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FastFerryTickets.com Need help? E-Mail sales@FastFerryTickets.com Notice FastFerryTickets.com is not the official CATS Fast Ferry Website. We sell the Passport To Savings discounted boarding pass. To make standard priced reservations please visit www.TheBreeze.com To contact FastFerryTickets.com please e-mail sales@fastferrytickets.com
The Ship Can you compare the
dimensions of the Spirit of Ontario with the Ontario No. 1 and Ontario
No. 2? The last trip was in 1950. (The Democrat and Chronicle will soon publish a story about the city’s once-rich ferry history.) The Ontario No. 1 was 317 feet long and 54 feet wide and weighed 5,146 tons, according to the Maritime Museum of the Great Lakes at Kingston. It was licensed for 900 passengers. The Ontario No. 2 was 308 feet long and 54 feet wide and weighed 5,568 tons. The Spirit of Ontario — which is made of aluminum — is 284 feet long and 78 feet wide and weighs more than 1,400 tons. Has anyone
tried to take a boat under the ferry? The ferry apparently presented an irresistible target. Lucky for the kayaker that he or she was gone by the time the U.S. Coast Guard responded. William Mosgrober, chief of the Coast Guard in Rochester, said the unidentified kayaker committed a willful violation of the ferry’s security zone, an offense punishable by a $250,000 fine and six years in federal prison. By the way, Mosgrober said the fine for an unintentional encroachment into the zone — 25 yards when the vessel is in port, 100 yards when it is in the open lake — carries a fine of up to $32,500. Officials earlier said the fine would be $10,000. How much
does the ship weigh? How fast is the ferry? What's to
prevent the ferry from crashing into a floating log or other debris
while zipping along at more than 50 mph? The ship is designed to create a “force field” of sorts when traveling at a high speed, he said. A wave precedes the ship, and logs and other debris are pushed to the side, he said. The ferry is also equipped with infrared radar that can detect temperature changes in the water up to a mile, meaning the captain will see any ice floe ahead, Mansfield said. The ship also was built to be able to stay afloat even if it suffers a 50-meter gash below the waterline in one of its hulls. The ferry would list only 9 degrees, Mansfield said. How much diesel fuel can the ferry carry and how
will it fuel up? The Spirit of Rochester is a 150-foot-long ship that provides pleasure rides, dinner cruises and trips to various destinations around Lake Ontario during the summer season. It also docks on the Genesee River. The ship is available for rent. And Suhr is more than happy to shuttle passengers over to Toronto or other destinations such as the Thousand Islands. The ship is a popular trip for schoolchildren so Suhr doesn't think the new ferry will hurt his business. The dinner cruises are also popular, he said. "People love it because they are floating along and eating their steak," he said. Suhr expects the ship will be operating soon. For more
details about the Spirit of Rochester, call (585) 663-0088 or (585)
865-4930. What is the draft of The Breeze
when loaded and empty, and how much did they have to dredge the Genesee
River to accommodate the ship? When the Spirit of Ontario is fully loaded, the draft is 3.4 meters or 11.1 feet. It is about half a meter less when the ship is empty, said Bob Mansfield, technical director for Canadian American Transportation Systems, the company launching the ferry. The city
supervised the dredging of the Genesee River to make room for the ferry.
The depth near the ferry terminal is now about 20 feet, leaving plenty
of room to navigate. Can the ship’s water
propulsion system really fill an Olympic-size pool in 35
seconds? Also, how many engines are there? Are they diesel? How many
horsepower for each and in total? The ship features four diesel engines made by MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH. Austal Ships, the Australian shipbuilder, and MTU say the Spirit of Ontario is the “world’s most powerful diesel-powered high-speed catamaran.” Two MTU 20-cylinder engines are located in each hull of the ferry. Each engine has a maximum horsepower of about 11,000, with a total horsepower of about 44,000 at a rated speed of 1,150 rpm, according to the company. Each engine has the equivalent power of 90 PT Cruisers, MTU says. There is a giant Canadian maple leaf logo on the side
of the ship. How come there is no American flag? Is the ferry accessible to handicapped people?
”The boat is fully accessible,” said CATS President Howard Thomas. “It has been designed in conjunction with the United States disability act standards.” The ship has an elevator and a special seating area for
wheelchairs, he noted. What sort of lifesaving
equipment is on the ship? The ship also has nine life rafts capable of carrying a total of 900 people in case passengers must be taken off the ferry. Four giant slides - just like the ones used on airplanes - would be released in emergencies and people would slide into the life rafts. Two high-speed crafts also are located at the rear of the ship. They would be used to locate people who have fallen overboard, for example.
Are there medical services available onboard? He noted that medical services on the ship
will be similar to those available on airplanes or other modes of
transportation where workers handle the emergencies. Will recreational boaters be notified of ferry departures and arrivals? Yes. Ferry captains intend to stick to their published timetable. But a pilot aboard the ferry also will announce on marine radio channels 13 and 16 when the ferry is preparing to get under way and when it is approaching the port, CATS officials say. How will the ferry affect fish in the Genesee River and along the pier? No need to worry, said Sean Hanna, regional director of the state Department of Environmental Conservation. ”Fish will probably move away from the ferry jet wash, but not permanently,” he said. “After the water calms down, the fish should return to their previous position.” Can the ferry handle nasty weather on Lake
Ontario? The ferry can
handle waves how high? How smooth is the ferry ride?
What will the ride be like in high waves? Are travelers likely to get
seasick? ”We’re not going to be rolling and pitching very much,” said William Bennett, terminal manager in Toronto, who has captained cruise ships through rough seas in the Arctic. He predicts the ride will be relatively smooth: “It will be more like an airplane than a train or a car.” On the roughest-weather days, the boat will crash into waves rather than sway from side to side, which is easier on the stomach, he says: “You’ll feel a shuddering as if you’re hitting something.” BACK TO TOP But nobody should kid themselves. Just as some people get sick on massive cruise ships, some people surely will experience seasickness on the ferry. Passengers did get seasick on Rochester’s last regular car and passenger ferries -- the Ontario No. 1 and Ontario No. 2, said Ted Rafuse, author of Coal to Canada: A History of the Ontario Car Ferry Company. ”Lake
Ontario is not the most friendly body of water to sail upon,” he
said. The ships traveled between Rochester and Cobourg between 1907 and
1950. Ice rarely forms on the river to the degree that it would affect the ship, said William Price, Rochester’s port project manager. "We just experienced one of the coldest Januarys on record and there’s no ice on the river," he said. Will the
Genesee River be closed when the ferry sails? How will the ferry make it to Lake Ontario from
the Atlantic Ocean? The answer to both those questions is: Neither. Apparently, they have forgotten about a little body of water called the St. Lawrence Seaway, which connects the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. The ferry, which is 284 feet long and 78 feet wide, was specially designed to squeeze through the canals on the Seaway. For more details about the Seaway, go
to: www.greatlakes-seaway.com. Can owners of recreational vehicles and campers bring propane tanks on the ship? Small portable propane tanks for personal recreational use may be carried aboard the ship in limited quantities, according to the ferry company. Passengers wishing to transport propane must give advance notice to CATS prior to arrival. Tanks must be properly secured in a vehicle and turned off before loading on board the vessel. A car marshal and the vessel crew will verify the location and proper storage of tanks. Can a U.S. resident go to Canada, buy prescription drugs and bring them back on the ferry? Yes, but there are limits. U.S. residents can "import up to 50 dosage units of controlled medication without a valid prescription at an international land border," according to the U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection. "These medications must be declared upon arrival, be for your own personal use and in their original container." Even then, some medications might not be allowed in the country if they haven't been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. "Unapproved new drugs are any drugs, including foreign-made versions of U.S. approved drugs, that have not received FDA approval to demonstrate they meet the federal requirements for safety and effectiveness," according to the FDA.
For more details, go to: www.fda.gov/importeddrugs. A combination of staff training and passengers using good judgment, Thomas said The ship has two bars. The drinking age on the ferry is 21. What restrictions, if any, are there for
recreational vehicles? But RV owners should make reservations to ensure there is space available on the ship, he added. There’s only so much room on the vehicle decks and the exact number of vehicles on board will depend on the length of those vehicles. For example, a 26-foot recreational vehicle takes up more space than a Mini Cooper. It also costs more. Vehicles between 20 and 29 feet cost $60; 30 to 39 feet, $78; and 40 to 49 feet, $105. This doesn’t include fees for the driver and any passengers. For a breakdown of all the fares or questions on pricing, go to: www.thebreeze.com or call (585) 227-2287. Can I bring a bicycle
on board? "No, there will be no gambling on the ship, and at this point it’s not even under consideration," said CATS President Howard Thomas. What is the drinking age on the ship? The legal drinking age in New York is 21, but it is 19 in Ontario. The drinking age on the ship will be 21. Do you drive your own vehicle on and off the ship, or does CATS do it for you? Passengers will drive their own vehicles onto and off the ship. They will then either take the stairs or an elevator to the upper passenger decks. Can you
smoke on the ship? Is there an age restriction for buying a ticket without a
parent? CATS will operate two parking lots near the ferry terminal. A short-term lot contains 60 spots for day-trippers. Long-term, overnight parking consists of 200 spots. Parking at the short-term lot will be $2 for a maximum of two hours; the daily, or 12-hour rate is $5. Long-term, or 24-hour parking, will cost $10. But many people are worried that there isnt enough parking for ferry-goers. The ship can carry up to 774 passengers and will make three trips a day during the summer season. That means plenty of people might leave their vehicles in the parking lot and it could fill up quickly. The long-term solution, according to the city, is building a multilevel parking garage near the site. But that wont be built for about three years, said Deputy Mayor Jeffrey Carlson. "We believe that we can accommodate parking on a temporary basis for a couple of seasons until we get a garage there," he said. If there are problems, the city may use other parking lots away from the Port of Rochester and shuttle people to the ferry terminal, he added. The Rochester-Genesee Regional Transportation Authority is encouraging people to take the bus to the terminal. RGRTA has a whole page dedicated to the ferry at its Web site: www.rgrta.com. Another worry is how the ferry parking will co-exist with parking for Ontario Beach Park. People going on the ferry will be barred from parking in the free beach lots, Carlson said, and that will be strictly enforced. The city also wont permit any overnight parking at the beach lots, he added. How much merchandise can someone buy in Canada without paying duty fees?Travelers may bring back $800 worth of duty-free goods. But there are plenty of restrictions. For example, you must have spent more than 48 hours in Canada, acquired the goods for your personal use and hadn’t used that personal exemption within the last 30 days. Also, you must declare the items or risk having them seized. There also are restrictions on tobacco and alcohol. For example, only one liter of alcohol, 200 cigarettes and 100 cigars may be included in the $800 exemption. People who have spent less than 48 hours in Canada are eligible for a $200 personal exemption and allowed to bring back fewer cigarettes and cigars, and less alcohol. Yes, it is confusing. Here’s an example provided by the U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection: If you buy $2,500 worth of goods in Canada, you would be charged a flat 3 percent duty for merchandise beyond your $800 duty-free limit. In other words, you’d be required to pay $51. Travelers also have some misconceptions about duty-free shops. Just because you purchase goods in such a shop doesn’t mean items aren’t subject to duty fees. You still can’t exceed your personal exemption. For more details, go to: www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/leavingarrivinginUS/vacation/ know_brochure/. Will there be a minimum number of passengers and/or
cars/buses/trucks that will have to be on the ferry for it to set sail
on a given cruise? He noted that the ferry always has to get to the other side to pick up passengers. But he also conceded that a trip could be canceled if there were only a few people booked on consecutive voyages. "I doubt it will happen," he said. What type of movies will be
shown in the theaters aboard the Spirit of Ontario and are they
free? Canadian American Transportation Systems, the private Rochester company launching the ferry service, plans to offer free movies for passengers. Don’t expect first-run films that are appearing in regular movie houses, though. And don’t expect anything racy or R-rated movies that haven’t been scrubbed clean. The films are expected to be family fare. Or, in some cases, the company may offer special presentations tailored to a specific group of passengers. For example, if the ship is filled with Yankee fans headed to a baseball game in Toronto, one of the theaters could show a Yankee highlight film. The theaters are available for rental, but the company wants only one rented at a time so other passengers aren’t shut out. If you’re not into movies, the ship also has numerous televisions hanging from the ceiling that will offer various satellite programming. What
does the business class feature? For $33 one-way -- the regular walk-on fare is $28 -- travelers can park their fannies on leather sofas while the regular folks are provided with airplane-style seating. If you drive your car on and want to sit in the business area, it'll cost you $40 for the car and $33 for the business class ticket, as opposed to the regular $20 fee in addition to the car. Passengers in the business class also enjoy food and drink service at their seats (rather than going over to the bar or restaurant on their own). They are given priority loading and unloading privileges, meaning they'll head through customs first. There also are work stations available for those folks who just can't get in enough work. But the section isn't separated from other areas by walls or curtains, such as first-class sections on an airplane. Will holders
of a NEXUS pass have express clearance through customs? Why? There are only a number of limited traffic lanes to handle people leaving the ship and customs officials want to keep the customs lines moving. If one lane were dedicated to NEXUS, there’s a strong possibility it wouldn’t be used enough to justify it and one customs officer would be twiddling his or her thumbs while other lanes backed up. That said, customs officials added that if there is a demand for a dedicated NEXUS lane, they would consider it in the future. NEXUS is
a joint program of U.S. and Canadian customs. For a $50 fee, good for
five years, a motorist can be pre-screened as a low-risk international
traveler and use a special, dedicated lane to pass across the border
with little or no delay. Will parking be available for
people boarding the ferry? "There will be paid parking but we have not determined the cost," said CATS President Howard Thomas. A closed-circuit camera system will provide security, he said. People will not be able to park in areas designated for Ontario Beach Park, said William Price, the city’s port project manager. If they do, their vehicles will be ticketed and/or towed, he said. How will trucks using the ferry
get to or out of the Port of Rochester, considering they are not
permitted on the Lake Ontario Parkway? Also, commercial truck traffic is allowed on the parkway, but only from Lake Avenue to Latta Road. Then trucks use Latta Road to connect with Route 390. The city plans to seek state approval to allow commercial vehicles on the parkway from Route 390 to Lake Avenue. The ferry can accommodate 10 trucks. What about carry-on luggage? How do
you buy tickets? Where will the
ferry dock in Toronto? The port boasts an impressive view of the Toronto skyline and downtown is just across the harbor. But no one should fool themselves that they will be able to walk to downtown. The port is about a mile trek through the industrial area. Ironically, while many Rochester residents are worried that visitors won’t have much to do when they get off the ship in Charlotte, many Canadians are worried that the first impression of Toronto will be of a commercial port and grungy industrial area. And while the city of Rochester has been busy building a ferry terminal at the Port of Rochester, the Port Authority has yet to start construction on a permanent terminal in Toronto. But not to worry, the Port Authority says: A temporary terminal will be in place. The Port Authority, Canadian Border Services Agency and Canadian American Transportation Systems, the Rochester-based company launching the ferry, are still negotiating details about the permanent terminal. So, if you don't
take your car on the ferry to Canada, how will you get from the port to
downtown Toronto? The bus will connect to the city subway system and pass a couple of prime tourist attractions along the way, including the Distillery Historic District and the Esplanade area, said Marilyn Bolton, a TTC spokeswoman. "If you get to the subway in Toronto, you’re well on your way," she said. As a side, the subway is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. The one-way cost to ride is $2.25 (Canadian). The TTC will accept U.S. coins, but don’t expect any discount or money back, Bolton said. The TTC also offers an unlimited day pass for $7.75 (Canadian). There will be other options available, CATS President Howard Thomas said. Taxis and shuttles will serve
the port. And water taxis will take passengers from the port to the
southern tip of downtown across the harbor, he added. The newspaper has
told its readers where to go in Toronto, but what about where not to
go? The Toronto Police Service wanted nothing to do with answering that question, saying it didn’t want to tick off anybody living or working in what it identifies as an undesirable area. A spokeswoman suggested people ask their hotel concierge. Concierge Louie Naccarato, who works at the Courtyard by Marriott Downtown Toronto, said it’s a common question from tourists. “You can walk anywhere in our city without any fear,” he said. “Our whole city is very safe. The whole downtown core is safe.” He advises hotel guests to just use common sense — such as not heading down back alleys. The Rough Guide to Toronto, a 256-page travel book, calls Toronto “one of the safest cities in North America and although there are a few crime hotspots, these are mostly on the city’s peripheries.” It goes on to say: “Although generally you can walk around the city without fear of harassment or assault, certain parts of Toronto are decidedly shady and neither is the overall downtown atmosphere improved by the large number of (sometimes aggressive) beggars. There are no clearly defined ‘no-go’ areas as such, though Sherbourne Street to the south of Queen Street East comes close — but on the other hand, pockets of seedy roughness are dotted here and there seemingly at random.” Naccarato agreed that visitors shouldn’t head to the Sherbourne-Queen area, but mainly because there’s nothing there for tourists to see and not because it’s overly unsafe. Names, events, Rochester community and business The newspaper publicized the
name of the winner of the "Name the Ferry" contest earlier this year but
not all the runners-up. There were other winners, weren't there? At the newspaper’s request, CATS supplied us with the following names and spellings. The names also can be found at www.thebreeze.com/ASP/ContestWinners.asp. There were 18 runners-up who won $100 gift certificates to ride the ferry: Wayne McNeilly and Jackie VanGeel, both of Brampton, Ontario; Dugan, Gary Genthner, Steven Kitzman, Donna Mandell and Monica Treviso, all of Fairport; Cynthia Weaver of Geneseo, Livingston County; Ronald Bidulka of Oakville, Ontario; John Sepp of Penfield; Dian Tiedt of Pittsford; Cindy Clauss, Larry Gartz, Christopher Lautenschlager and Cara Malone, all of Rochester; and Paula Dobesh and Petra Land, both of Webster, Other winners were: Doreen Souch of Oshawa, Ontario, plasma television; Jeff Chapman of Toronto, home theater system; Jason Cring of Hamlin, home computer system; and Rachel Wilton of Toronto, Donna Serafino of Fairport and Diane Ticknow of Oakville, digital cameras. Why aren't the ship and the
ferry terminal open for public tours? The company still needs safety approval from the U.S. Coast Guard and Transport Canada to begin operating. CATS also must make plenty of trial runs between Rochester and Toronto, and train its crew. The company also needs to stock the bars and restaurant, and the duty-free shop. It also needs to install plenty of equipment in the arcade, children's play area and small movie theaters, for example. Quite honestly, the company also wants people to buy tickets and ride the ship instead of just walking through for free. The ferry terminal won't open until the ship is ready to sail. Is the name of the ship the
Spirit of Ontario or The Breeze? CATS
held a much-publicized "Name the Ferry" contest. That confused a lot of
people because they thought the winning entry would be the official name
of the ship. So why is it the Spirit of
Ontario 1? CATS hopes one day to have a Spirit of Ontario 2. Are area businesses ready to accept Canadian
currency? Lee Selover, president of the Charlotte Harbor Merchants Association, said the issue of accepting Canadian money has been discussed at the group’s meetings. Some businesses have even purchased special cash registers that handle the exchange rate, he said. He and others say complaints that the Rochester area isn’t ready are much ado about nothing. Currency exchange areas are expected to be on the ferry and inside the new ferry terminal in Charlotte so Canadian visitors will have ample opportunity to exchange their cash before heading off into the community, they noted. Many foreign visitors also use credit cards or simply get cash out of ATMs. Bryon Fountain,
manager of the Chase Manhattan bank on Lake Avenue, said his bank
accepts Canadian currency now. Paula Vullo, owner of the Hospitality House in Penfield and president of the Rochester chapter of the New York State Restaurant Association, said many restaurants now accept Canadian money so she doesn’t see it as a major issue. Finances, ownership, the crew,
CATS, RGRTA The sewage will be pumped into the city sewage system and the trash will be removed by a trash contractor and placed in an authorized dump, CATS says. How is the
Rochester-Genesee Regional Transportation Authority preparing for the
ferry? That Lake Avenue bus line is one of the most active in the system so there’s no reason to beef up service at this point, said Don Riley, chief executive of RGRTA. But the challenge in Rochester is a little different than in Toronto. Downtown Rochester is about nine miles away. RGRTA plans to greet people when the ship pulls in. "Our plan is to actually have people on the grounds meeting passengers for the first few months and give passengers a packet with (free) bus passes and route information and anything else they need," Riley said. RGRTA will accept Canadian money and hopes to persuade the TTC to accept each other’s bus passes, he said. A one-way fare in Rochester is $1.25. "We’re going to try to put our best foot
forward," Riley said. "I don’t want anybody getting off
the boat saying something bad about public transportation." When will the ferry arrive at the Port of
Rochester? Austal, the Australian shipbuilder that’s delivering the ship to Rochester, said Friday that the ferry will likely leave New York City on Monday afternoon. The trip will take about five days, depending on the weather. That means the ferry could pull into the Port of Rochester as early as next weekend. The ship had been visiting New York for several promotional events. But on April 1, the ship struck a pier while docking, putting a long gash and a hole in the vessel above the waterline. Austal has been repairing the ship since the accident. Canadian American Transportation Systems, the private company launching the ferry, had hoped the ship would be in Rochester around April 1. The company also had planned to begin regular passenger service on May 1, but the launch date has been delayed because of the accident. A new launch date has not been announced. People can track the progress of the ferry on the Internet as it makes its way to Lake Ontario. Go to www.purplefinder.com. The user name is “cats” and password is “facec8ev.” Is the city planning a public ceremony when the ship
arrives? But the city isn’t planning a public ceremony. Instead, the city will hold a big celebration on the day of the inaugural passenger voyage. That date hasn’t been set yet by CATS. City Council President Lois Giess said she expects many people will show up when the ship arrives. ”This is really going to be a big time for Rochester,” she said. “It almost doesn’t matter what we do. The people will make the celebration.” What financial commitments
have been made by the state and city if the project falters? Would they
pump money into the ferry to keep it afloat, so to speak? The state has invested $14 million in loans and grants in the project. ”There are no (state) commitments to provide cash down the road,” said Assemblyman Joseph Morelle, D-Irondequoit. “That isn’t to say that they couldn’t come back to us and make an argument for it.” But Morelle also doubted that the state would invest any more money in the project, especially if it’s not successful. The city has committed $1.3 million in the form of a loan to build the ship. About $16 million also is being spent to build a ferry terminal and border crossing along the river, and $3.1 million went toward dock improvements and dredging. The majority of that money, $12 million, is coming from the federal government, with the remainder coming from Rochester. Giess also said the city has no plans to help with operating costs. The city is committed, though, to rebuilding its port, she added. ”It’s been too long since we’ve been a viable port,” Giess said.
What is life
like for the crew as the ship makes its way from Australia to
Rochester? The ferry is running 24 hours a day, except for the few times it has stopped in ports. The crew works a “watch system” — a few hours on duty followed by a few hours off. ”When not working they sleep, relax and also do normal everyday things like their laundry. There is a washing machine and dryer onboard for the delivery voyage,” said Andrew Jeffs, a spokesman for Austal Ships, which is delivering the vessel to the Port of Rochester. ”The crew sleep in the main passenger cabin, wherever they can find a quiet, private place with plenty of floor area,” he added. “They sleep on mattresses on the floor and have full bedding. The cabin is fully enclosed and climate controlled so they do not have to worry about the weather outside.” There’s also a full-time professional chef. ”The chef prepares three meals a day, just as you would have ashore, and there has been quite a variety of different cuisines provided,” Jeffs said. “We certainly haven’t heard any complaints about the food from the crew.” As for entertainment, the crew installed a makeshift basketball hoop on the vehicle deck. ”There has been some one-on-one basketball played on the vehicle deck when the seas have been calm, and a quite competitive chess tournament,” he said. “The crew also have books, personal stereos and the like. They are also able to communicate with their families and loved ones by e-mail.” Some of the crew will stay on when the ship starts service on Lake Ontario, he said. The captain will not be among them. Canadian American Transportation Systems, the private Rochester company launching the service, has already hired three captains. How can I get a job with
CATS? "The overwhelming number of positions are now filled," said CATS President Howard Thomas. For example, the company has already hired its three captains. There are some positions still available, but they are mainly for answering telephones and sales, Thomas said. The company employs nearly 200 workers, he said. He said people can call the company at (585) 663-0790 and talk with Glenn Gardner, the director of human resources. Employment details also are available online at www.thebreeze .com. Has CATS ever made public how
many people would have to patronize the ferry on a weekly/monthly basis
to either break even or maybe even make a profit? But CATS CEO Dominick DeLucia stated at a public meeting Wednesday at the University of Rochester that it would take about 450,000 passengers annually for his company to break even. That averages out to about 1,230 passengers a day. The company counts each one-way trip as a passenger. During the peak summer season when the company will offer six rides back and forth, the maximum number of passengers who could ride the ferry each day is 4,644. Will the
Spirit of Ontario affect the Spirit of Rochester? What type of movies will be
shown in the theaters aboard the Spirit of Ontario and are they
free? Canadian American Transportation Systems, the private Rochester company launching the ferry service, plans to offer free movies for passengers. Don’t expect first-run films that are appearing in regular movie houses, though. And don’t expect anything racy or R-rated movies that haven’t been scrubbed clean. The films are expected to be family fare. Or, in some cases, the company may offer special presentations tailored to a specific group of passengers. For example, if the ship is filled with Yankee fans headed to a baseball game in Toronto, one of the theaters could show a Yankee highlight film. The theaters are available for rental, but the company wants only one rented at a time so other passengers aren’t shut out. If you’re not into
movies, the ship also has numerous televisions hanging from the ceiling
that will offer various satellite programming. CATS once
talked about expanding its ferry service to Oswego. What’s the
status of that? But CATS is focusing on getting the Spirit of Ontario off the ground first. ”Our intention is to grow this company,” he said. “Our job is to get a second boat in the water.” Right now, CATS would be prohibited from taking the ferry from Rochester to Oswego or Niagara Falls because it will be registered with the Bahamas Maritime Authority. Foreign-registered vessels are barred from traveling between two U.S. or two Canadian ports. Interestingly, The Post-Standard in Syracuse reported this week that the Port of Hamilton in Canada is working on a deal to start a cargo and truck ferry that would run from Hamilton to Oswego. The goal is to reduce truck traffic at the Buffalo, Lew-iston and Niagara Falls border crossings, officials told the newspaper. The cost hasn’t been determined. That ferry would handle trailers and not the truck cabs. CATS also wants to capture the commercial truck market.
The Spirit of Ontario has room for 10 trucks — cab and trailer.
Courtesy of the Democrat and Chronicle
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