Bay Ferries Great Lakes
Encyclopedia
Bay Ferries Great Lakes was a marketing name used by Bay Ferries Management Limited, a subsidiary of Northumberland Ferries Limited
(NFL).
In February 2005 Rochester Ferry Company LLC, a subsidiary of the City of Rochester, New York
purchased the high speed catamaran ferry Spirit of Ontario I in a bankruptcy auction after previous owner Canadian American Transportation Systems
(CATS) shut down the inaugural service in summer 2004 after it operated for 11 weeks.
In April 2005, Rochester Ferry Company LLC selected NFL as the operator of the ferry service using Spirit of Ontario I between Rochester and Toronto, Ontario. NFL had established Great Lakes Ferries Limited on March 31 but the name was subsequently changed only days later to Bay Ferries Management Limited on April 13.http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/cgi-bin/sc_mrksv/corpdir/dataOnline/corpns_re?company_select=6370969 The company was registered in the State of New York (Monroe County) on June 29 of that yearhttp://appsext8.dos.state.ny.us/corp_public/CORPSEARCH.ENTITY_INFORMATION?p_nameid=3226847&p_corpid=3224715&p_entity_name=%62%61%79%20%66%65%72%72%69%65%73&p_name_type=%25&p_search_type=%42%45%47%49%4E%53&p_srch_results_page=0.
The company began using the name Bay Ferries Great Lakes, borrowing from the name of NFL's other high speed ferry subsidiary Bay Ferries Limited, to refer to its contracted operation on Lake Ontario on behalf of the Rochester Ferry Company LLC.
Bay Ferries Great Lakes announced that the service using Spirit of Ontario I would no longer use the CATS marketing name "The Breeze"; instead the service would be known as "The Cat", similar to the high speed ferry service operated by its sister company Bay Ferries Ltd. between Yarmouth, Nova Scotia
and Bar Harbor, Maine
since 1998.
Ferry operation resumed June 30, 2005. The fall 2005 season saw very light traffic using the ferry service and coupled with rising costs from record fuel prices, BFGL announced on December 8 that the vessel would stop service for the season effective December 12. BFGL committed to trying to find a winter charter for the vessel in the Caribbean
to help off-set the high summer operating costs following the 2006 operating season.
On January 10, 2006, newly elected mayor of Rochester Robert Duffy announced that the city government would not be approving the ferry board's request for additional funding for the city's subsidiary Rochester Ferry Company LLC so that the service could resume in the summer. This effectively killed any hope that Spirit of Ontario I will return to its Lake Ontario operation. The city of Rochester owed BFGL $2.5 million in a revenue guarantee and the vessel will likely be sold.
BFGL was contracted by the City of Rochester to manage the vessel in mothball status at the Rochester ferry terminal until a buyer could be found. In December 2006 the vessel was moved from Lake Ontario to Halifax and later Shelburne, Nova Scotia
, to ensure the vessel's movement to a buyer wasn't restricted by the seasonal closure of the St. Lawrence Seaway.
On April 2, 2007 the City of Rochester announced that it had sold the ferry to a German company for $30 million (USD).http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070402/NEWS01/70402024 Presumably BFGL will be dissolved following completion of the sale.
As of 2007 Bay Ferries Management Limited is still an active company on the corporate registries for Canada (federal incorporation) and the state of New York (state incorporation), however the use of Bay Ferries Great Lakes appears to have been discontinued pending the sale of the Spirit of Ontario I.
Northumberland Ferries Limited
Northumberland Ferries Limited is a ferry company operating in eastern Canada and headquartered in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island...
(NFL).
In February 2005 Rochester Ferry Company LLC, a subsidiary of the City of Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
purchased the high speed catamaran ferry Spirit of Ontario I in a bankruptcy auction after previous owner Canadian American Transportation Systems
Canadian American Transportation Systems
Canadian American Transportation Systems, or "CATS", was a company based in Rochester, New York which initiated a passenger/vehicle ferry service on Lake Ontario, connecting Rochester with Toronto....
(CATS) shut down the inaugural service in summer 2004 after it operated for 11 weeks.
In April 2005, Rochester Ferry Company LLC selected NFL as the operator of the ferry service using Spirit of Ontario I between Rochester and Toronto, Ontario. NFL had established Great Lakes Ferries Limited on March 31 but the name was subsequently changed only days later to Bay Ferries Management Limited on April 13.http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/cgi-bin/sc_mrksv/corpdir/dataOnline/corpns_re?company_select=6370969 The company was registered in the State of New York (Monroe County) on June 29 of that yearhttp://appsext8.dos.state.ny.us/corp_public/CORPSEARCH.ENTITY_INFORMATION?p_nameid=3226847&p_corpid=3224715&p_entity_name=%62%61%79%20%66%65%72%72%69%65%73&p_name_type=%25&p_search_type=%42%45%47%49%4E%53&p_srch_results_page=0.
The company began using the name Bay Ferries Great Lakes, borrowing from the name of NFL's other high speed ferry subsidiary Bay Ferries Limited, to refer to its contracted operation on Lake Ontario on behalf of the Rochester Ferry Company LLC.
Bay Ferries Great Lakes announced that the service using Spirit of Ontario I would no longer use the CATS marketing name "The Breeze"; instead the service would be known as "The Cat", similar to the high speed ferry service operated by its sister company Bay Ferries Ltd. between Yarmouth, Nova Scotia
Yarmouth, Nova Scotia
Yarmouth is a town and fishing port located on the Gulf of Maine in rural southwestern Nova Scotia, Canada. It is the shire town of Yarmouth County. The town is located in the heart of the world's largest lobster fishing grounds and has Canada's highest lobster catch.- History :The townsite may...
and Bar Harbor, Maine
Bar Harbor, Maine
Bar Harbor is a town on Mount Desert Island in Hancock County, Maine, United States. As of the 2010 census, its population is 5,235. Bar Harbor is a famous summer colony in the Down East region of Maine. It is home to the College of the Atlantic, Jackson Laboratory and Mount Desert Island...
since 1998.
Ferry operation resumed June 30, 2005. The fall 2005 season saw very light traffic using the ferry service and coupled with rising costs from record fuel prices, BFGL announced on December 8 that the vessel would stop service for the season effective December 12. BFGL committed to trying to find a winter charter for the vessel in the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
to help off-set the high summer operating costs following the 2006 operating season.
On January 10, 2006, newly elected mayor of Rochester Robert Duffy announced that the city government would not be approving the ferry board's request for additional funding for the city's subsidiary Rochester Ferry Company LLC so that the service could resume in the summer. This effectively killed any hope that Spirit of Ontario I will return to its Lake Ontario operation. The city of Rochester owed BFGL $2.5 million in a revenue guarantee and the vessel will likely be sold.
BFGL was contracted by the City of Rochester to manage the vessel in mothball status at the Rochester ferry terminal until a buyer could be found. In December 2006 the vessel was moved from Lake Ontario to Halifax and later Shelburne, Nova Scotia
Shelburne, Nova Scotia
Shelburne is a town located in southwestern Nova Scotia, Canada. It is the shire town of Shelburne County.-History:-Settlers:...
, to ensure the vessel's movement to a buyer wasn't restricted by the seasonal closure of the St. Lawrence Seaway.
On April 2, 2007 the City of Rochester announced that it had sold the ferry to a German company for $30 million (USD).http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070402/NEWS01/70402024 Presumably BFGL will be dissolved following completion of the sale.
As of 2007 Bay Ferries Management Limited is still an active company on the corporate registries for Canada (federal incorporation) and the state of New York (state incorporation), however the use of Bay Ferries Great Lakes appears to have been discontinued pending the sale of the Spirit of Ontario I.
Fleet
BFGL operated this vessel under contract for the Rochester Ferry Company LLC:- HSC Spirit of Ontario I
Facilities
BFGL operated these facilities under contract for the Rochester Ferry Company LLC:- Toronto Marine Terminal, a two-storey steel and glass structure was built by the Toronto Port AuthorityToronto Port AuthorityThe Toronto Port Authority is a Canadian port authority responsible for management of the harbour of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, including the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport...
for the ferry service at the foot of Cherry Street. The terminal consisted of a lounge, custom facilities and some retail space. Now called International Marine Passenger Terminal and used as docking area is now used by cruise ships. It has also been used as a filming location.
- Rochester Ferry Terminal, a two-storey brick and glass structure with a clock tower in the front entrance built by the City of Rochester for the ferry service. A boarding area (called the "Greenhouse") was attached to the main terminal building which contained custom facilities, lounge and retail space.
External links
- Fast Ferry: Toronto to Rochester - Official Bay Ferries site for Rochester Fast Ferry service
- The Fast Ferry - Coverage by the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle