MV Frances Barkley - photo & discussion thread

[colinhotham]

Hi. In June 2010 I will be taking my 4th summer vacation on VI staying at Qualicum Beach. I will be taking the Bamfield trip on Thursday 10th June and looking at the foregoing pages and photos i'm counting the days!
Colin. (Wiltshire UK)

[Low Light Mike]

Mar 17, 2010 3:49:53 GMT -8 @colinhotham said:

Hi. In June 2010 I will be taking my 4th summer vacation on VI staying at Qualicum Beach. I will be taking the Bamfield trip on Thursday 10th June and looking at the foregoing pages and photos i'm counting the days!
Colin. (Wiltshire UK)

I hope you have a good-weather day. Even if you get a mix of fog / clouds / sun, it's still good.

[colinhotham]

Thank you for your thoughts on my trip. Over the last 4 years I have travelled on a number of ferries in BC - Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay and Victoria to Seattle, each journey being an adventure and new experience. I will of course be posting my thoughts here on my return.
Colin.

[colinhotham]

Had a great trip. Weather on the way down overcast and misty, but cleared for the return. Great food onboard and very helpful and friendly crew. The scenery was fantastic and the whole journey very interesting. A bonus was the female black bear and two cubs seen on the shore on the way down. I recommend this trip to anyone cosidering it.

[lmtengs]

Thanks for the trip revue, Colin! If you got any photos, we'd love for you to share them here!

[Low Light Mike]

Today's question:

- If it is cold & rainy in Nanaimo, would it be sunny & warm in Bamfield?

Someone knows that answer to that question..... ;D

[Scott (Former Account)]

Aug 31, 2010 20:24:07 GMT -8 Low Light Mike said:

Today's question:

- If it is cold & rainy in Nanaimo, would it be sunny & warm in Bamfield?

Someone knows that answer to that question..... ;D

It was overcast in Bamfield today. Rain was off and on during the time spent on the water, though the sun was trying to breakthrough about an hour before we returned to Port Alberni.

One photo for now, more tomorrow...

[Scott (Former Account)]

As promised, here are a few more photos from my trip aboard the Frances Barkley on Tuesday...

Sailing northbound in Bamfield Inlet.







Approaching the wharf at West Bamfield.



Her Bergen diesel revs up on departure from West Bamfield.



Nearing Port Alberni.



Her Tyfon whistle.

[lmtengs]

Nice photos, Scott! I'll be getting my pics up tonight or tomorrow.
PS: I believe it's 'Bergen Diesel', not 'Burgen Diesel'

[Scott (Former Account)]

Sept 3, 2010 18:29:12 GMT -8 @lmtengs said:

PS: I believe it's 'Bergen Diesel', not 'Burgen Diesel'

Oops. Thanks, Luke!

[lmtengs]

Loading cargo onto the 'Barkley prior to her trip to Sechart and Bamfield


Looking into her wheelhouse, this is what you'll see:


the menu:


The cargo hold:


Skipper John controlling his ship:




The wheel is seldom used. The crew prefer the autopilot and the joystick for navigating the ship.


The compass with it's large coloured softiron correctors:




The 'Barkley's speed is controlled with the lever on the right. The one on the left controls propeller pitch.


My family comes from this part of Norway






I wonder if this is an original lifering?


an LJ


Courtesy of Google Translate: Signal from Machine


"emergency steering machine"


This one wouldn't translate properly.


Mooring at Sechart


Frank the Chief Officer and one of the crew prepare to moor alongside:




Walking down the dock


Unloading cargo


The best burger I've had in awhile (and my standards are pretty high) was aboard the 'Barkley.




We picked up some passengers via speedboat on the way back to Alberni:


The little boat speeds away




Approaching the Alberni dock:




The 'Barkley doubles as the garbage truck for Bamfield, Kildonan, and Sechart.

[lmtengs]

Another photo of the 'Barkley, this one from Ucluelet, about 5 minutes before I boarded the 'Swift.

[lmtengs]

Two videos of the Frances Barkley from my recent trip on her:

First, a bridge-to-bottom tour of her:


Second, the 'Barkley's crew unloading cargo and then leaving Sechart:

[lmtengs]

Here's the Frances Barkley drawing I just finished. And thanks to Flugel for using his photo without permission as a reference image. ;D

[mrdot]

thats a nice cad. representation of Frances Barkley, but she hardly compares to the last Union boat on the coast, I of course refer to the old Lady Rose! as the new Norex hardly replaces the lovely lines of the Stena Danica! mr.dot.

[Low Light Mike]

Sept 12, 2010 11:43:22 GMT -8 @lmtengs said:

Here's the Frances Barkley drawing I just finished. And thanks to Flugel for using his photo without permission as a reference image. ;D

Nice work, sir. I'm glad that you used one of my photos for some reference & inspiration. The boardwalk of West Bamfield is a great place to enjoy the 'Barkley sailing past your vantage point, giving you a series of angles to view.

[fargowolf]

Sept 4, 2010 21:59:01 GMT -8 @lmtengs said:

This one wouldn't translate properly.

I know someone who lives in Norway and would be able to translate. I've just IM'd him, so should have a reply in a little bit.

[fargowolf]

Viking, I got it translated for you.

Koblingsboks:

That translates into "fusebox" or something similar.

Signal Bro-Maskin:

Signal Bridge Machine
That's the literal translation of it.

[lmtengs]

Thanks, Fargo

[Low Light Mike]

A picture of the future MV Frances Barkley, from forum member "LHI".
- Thanks Lars !


- ferry Hidle at Stavanger

[Koastal Karl]

The Frances Barkley is at Point Hope Shipyards right now. At least I think it's this ship as it sory of looks like her.

[Neil]

Dec 4, 2010 22:27:12 GMT -8 Koastal Karl said:

The Frances Barkley is at Point Hope Shipyards right now. At least I think it's this ship as it sory of looks like her.

From their website...

The day trip sailings to Bamfield from Port Alberni on November 23rd, 25th, 27th, 30th and December 2nd and 4th, 2010 will not operate due to the Frances Barkley being in refit. Service will be provided to residents only during this period. Please contact our office at 250-723-8313 for further information. Residents must make a reservation for one-way travel to or from Kildonan or Bamfield in order for us to accomodate your travel requirements during this period. Regular scheduled service is now expected to resume on Tuesday December 7th, 2010. Please confirm this by checking back to our website or by telephoning us for details. We appologise for any inconvenience and thank you for your co-operation.

[Low Light Mike]

Story from an Alberni community-forum on the Frances Barkley:

The Frances Barkley
By mike.carter - Posted on November 10th, 2010

From a post season debriefing session with Lady Rose Marine operator, Mike Surrell, we learn that last year was not a banner one for the popular freight and passenger vessel. The poor springtime and September weather and the weak American economy could be the cause. The provincial tourism numbers were down so it wasn’t an anomaly. But, despite the slight downturn, the Frances Barkley still carried some 14,000 passengers to their respective destinations or on the return excursion to Barkley Sound. Things look positive for the up-coming season as they are up approximately 30% in bookings and European inquiries are way up as well.

Good news from the past season included the inaugural year of carrying Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors on board to inform the passengers of the many other attractions available in the valley. Mr. Surrell commented that in many cases passengers returned to the Lady Rose Marine offices the following day to get directions to the train and other Heritage Network attractions.

The Frances Barkley excursion (formerly the Lady Rose) is definitely a primary icon for our community. When I spent a lot of time at travel shows in major U.S. cities, the most often asked question was, “Does the Mary Rose still run?” It brings major revenue to the area and the company itself has always been a great corporate citizen right down throughout its history here. Last year alone, they donated over $100 thousand worth of bridges to the trail building effort.

As an aside, the waterfront businesses are becoming very aware of a huge economic generator on the horizon. This will be as a result of the Maa-nulth Treaty settlement up-coming this spring. Each of the five Maa-nulth Treaty Nations, Huu-ay-aht, Toquaht, Uchucklesaht, Ucluelet and Kyuquot, will be developing and carrying out an economic development strategy, much of which will be centered around marine industries – from resort accommodations to marina services and more. This is a huge opportunity for Port Alberni service providers to step up to the plate and get these developments done. The timing is right because many of the current federal and provincial stimulus projects will be put to bed by that time.

from here:
www.alberni.ca/news/2010/business-economy/frances-barkley

[Low Light Mike]

Photos of the future M/V Frances Barkley, under her first name of RENNESØY.
- photos are courtesy of Lars Helge.
Thanks Lars !

The regions of Norway where these photos are taken are in Karmsundet and Stavanger.

=======================

















- and here's the photo that we've all been waiting for:

[lmtengs]

Seen through the window of the BCIT Maritime Institute in North Vancouver:


The name of the ship was not specified, but seriously, what other ship in BC looks like this? ;D