Mill Bay
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Long Suffering Bosun
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Post by Mill Bay on May 6, 2011 17:11:15 GMT -8
Not sure who's been doing FOI requests: this is at least half related to BCFerries, though.
Federal documents show two passenger ferries had close calls with sea planes in Metro Vancouver waters Horseshoe Bay and Burrard Inlet were sites of near collisions reported to federal transportation safety board By Larry Pynn, Vancouver Sun
May 5, 2011 Passenger ferries were involved in two close calls with float planes -one in Horseshoe Bay and one in Burrard Inlet -last year, according to federal transportation safety board documents.
The first incident, on June 1, involved BC Ferries' 95-metre Queen of Capilano and a commercial West Coast Air seaplane landing at the entrance to Horseshoe Bay.
The second incident, July 15, involved TransLink's 34-metre Sea-Bus Burrard Otter and an unidentified seaplane off Lonsdale Quay in Vancouver harbour.
Another SeaBus, the Burrard Pacific Breeze, also had a close-quarters incident with a military inflatable patrol craft in Vancouver harbour on Feb. 6 as part of Olympics security.
The documents, compiled at The Vancouver Sun's request, officially categorize such incidents as "collision-near" but give no further details.
BC Ferries spokeswoman Deborah Marshall said the captain of the Queen of Capilano reported the incident to federal authorities because the float plane "touched down and crossed the vessel's bow in close proximity in Horseshoe Bay. The Queen of Capilano reduced speed to prevent a closequarters situation."
The International Regulation for Preventing Collisions at Sea states that a seaplane on the water shall, in general, keep well clear of all vessels and avoid impeding their navigation, she said.
Lyle Soetaert, operations manager for West Coast Air (owned by Harbour Air), said he spoke with the pilot at the time and he reported passing on the ferry's port side and landing ahead of the ferry as it was approaching the dock.
The pilot felt there was adequate distance and no risk of a collision.
There was no further investigation. TransLink spokesman Drew Snider said the Feb. 6 SeaBus incident occurred during a security training exercise before the Olympics, with a number of patrol craft in the harbour.
"The Master felt one of the inflatables passed too close for comfort," he said.
"The whole thing was under observation at all times."
Similarly, the seaplane on July 15 "came within the ferry's comfort zone," Snider said.
Crews are instructed to file an official report of such events.
Other near collisions last year in B.C.:
. Feb. 1, in Juan de Fuca Strait, between the fishing vessel Ocean Sunrise and cargo ship Global Serenity shortly after "disembarking its pilot at the Victoria B.C. pilot station." .
July 6, in Haro Strait, the U.S. pleasure craft Gail Force passed over the tow line between the tug Harken No. 10 and the 27 sections of logs it was towing.
. July 10, in the Fraser River near Garry Point, the tug Arctic Hooper, pushing a loaded barge outbound from the Fraser River, nearly collided with two rafted pleasure craft.
. July 11, near Point Roberts, Wash., the freighter Santa Pacifica and the broken-down pleasure craft Sortir in the northbound traffic lane. Persons aboard the Sortir abandoned the craft and were picked up by a Canadian Coast Guard auxiliary vessel.
. July 15, on the Fraser River near McDonald Beach, the tug Jacques Cartier towing a gravel barge and the sailing vessel Swish.
. July 28, Active Pass, the Seaspan passenger/train ferry Princess Superior had to take evasive action to avoid the fishing vessel Istra.
. Aug. 10, north of Deltaport, the chemical tanker Cedar Galaxy and the sailing vessel Lazy Lizard.
. Aug. 10, Fraser River, the dredger Fraser Titan and the fishing vessel Sure Thing.
. Aug. 15, Juan de Fuca Strait, the container vessel Genoa Bridge and an unnamed 30-metre fishing vessel.
. Aug. 26, near Fraser Surrey Docks, the tug Ken Mackenzie, towing a loaded chip barge, was forced to slow down to avoid a collision with the fishing vessel Sony Sue, blocking the channel with fish nets.
. Aug. 26, near Fraser Surrey Docks, the articulated tug and barge unit Sealink Pusher was forced to "crash stop" to avoid a collision with the Miss Decca, with its nets set in the tug's path.
. Sept. 3, Prince Rupert harbour, Canadian Coast Guard ship Vector went full astern and altered to port to avoid a collision with the sailing vessel Porpoise.
. Sept. 6, Fraser River, the bulk carrier Green Island and the fishing vessel Sun Mariner.
. Sept. 10, Sandheads in the Fraser River, the container ship Hyundai Dominion required a bold course alteration to avoid contact with the fishing vessel Island Spirit II.
. Nov. 2, between Denman and Hornby Islands, BC Ferries' Kahloke, with fishing vessel Ingibjorg K.
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Post by Scott on Jun 17, 2011 17:29:20 GMT -8
Here's something from Twitter an hour ago. It's from News1130 so hopefully it's legit: News1130radio: An ambulance has taken a BC Ferries employee to hospital after an accident at the Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal. No word yet on injuries. No major sailing delays, so it must have been in the terminal. Late update: News1130radio UPDATE: 54-year-old female traffic flagger in critical condition after being hit by a vehicle on Hwy1 near the Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal
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Neil
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Post by Neil on Jun 20, 2011 18:28:24 GMT -8
Fairly prominent story on the North Island Princess's problems on Global News this evening, with aerial shots and interviews. Apparently service has been erratic for some time. It must be particularly galling for residents to have the Nimpkish sitting right there, and not used. Residents have heard conflicting stories about the Nimpkish not being able to fit the docks, and crew not being trained on her. Perhaps both reasons are valid.
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piglet
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Post by piglet on Jun 20, 2011 18:39:23 GMT -8
It also got very full coverage on CHEK tonight. A lot of bad feelings up there about service verses costs with fare raises according to the locals. According the ferries spokeslady the Nimpkish doesn't fit the docks. They showed the NIP doing some tests out away from the dock but there are a lot of people stuck on the island who are needing their cars off the island.
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Post by Scott on Jun 20, 2011 19:14:57 GMT -8
Couldn't the Burnaby visit once a day at least?
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Post by Scott (Former Account) on Jun 20, 2011 20:04:48 GMT -8
Residents have heard conflicting stories about the Nimpkish not being able to fit the docks, and crew not being trained on her. Perhaps both reasons are valid. The crew on Texada Island would not be trained on the Nimpkish. She was only brought to Blubber Bay to be laid-up for the season. Secondly, the Nimpkish is fitted with her stern ramp for service up north, making her unusable with the dock at Westview. Currently, there are no replacements available that could take her place. So we can only hope the NIP is fixed ASAP. Though, if this does continue, I wonder if it could be possible for the Queen of Burnaby to stop in at Blubber Bay on her way to Westview. Be interesting to see...
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Post by glasseye on Jun 20, 2011 21:00:43 GMT -8
Currently, there are no replacements available that could take her place. So we can only hope the NIP is fixed ASAP. What about borrowing the Coquitlam until Route 3 needs two ship service?
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Neil
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Post by Neil on Jun 20, 2011 21:01:12 GMT -8
Though, if this does continue, I wonder if it could be possible for the Queen of Burnaby to stop in at Blubber Bay on her way to Westview. Be interesting to see... She's done it before... or at least, whichever ship that was on the route back in the '90s when BC Ferries briefly offered their direct Texada - Little River sailing. She does sit at Little River every day from 1:20 until 3:15, so they would have time, as long as they delayed the noon departure from Westview. The bigger issue might be paying overtime.
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Post by Curtis on Jun 20, 2011 21:02:27 GMT -8
Just a darn shame that this is happening after her Refit. I've wanted to take a round trip, but I also don't want to be left on the other side. It's also inconvenient for students at Brooks Secondary because Provincial Exams Start Tomorrow. Though, if this does continue, I wonder if it could be possible for the Queen of Burnaby to stop in at Blubber Bay on her way to Westview. Be interesting to see... I'd be on the Scene with Coverage if that was the Case
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jun 20, 2011 21:05:01 GMT -8
Couldn't the Burnaby visit once a day at least? The 'Burnaby will be doing docking-tests at Blubber Bay tomorrow. really...
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Post by Scott on Jun 21, 2011 6:34:41 GMT -8
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D'Elete BC in NJ
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Post by D'Elete BC in NJ on Jun 21, 2011 8:29:42 GMT -8
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2011/06/21/bc-texada-island-ferry.html Texada Island ferry still out of serviceFull ferry service to Texada Island, B.C., will not be restored until Thursday, according to BC Ferries. The only car ferry to the island, which is located north of Vancouver off the Sunshine Coast, has been out of service since Sunday and residents have been forced to make do with water taxi service and one tug and barge run on Tuesday. BC Ferries says parts to repair the 53-year-old North Island Princess are expected to arrive on Tuesday, but it will likely be Thursday before the repairs and sea trials are completed and the vessel returns to service. Hotel owner Dan DeVita says residents were promised they would get a new ferry by 2008, but now deadline has been pushed back to 2015. He says the unreliable ferry service is not just an inconvenience; it is also a safety issue for islanders "You can keep put band-aids on this until somebody gets hurt or something happens. You know we get caught in the wind storm out there or it breaks down or someone gets injured and that's what we're worried about." About 750 people live on Texada Island.
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Post by lmtengs on Jun 21, 2011 9:02:34 GMT -8
About 750 people live on Texada Island. This fact is incorrect. About 1,100 people live on Texada Island.
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Post by Nickfro on Jun 21, 2011 9:27:45 GMT -8
If I was a resident of Texada, I'd be choked to be without service for multiple days when another ferry (albeit tiny) is tied up at Blubber Bay. Yes, the stern ramp might be an issue, and I don't know exactly how they would get around that. The lack of crew familiarization, however, is inexcusable. I like the comment that one resident made, stating that someone sailed the Nimpkish to Blubber Bay, so obviously there are staff out there that can operate it.
BC Ferries should be paying for complimentary water taxi service, as opposed to charging regular passenger rates.
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Post by lmtengs on Jun 21, 2011 9:52:39 GMT -8
If I was a resident of Texada, I'd be choked to be without service for multiple days when another ferry (albeit tiny) is tied up at Blubber Bay. Yes, the stern ramp might be an issue, and I don't know exactly how they would get around that. The lack of crew familiarization, however, is inexcusable. I like the comment that one resident made, stating that someone sailed the Nimpkish to Blubber Bay, so obviously there are staff out there that can operate it. BC Ferries should be paying for complimentary water taxi service, as opposed to charging regular passenger rates. The people who brought the Nimpkish to Texada were the Nimpy's crew. Yes, they have been familiarized on her, but I doubt the NIP's crew have been. If they were to bring the Nimpy's crew to operate her, couldn't they just remove the stern ramp, or is it a bigger procedure? Even so, they could do what they did when the 'Celebration's doors wouldn't open and just make cars drive both on and off at the bow. Obviously larger vehicles wouldn't be able to make the turn, but small ones could. Bigger vehicles that can't make the turn could always reverse off the ship at one end. It's not like it's impossible to work this out.
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Post by Nickfro on Jun 21, 2011 10:07:25 GMT -8
The Queen of Burnaby is about to dock at Blubber Bay, as per its SERVICE NOTICE. If it fits at the dock, why not load her up with some cars and passengers? During this time, the North Island Princess has vacated the berth and is puttering around. If they were to bring the Nimpy's crew to operate her, couldn't they just remove the stern ramp, or is it a bigger procedure? Even so, they could do what they did when the 'Celebration's doors wouldn't open and just make cars drive both on and off at the bow. Obviously larger vehicles wouldn't be able to make the turn, but small ones could. Bigger vehicles that can't make the turn could always reverse off the ship at one end. It's not like it's impossible to work this out. I think it'll take too much time to simply remove the stern ramp. I guess the other thing is that the Nimpkish only fits 15-20 cars, co if you use only 1 end, you're reducing that vehicle capacity by a few cars, thus not making it worthwhile to use her in this situation. Not that I agree with that though...
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jun 21, 2011 10:24:51 GMT -8
No one has commented on "Glasseye's" suggestion to run the Queen of Coquitlam between Blubber Bay and Westview.
.....me thinks that she wouldn't even come close to fitting into the berth at Blubber Bay, let alone make the turn in the bay into the berth.
As far as I know, there is a huge size difference in the berths (wingwall structures, placement of dolphins) between minor routes and major routes.
- there are some exceptions, Swartz Bay berth 3 used by Skeena Queen, Mayne Island's berth #2 likely also fits a V-class.
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mrdot
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Mr. DOT
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Post by mrdot on Jun 21, 2011 10:27:11 GMT -8
:)the Queen of Burnaby docked in Blubber Bay would make quite a pic. She would blend rite in with the bleak landscape, could well be captioned the land that god gave to cain! somebody has got to get a snapshot if this happens! it might be captioned life on the coast-hahn style! :)mrdot.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jun 21, 2011 10:44:57 GMT -8
:)the Queen of Burnaby docked in Blubber Bay would make quite a pic. She would blend rite in with the bleak landscape, could well be captioned the land that god gave to cain! somebody has got to get a snapshot if this happens! it might be captioned life on the coast-hahn style! :)mrdot. Maybe one of our Eastern USA forum members might have a father down at the terminal, taking a picture of the historic event ??
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Post by glasseye on Jun 21, 2011 11:04:25 GMT -8
The Coquitlam is 4m wider and ~10m longer than the Burnaby. If that's a dealbreaker for the dock, then the QoWM seems to be idle and is the same size as the Burnaby.
Naturally, either vessel would be gross overkill for the route.
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D'Elete BC in NJ
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Post by D'Elete BC in NJ on Jun 21, 2011 11:15:58 GMT -8
:)the Queen of Burnaby docked in Blubber Bay would make quite a pic. She would blend rite in with the bleak landscape, could well be captioned the land that god gave to cain! somebody has got to get a snapshot if this happens! it might be captioned life on the coast-hahn style! :)mrdot. Maybe one of our Eastern USA forum members might have a father down at the terminal, taking a picture of the historic event ?? Actually my Dad has migrated to Victoria...but I will follow up on Facebook to check for pics later as several Texadian friends/family were keeping up a running commentary about their woes...
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Post by Kahloke on Jun 21, 2011 12:27:59 GMT -8
The Coquitlam is 4m wider and ~10m longer than the Burnaby. If that's a dealbreaker for the dock, then the QoWM seems to be idle and is the same size as the Burnaby. Naturally, either vessel would be gross overkill for the route. Since they are performing dock tests with Burnaby, it seems logical to assume BCF plans on using Burnaby to provide some relief runs while NIP is out of commission, although the service notice from BCF did not specify anything about Burnaby providing any relief service to Texada. That seems odd to me. Why do the dock tests unless you are going to use the vessel there? Perhaps they are planning on that contingency as a long-term solution if repairs to NIP cannot be made in a timely manner. Still, it seems like operating at least one run a day on Burnaby would provide some relief to the islanders during the interim (ie. today and tomorrow). Yes, it would affect the Route 17 schedule, but they are already impacting that with the dock tests. Does anyone here have more information?
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D'Elete BC in NJ
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Post by D'Elete BC in NJ on Jun 21, 2011 13:36:48 GMT -8
Maybe one of our Eastern USA forum members might have a father down at the terminal, taking a picture of the historic event ?? Actually my Dad has migrated to Victoria...but I will follow up on Facebook to check for pics later as several Texadian friends/family were keeping up a running commentary about their woes... For one of the running commentaries and some photos follow the conversations on Facebook.
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FNS
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Post by FNS on Jun 21, 2011 13:38:56 GMT -8
The Coquitlam is 4m wider and ~10m longer than the Burnaby. If that's a dealbreaker for the dock, then the QoWM seems to be idle and is the same size as the Burnaby. Naturally, either vessel would be gross overkill for the route. Since they are performing dock tests with Burnaby, it seems logical to assume BCF plans on using Burnaby to provide some relief runs while NIP is out of commission, although the service notice from BCF did not specify anything about Burnaby providing any relief service to Texada. That seems odd to me. Why do the dock tests unless you are going to use the vessel there? Perhaps they are planning on that contingency as a long-term solution if repairs to NIP cannot be made in a timely manner. Still, it seems like operating at least one run a day on Burnaby would provide some relief to the islanders during the interim (ie. today and tomorrow). Yes, it would affect the Route 17 schedule, but they are already impacting that with the dock tests. Does anyone here have more information? The QUEEN OF BURNABY also tried out Colman Dock in Seattle prior to her first day of service on the Seattle - Victoria run in disguise as ROYAL VICTORIAN for the Victoria Line. The WSF person who replied to my email said this was for a backup purpose if Pier 48 could not be used. It would be interesting if BCF would consolidate the Comox - Powell River run to add Texada Island as a stop in the future.
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Post by priver on Jun 21, 2011 15:29:45 GMT -8
One thing that a bcferries worker told me today that they are worried about with the burnaby is how much deeper in the water her hull sits and that the tide has to be high tide for it to work, and if it were to take cars from powell river to texada then it would have to dock stern in. I do have to give credit to the ferry terminal workers today i was working down by the dock and i could see them giving lots of help to passengers using the water taxi especially seniors by helping them load and carry down the ramp all of there belongings.
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