," said Tennant, noting a big part of the company's business is taking boats from Bellingham to Alaska and spending most of the summer in the North.
Tennant, who lives in Victoria, said a float plan for both trips was filed with the Canada Border Services Agency, which ensure the crews had proper protective gear and remained on docks during the refueling stops in B.C.
"The trip to Alaska was one that we did as a commercial delivery through British Columbia, to get the boats up to Alaska," he said.
In a typical year, there would be charter clients aboard the vessels for those legs of the tour, but Tennant said that was not on the cards this year.
"They were doing pretty much a beeline for Alaska. We had originally hoped they could tour around, but when that looked like it would not be appropriate, we took charter guests off those legs, " he said. "It wasn't appropriate to send people through B.C."
...."It did raise a few eyebrows as the boats were transiting to Alaska and then coming back down because they are U.S.-flagged boats in Canadian waters and people were rightly concerned about that," he said.
Tennant said some of the anger expressed to the crew during fuel stops was surprising, but he understands where it comes from given the lengths British Columbians have gone to in following the guidelines put out by provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry. "So when they see other people coming in here, there is a heightened sensitivity - and maybe rightly so given they have worked so hard."
Tennant said he's hopeful boaters in the U.S. and Canada will soon be good neighbours again and that comunities will once again open up......
