Costs, building time reduced in fast ferry No. 2 Kevin Gillies News Reporter THE fast ferry just got faster. The PaciitCat, designed to cut the terry sailing ume on the — Horseshoe Bay to: Nanaimo rin, has tho cut time trom the drawing board to the water. “We're launching it sooner and we're closer to comple tien” said BCL Ferre spokesman Clay Suddaby, The second PacitiCat cata- mann, duc tor launch Tuesday, will be ready to float in three-quarters che time it took the first PacitiCat to: be launched. Originally scheduled to be in service in 1996, the frst PacifiCar was not lauached until last June. Ue began under- going sea trials late last year. “They've ironed out the kinks,” said B.C. Ferries’ Megan Moyle. The first’ ship took 23 months to get trom the start of construction to its launch; the see- ond took 17 months, The first PacifiCat took 29 months to build completely; the second is expected to take 21. Moyle said lessons learned during the first ferry’s construction were incorporated into the construction of the second vessel. Those lessons have helped streamline the ship- building process. “It’s the exact same design except they've made some moditt- cations,” Moyle said. Construction an the ship's interior will continue while it’s afloat. The first boat was only 40% complete when it was floated Cypress sewer link appr Helping is a tradition From page 1 me, having my family sponsor a Vietnamese family was such a great educational experience.” The couple would like to con- tinue the family tradition. “We just feel like we're so lucky aid fortunate and we have some- thing extra that we can share. Hf we could, that would be wonderful.” she said. Ali can’s say exactly when the refugees will start arriving, but she is trying to organize volunteers tor when they do. “I need to train them, I need to be sure how many are coming. Is it one family per family ora group of five and one fimily?” she said. Ali said she is looking for geo- geaphical and cultural information to help train her own volunteers. Meanwhile, othe Interfaith Refiigee Committee is hosting Martinis and Miracles, a May 28 evening of entertainment at North Vancouver’s Presentation House Gallery to raise money tor Kosovar refugees looking join with Vancouver-area families. The event will raise money through ticket sales, donations and “mystery prize” purchases. The committee wants to have an entire support network in place by the time retigees start arriving in the Lower Mainland. Same refugees — those with family already here — have arrived in dif- ferent areas of B.C. More than 800 refugees are expected to come to B.C. trom Eastern Canada, where they are currently staying on Canadian armed forces bases. But Ali said no refigees have come through her ageney or any other placement agency, as of vet. the second ship. Council decision ends a lengthy process Catherine Barr Contributing Writer BC Parks and Cypress Bowl will be allowed to hook-up to West Vancouver’s municipal sewer connection. On Monday council voted in favour af allow: ing BC Parks to begin construction of a new sewer conection, Approval of the application closes a lengthy four-Vvear process, Service agreements, which are still pending, will include provisions for West Vancouver to Keep watch over the process and to intervene when necessary. The sewer hook-up is part af an original plan laid out three to four vears ago. Back then, Cypress Bowl and BC Parks called for numerous facility upgrades and expansion of the ski hill and its associated operations, Water and sewer connections to West Vancouver were also requested. In 199? West Vancouver council issued conditions that had to be sat- istied prior to approval of any municipal water and sewer connections. On Monday stat? reported that BC Parks had either “met or has met the intentions” of all che conditions outlined by council. A three-metre wide right-of-way access will be required for the sewer out ofits North Vancouver assembly shed last summer. “At the time of launch we are 75% complete,” Suddaby said of Initially the three fast ferries scheduled to be built under the fast ferry program were projected to cost $70 million cach. But an audit released in February stated that the cost of the $210 million project had ballooned to $450 million. The first ship is now pro- jected to cost $116.5 million. The second ship is projected to cost $105 mitlion, and the third ferry is forecast to cost $102 million. Movle said there's another motis ator for getting ship number NEWS phows atiee Wakefield B.C. Ferries’ Megan Moyle stands in the second PacifiCat's foyer, showing what it will look tike in six months. Ie aan Nort): Varweuss: