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Bowen residents ready ferry lawsuit Kevin Gillies News Reporter

THE fast ferry program may have more trouble

in its wake.

me group of Bowen Island residents is preparing for 4 legal fight to recover property damage caused by the waves coming from the [acitiCar Eyplorer.

The first of three fast ferries to be built under the program, the Explorer is now in regular service between Horseshoe Bay and Nanaimo but its wake is crashing waves agaiast small island re: .

“We're exploring the possibility of suing BC Fi for nuisance,” said Bere Paul, a director of Ferry CURE (Coalition of Users to Re- stablish

tively what we want to do is put them on notice.” He said the PacitiCat poses significant cnavironmental and satety hazards in the strait: “They need to slow it down. This is nonsense. While not aware of any fidgation aimed at them, BC Ferry officials said they're aware that some area residents are upset with the fast ferry wake issue. “We're aware of the concerns of residents, particularly | on some of the smaller istands chat are near the route of the E plorer,” said BC Ferry spokesman Joanne Whitti and we're monitoring the effects of the wake and wash of the vessel very slowly.” Bruce Falkins operates a water taxi company between Fisherman’s Cove and Passage Island. He said small boats must be extremely careful when the PacifiCat is in the strait. “Somebody’s going to get hurt,” he said Falkins, who also operates a floating Esso station in Fisherman’s Cov had original concerns about damage in the cove from the fast ferry wash but he said those concerns have been addressed and corrected by BC Ferries. “They managed to mitigate the wash to the point where it’s not much worse now than C-class (regular) ferry,” he said. “Unfortunately what they did was they managed to use Passage Island as the breakwater effcctiv for Fisherman’s Cove. “When I «vas talking to them in November, they were quite aware of how destructive the wash was in shallow water,” he said. Still, Paul said his group is doing its own assessment of the wake’s envi- ronmental impact: “There needs to be a full public inquiry of the fast ferry program.” ‘ . Taemtenteats : Original ly estimated to cost $210 million, the three-vessel fast ferry NEWS photo Julle Wverson program is now projected to cost $454 million, plorer has been . widely marketed by the provincial government for its ability to complete Tri bal rh hms the Horseshoe- Bay- to-Nanaimo trip in 65 minutes — 31 minutes less than

a standard BC ferry. Whittier said slowing the ferry down from its maxi- PERCUSSIONIST Maobong Oku, foreground, along with other members of the Eyen-isong

See Debris page 3 African Dance Ensemble, played traditional music at Lonsdale Quay’s Africa Day last Sunday.

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