Starting this May, we here on the North Coast will have a beautiful, new fast ferry to take us back and forth between Rochester, NY, and Toronto, ON. It's been in the works for years, and it's finally becoming a reality. The ship was built in Austrailia, and is on it's way here right now. It will serve but one purpose: to ferry people and vehicles back and forth between the two cities. It will NEVER leave Lake Ontario to venture into international waters. The lake is split down the middle, between the US And Canada, so there are no international waters that apply to Lake Ontario. You will always be in American or Canadian waters while on board. Also, it will be docked here, on the American side. Each day it starts off from Rochester, and will be moored here during the night.

Well, it was announced today that this "Can-Am" vessel will have its port of registry in THE BAHAMAS! Now, if you know anything about maritime law, there's only one reason to do this: to evade American environmental, labor and safety laws. Most cruise ships are registered in the Bahamas for this very reason; they can employ the cheapest of foreign labor, maintain the barest of safety standards, and not worry about who's water they're polluting. They've been putting a real spin on it ("nothing to worry about, we're a reputable company, we'll only hire Americans..."), but I can't believe they can get away with this. This boat will never see international waters, IT WILL NEVER SAIL TO THE BAHAMAS!

Am I over-reacting, or are these folks running a real end-run on local laws? Add in that the US and Canada have spent $41 million in tax dollars on this thing, and I find it a real slap-in-the face. Waht do y'all think?

 

They'll hire "South Americans" of course...

Caribean registry is a pure tax evasion.

 

Sounds a little underhanded to me.More people need to be aware of what is taking place.

 

That should not surprise anyone. Business is business. What company is running the line?

There are trucking firms in Arizona that register all of their tuck and trailers in Oregon, because of the taxes in Arizona. It is so blatant that on the truck it states that they are an Arizona company, but I have yet to see one of their truck with an Arizona registration.

 

If you want to talk about a Ferry scandal ask those of us who live in BC. If any of you have heard of the Fast Ferry fiasco you will know exactly what I am talking about.

Glen Clark British Columbias premier went ahead and got 3 of these Fast Cats (Fast Ferries) built for a total cost of $500 million dollars.

After running these ferries in there designated runs for a few trips they realized that the ferries were to fast and created too many waves for the local shores to handle, thus making them useless for the runs we have.

After trying and trying the provincial government finally sold them to a local entrepeneur Kyle Washington owner of Seaspan (a barging company). The final bill for the sale was a nice total of $21 million dollars. Not only did they sell the ships for a huge loss but that included all the utensils and dishes that were aboard the ferries.

The worst part is that Kyle Washington is a very smart business man and he will probably convert these fast ferries from diesel power to gas turbine and lease them back to the government.

 

Let's add a story about our New Prime Minister who owns/ed the company *Canadian Steamship Lines* (CSL).

He was also the Canadian Finance Minister for 10 years.

To help in being elected leader of the governing party he was Forced to sell CSL. So he sells it to his Kids.

This.. he thinks is Okay thing to do.

Well One more tiny bit of info.

CSL is not registered with Canada, it is registered in the Bahamas as well.

Why?

Because this way he can avoid paying Canadian TAXES.

 

I think it should be registered in either Canada or the U.S., otherwise give them the boot.

 

Hey 1956MarkII, wait till they raise the taxes in our area to support this joke when its revenue can't support it's expenses. Who the heck wants to come to Rochester from Toronto?!? The business plan must be something to marvel...I can't comprehend how this thing is going to turn a profit. Maybe I'm just being pessimistic.