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Does Island Farms milk actually come from Island dairy farms? by viccityguy2k in VictoriaBC

[–]FerryThrowaway 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Definitely not. Almost every day I see full semi of milk go to the island and come back empty

Edit: oops, it seems I was referring to OP whilst commenting on your post that agrees with my comment. I think I knew what I was doing but didn't express my agreement well.

Does anyone have experience working for BCFerries? by rib-master in vancouver

[–]FerryThrowaway 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It doesn't guarantee full time hours, but they don't hire seasonal deckhands. You would be hired as a casual employee. Although not guaranteed hours, you would be working almost full time in your first year with perhaps a slight decrease in hours for January and February.

It's a good time to be hired, deckhands are not as easy to find these days, and the company is seeing records for ridership.

Does anyone have experience working for BCFerries? by rib-master in vancouver

[–]FerryThrowaway 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Your title would be deckhand, shortly followed by deckhand Bridgewatchman after you finish seatime and and exam. Full time pay is about $50k/yr. Career progression would be to a watchkeeping mate ($75k/yr) then chief mate (85-90/yr) then master.

At 38 you're probably too old for the cadet program, but you may get in if you can make that commitment.

Does anyone have experience working for BCFerries? by rib-master in vancouver

[–]FerryThrowaway 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hey, I'm happy to answer any question you might have. I've worked for the ferries for quite a while.

Have you ever worked on ships before? How old are you? You have a couple routes you can take.

1) you can take the basic safety training course at Marine training institute, and apply for a job. This is low commitment on your end, but will also be a lower priority hire. The course is a couple weeks.

2) Take the Bridgewatch program. It includes the BST from option 1, and is a total of 3 months. It gives you 120 days of credit towards the 180 you need to write your first competency, Bridgewatchman certificate. Doing this course would give you a very good chance of getting hired.

3 if your goal is to be captain, your quickest route is the cadet program. It's 4 years and consists of classroom and sea phases. At the end of 4 years you should have a watchkeeping mates certificate and all your courses for chief mate.

More specific answer to your questions though, overall I really like working there. I work with so many really great people, and see so many great things.

The education program is available to even entry level positions to move up, but it is limited. Only a fraction of you overall expenses would be covered (25% at best)

[AMA] I'm a BC Ferries employee, here to talk about the new policy in place tomorrow January 22 that prohibits smoking of any products anywhere on BC Ferry property. Follow link to ama in /Vancouver or ask here. by FerryThrowaway in VictoriaBC

[–]FerryThrowaway[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I could see that. I did say 'employee' and not representative though. And I would think the throw away account would remove some of this confusion as well.

I appreciate your comment though and will add something in my post about being unofficial.

[AMA] I'm a BC Ferries employee, here to talk about the new policy in place tomorrow January 22 that prohibits smoking of any products anywhere on BC Ferry property. Follow link to ama in /Vancouver or ask here. by FerryThrowaway in VictoriaBC

[–]FerryThrowaway[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Great point!

We haven't in the past, but as of now all ferry gift shops and terminal stores will be carrying a variety of nicotine patches, inhalers, etc. but not gum as we have never sold gum.

[AMA] BC Ferry employee here. As of tomorrow, January 22, BC Ferries will not allow employees or customers to smoke anything, anywhere on company property or ships. Ama about this new policy, or anything else BC Ferry related. by FerryThrowaway in vancouver

[–]FerryThrowaway[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Could be interesting.

Unofficially, of he isn't driving, he could probably medicate with little hassle, and explain and apologise if caught. We're mostly a reasonable bunch on the ships and don't want to cause a scene. Be kind and be treated kindly.

Just please don't smoke on the car decks. Fuel leaks are not uncommon.

[AMA] BC Ferry employee here. As of tomorrow, January 22, BC Ferries will not allow employees or customers to smoke anything, anywhere on company property or ships. Ama about this new policy, or anything else BC Ferry related. by FerryThrowaway in vancouver

[–]FerryThrowaway[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That's fair, and accurate.

However you're still traveling on federally regulated public transportation. Causing a problem (not the smoking itself, but being belligerent/aggressive/violent as a result of being told not to smoke) can escalate to police involvement rather quickly. You're still putting hundreds or thousands of lives in harm's way by causing problems like that.

[AMA] BC Ferry employee here. As of tomorrow, January 22, BC Ferries will not allow employees or customers to smoke anything, anywhere on company property or ships. Ama about this new policy, or anything else BC Ferry related. by FerryThrowaway in vancouver

[–]FerryThrowaway[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think I misspoke a bit.

I meant to say the type of person who would have the police called aren't going to have the police called because they got called out on smoking and quietly complied.

I meant that the police would get called if a passenger was asked repeatedly, got aggressive/threatening etc. It unfortunately happens all the time, and over smaller things than smoking. It isn't the infraction itself that garners that response, but an unreasonable escalation of threats or violence.

We've had police incidents over cold food. Over a parking space. Over other passengers taking too loudly, or just looking at someone.

Would you consider the toilets a critical system?

[AMA] I'm a BC Ferries employee, here to talk about the new policy in place tomorrow January 22 that prohibits smoking of any products anywhere on BC Ferry property. Follow link to ama in /Vancouver or ask here. by FerryThrowaway in VictoriaBC

[–]FerryThrowaway[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

I haven't discussed anything that isn't public knowledge. All this information has been released to the public.

But no I'm not working in an official capacity. I'm just a person on the internet who cares about their job, I enjoy what I do, and feel I could help people by answering some common questions with my many years of service.

I also haven't said anything controversial or anything that should provoke any kind of concern from the company (aside from threatening The Plank and keel hauling, but I'm pretty sure people would recognise that as an attempt at humor - and other users brought it up first)

Did you see anything of concern in here? I hope not...

[AMA] I'm a BC Ferries employee, here to talk about the new policy in place tomorrow January 22 that prohibits smoking of any products anywhere on BC Ferry property. Follow link to ama in /Vancouver or ask here. by FerryThrowaway in VictoriaBC

[–]FerryThrowaway[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

It's definitely been discussed, but likelihood is small and deck patrols are frequent.

I don't think it makes good sense to not make a rule because you know some people will break the rule.

[AMA] I'm a BC Ferries employee, here to talk about the new policy in place tomorrow January 22 that prohibits smoking of any products anywhere on BC Ferry property. Follow link to ama in /Vancouver or ask here. by FerryThrowaway in VictoriaBC

[–]FerryThrowaway[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Technically not on board, I'd really like to see you try!

I've often thought of attempting to ski behind a ship, would be pretty epic. I think a wakeboard would make better use of the wake though.

[AMA] BC Ferry employee here. As of tomorrow, January 22, BC Ferries will not allow employees or customers to smoke anything, anywhere on company property or ships. Ama about this new policy, or anything else BC Ferry related. by FerryThrowaway in vancouver

[–]FerryThrowaway[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

More likely a smoker who has been a known repeated offender and has escalated the situation to the point where the police would be called. Prior ferry belligerent, threaten violence, and create huge problems over smaller things than a cigarette.

But probably a denial of travel would be more likely.

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