On Golden Trail

NEWS photo Paul McGrath

WORLD CHAMPION Alison Sydor is training for the 1996 mountain-biking season on North Shore trails this winter.
Home-grown talents Sydor and Lesley Tomlinson have their sights set on next summer’s Olympics. See story page 13.

TWO NORTH Vancouver shipyards
are the leading contenders for a $9
million construction facility to build
BC Ferries’ controversial fast ferries.

By lan Noble
News Reporter

BC Ferries senior vice-president Tom Ward
told the News a Vancouver Shipyards site at
the foot of Pemberton Street in North
Vancouver “and the Vancouver. Port Corp.’s
Cassiar site east of Vancouver Drydock on the
North Vancouver watertront are running “neck
and neck.” ‘ oe :

Ward added there is a “good chance” one of
the wo sites will be the home of the facility, an
important component of BC Ferries’ plans to
build three $70 milion high-speed ferries for

the Horseshoe Bay-Nanaimo ferry route.

: A site in Vancouver is also being consid-
:- ered for the construction facility, said Ward.

, ‘ancouver Shipyards business development
manager David Reid said having the construc-
tion facility on site would allow Vancouver
shipyards to. control production, fabrication
and training of the work fore. the project.

Gov't to choose
fast ferry facility

site by Christmas

Landing the site may also pay’ important
future dividends for the North Vancouver ship-
building industry.

BC Ferries’ ambitious plans call for a tech-
nology transfer to revitalize B.C.s faltering
shipbuilding industry and help focal yards

-compete in the high-speed ferry market, the

fastest-growing segment of the marine car and
passenger transportation industry.

Though some marine engineers reject such
a rosy possibility, Reid said if an export mar-
ket develops, Vancouver Shipyards will have
the necessary expertise in its backyard,

“It's just that much easier when it’s part of

your own facility,” he said.

Bob Docherty is the business agent for
Vancouver . Shipyards-based Marine and
Shipbuilders Local 506.

He said the construction facility would pro-

vide Vancouver Shipyards with a better oppor-

tunity to bid on work even if the fast-ferry pro-
posal sinks.
If the facility is built’ on Vancotver

Shipyards property, Docherty’s union would

relax its jurisdiction to allow other unions to
work on the three fast ferries.

However, his union would have sole juris-
diction after the fast ferries are built, he said.

Currently, half of the local's roughly 400
union members are out of work, said Docherty,

fard said the Cassiar sue has advantages
and would be convenient for the fhiat outfitting
of the ships. A site decision will be made prior
to Christmas, he said.

Meanwhile, the design fur the fast ferries is
complete and awaiting approval.

Ward, a former .general manager wiih
Vancouver Shipyards, envisions B.C. ship-
yards, including those in North Vancouver and
on Vancouver Island, each getting a piece of
the construction action. Final assembly will
occur in the new building,

Currently, BC Ferries is discussing the tim-
ing of & tender call with B.C. shipbuikiers.

Ward anticipates contracts will be in phice
early $997 of late 1996. Construction ‘is

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