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Post by Northern Exploration on Feb 2, 2009 7:46:44 GMT -8
Favourable routes sometimes are not the most direct ones as well. Prevailing currents, winds and prevalence of storms can dictate a different route.
And while the Azores may be a more direct point A to B route, it may also be that duties, RedWise contracts, and other financial considerations make the Canaries a better destination. Refueling the large amount required by a ship isn't like pulling into a gas station. A small savings by filling up with a certain supplier can multiply the savings massively and end up a huge difference that could justify one port over another.
Airliners always try to fly the shortest distance using the most favourable winds but also have to sometimes overfly certain way points. If you take a string on a globe you can see the most direct routes between two points. Factor into that the jet stream that moves around a lot, the set flyways and air traffic and that route can then vary a lot.
Maybe if RedWife sees this post she can comment if she knows why RedWise refuels in the Canary Islands.
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Kam
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Post by Kam on Feb 2, 2009 9:28:49 GMT -8
Question for AppLocation: How come the NE's fixes have become intermittent? Spotty coverage? If it's because AppLocation is deliberately withholding some fixes from the tracker, that's sort of ineffective, as I can restore those lost fixes via interpolation. Are you the groups new Conspiracy Therorist?
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Post by redwife on Feb 2, 2009 11:42:14 GMT -8
Canaries are usual bunkering stops for a wide range of ships/ shipping companies . Sorry I don't know the commercial reasons. Shortest Atlantic crossing point especially in winter has my vote! I am happier this year I was nervous with the Celebration .
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Post by Northern Exploration on Feb 2, 2009 11:56:28 GMT -8
Yes I can imagine having a loved one on a ship much more suited to larger seas would be less stressful. The NorEx looks like its seakeeping will be better than the NorAd.
A storm can blow up with little notice sometimes and being in a ferry intended for more protected passages would indeed be stressful. Not to mention uncomfortable with not having stabilizers to minimize roll.
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Post by rob on Feb 2, 2009 13:02:25 GMT -8
Good thing there were no plans for a show-it-off stopver in London this time (I realize the previous such stopover was a flop) - London is having difficulties with snowstorms. See for example: news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7865378.stmYes, the more southerly route across the Atlantic is definitely the way to go to avoid the worst of the winter storms, even though the NorEx is better suited for these conditions than the Coastal C's. Even with a design suited to conditions along the northern BC coast, one doesn't want to be exposed to freezing spray conditions for too long.
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Post by DENelson83 on Feb 2, 2009 14:27:33 GMT -8
First odometric report: Since leaving Flensburg, the NE has travelled over 1000 NM. She's now completed her crossing of the Bay of Biscay and is less than 1000 NM from Las Palmas. She continues SSW at a steady 15 knots.
The NE has just made a course correction, turning about 10° to port to put herself directly on course to Las Palmas.
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rt1commuter
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Post by rt1commuter on Feb 2, 2009 17:52:46 GMT -8
She's motoring . How long will she stay in Las Palmas?
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FNS
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Post by FNS on Feb 2, 2009 18:27:48 GMT -8
She's motoring . How long will she stay in Las Palmas? I think not too long. The MV COASTAL CELEBRATION arrived there on May 17, 2008, at 2315PDT. She departed there at 0730PDT on the 28th anniversary of the day when Mount Saint Helens blew her top off and blanketed cities with ash. This chart shows when the COASTAL CELEBRATION arrived and departed from Las Palmas. This is chart is all past tense as she is in BC and in service. You might be able to find the NORTHERN EXPEDITION on the Port of Las Palmas manifest of due vessels (when she gets closer or in port) at: www.palmasport.esClick on ENGLISH if you don't want to read Spanish. Then, click on "Traffic of Vessels" on the left column. They may or may not be including her in that manifest.
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Post by DENelson83 on Feb 2, 2009 22:00:03 GMT -8
The next mark event on the NE's journey will be her arrival at Las Palmas. At current velocity made good, she will arrive in just over two days. That means that she has already made her initial contact with Las Palmas harbour control. However, for now all we can do is relax and watch.
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FNS
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Post by FNS on Feb 3, 2009 0:45:03 GMT -8
02-03-2009 0004PST
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FNS
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Post by FNS on Feb 3, 2009 11:01:29 GMT -8
Well, it's time for my Boeing 744 to leave German soil and start our aerial survey of the courses the MV NORTHERN EXPEDITION is taking from FSG on her big trip to British Columbia. The flight attendants have given me the passenger load manifest and all should be aboard at this time. We expect clear skies all the way and easterly winds for takeoff here at EDDH, so we will be using Runway 05 for takeoff. Welcome aboard, and please fasten your seat belts. THIS IS NOW ON THIS THREAD: ferriesbc.proboards20.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=nonBCF&thread=4459&page=1
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FNS
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Post by FNS on Feb 3, 2009 13:10:47 GMT -8
02-03-2009 1204PST BCF has changed pages, once again, to show the distance between the NORTHERN EXPEDITION and the Canary Islands.
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FNS
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Post by FNS on Feb 4, 2009 0:59:24 GMT -8
02-04-2009 0003PST
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FNS
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Post by FNS on Feb 4, 2009 12:37:33 GMT -8
02-04-2009 1205PST
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Post by DENelson83 on Feb 4, 2009 18:50:32 GMT -8
The NE has passed to the east of Madeira Island, continuing SSW at 11 knots. She is just over 250 NM away from Las Palmas, and at current VMG, she should arrive in just over 20 hours.
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FNS
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Post by FNS on Feb 5, 2009 1:18:59 GMT -8
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Post by DENelson83 on Feb 5, 2009 3:01:49 GMT -8
Now less than 160 NM separating the NE from the Puerto de la Luz.
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nuerni
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Post by nuerni on Feb 5, 2009 10:55:47 GMT -8
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FNS
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Post by FNS on Feb 5, 2009 12:37:11 GMT -8
02-05-2009 1203PST The crew of the NORTHERN EXPEDITION should be seeing a bit of lights from the islands by now.
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rt1commuter
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Post by rt1commuter on Feb 5, 2009 14:01:26 GMT -8
02-05-2009 1203PST The crew of the NORTHERN EXPEDITION should be seeing a bit of lights from the islands by now. ETA 21:00 UTC 04/02/09 --- it's currently 22:00 05/02/09 and she hasn't come in yet. Looks like she's a BC Ferry through and through ;D.
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FNS
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Post by FNS on Feb 5, 2009 14:16:27 GMT -8
Patience, patience, patience. She'll get there soon!
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Post by DENelson83 on Feb 5, 2009 14:30:33 GMT -8
Palmasport.es does not list the Northern Expedition on its "vessels expected" list at this time. She will not enter port at Las Palmas until after she appears on the list.
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Post by DENelson83 on Feb 5, 2009 15:43:41 GMT -8
I'd say you could pretty much call the NE "arrived at Las Palmas" now. Since leaving Flensburg, the NE has travelled over 2000 nautical miles.
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FNS
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Post by FNS on Feb 5, 2009 15:58:51 GMT -8
She is standing outside right now...
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FNS
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Post by FNS on Feb 5, 2009 17:31:17 GMT -8
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