D'Elete BC in NJ
Voyager
Dispensing gallons of useless information daily...
Posts: 1,671
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MV Taku
Oct 31, 2008 8:38:30 GMT -8
Post by D'Elete BC in NJ on Oct 31, 2008 8:38:30 GMT -8
www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=9272930
Information from: KINY-AM, www.kinyradio.comwww.kinyradio.com/juneaunews/latest_juneau_news.html Coast Guard conducts surprise inspection of state ferry TakuThe Alaska Marine Highway says the ferry Taku is way behind schedule due to what it calls a surprise and unexplained Coast Guard inspection in Ketchikan Wednesday night. Roger Wetherell of the State Department of Transportation and Public Facilities says the Taku should have left Ketchikan for Prince Rupert at about 10:30 that night, but the Coast Guard notified the captain it wanted to conduct a quarterly inspection. Wetherell says they're not sure what prompted the inspection. Lieutenant Commander Brad Clare, the chief of the Prevention Department for Coast Guard Sector Juneau, said they were concerned with the life saving equipment and its maintenance. He says they've noted several deficiencies over the past two months and another was found in this most recent inspection. And he says another deficiency was found with the Taku's starboard life boat during this most recent inspection. With several deficiencies within the same systems on a vessel, the Coast Guard official says it sometimes points to issues with their maintenance. Clare says they felt it was imperative to conduct the inspection before they allowed the Taku to leave U. S. waters and go to Canada. He says the deficiencies aren't all clear, but there's a plan of action to correct them. The Marine Highway complains the reason for the inspection wasn't explained and could have been conducted during a more convenient date and location, rather than putting the vessel behind schedule. On its way back from Prince Rupert, the Taku planned stops in Craig, Petersburg, Metlakatla, and Juneau. Passengers include students headed to a regional swim meet in Juneau.
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M/V LeConte
Chief Steward
~ I believe in Ferries! ~
Posts: 147
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Post by M/V LeConte on Nov 3, 2008 0:26:42 GMT -8
Coast Guard inspection delays state ferry Taku
By Pat Forgey | JUNEAU EMPIRE
The Alaska state ferry Taku was pulled out of service Thursday by the U.S. Coast Guard for an emergency safety inspection in Ketchikan, after a lifeboat cable snapped during a test in Wrangell. The Taku had left Juneau southbound on Wednesday.
The 14-hour delay in sailing to Prince Rupert resulted in a series of other schedule disruptions, including skipping stops in Petersburg, Craig and Metlakatla, said Roger Wetherell, spokesman for the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, which includes the Alaska Marine Highway system.
"It came out of the blue, it took us a bit by surprise," Wetherell said.
The Taku was expected to pick up students heading for a regional swim meet in Juneau, he said. They had to find other travel arrangements, he said.
"It created a domino impact, and affected several additional cities," he said.
Pulling a ferry out of service rarely happens, said Lt. Cmdr. Bradley Clare of the U.S. Coast Guard in Juneau.
Clare said ordering a ferry to stay in port, with the associated inconvenience to passengers, isn't something that is done lightly. It was done because of more than the snapped cable, he said.
"It reached a point where we were concerned there were several deficiencies in the lifesaving systems, and they had to be addressed before the vessel left U.S. waters," he said.
More stringent rules apply to international travel, he said.
Clare said the concern with the 40-year-old vessel was that there might be wider problems than just the cable.
Wetherell said the crew of the Taku replaced the broken cable, but were told to remain in Ketchikan, their next port, until an inspection team from Juneau could arrive for a thorough inspection.
"What most confused us last night was that a list of deficiencies was already in the possession of the Coast Guard," he said. The agency has been supportive of the Taku's plans for fixing the problems, he said.
Clare said it is better that the concerns were allayed before the ship sailed.
"Some things that were found were corrected," he said. "Some of the deficiencies that are outstanding, there is a plan in place to correct."
The Coast Guard has no concerns about the Taku passengers' safety, he said.
"None of the deficiencies are significant enough that we don't feel the vessel can operate safely with passengers on board," he said.
Wetherell said that if ferry officials had any concerns about the ship's safety they would have canceled the trip themselves.
The Taku was seaworthy and was never in a position where it couldn't perform lifesaving operations at sea, he said.
Wetherell said ferry managers were disappointed that they were unable to provide service to the three ports they'd been scheduled to visit.
"We're trying to build on a good summer, trying to maintain a strong relationship with our riders and the communities we serve," he said.
• Contact reporter Pat Forgeyat 523-2250 or patrick.forgey@juneauempire.com.
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Mill Bay
Voyager
Long Suffering Bosun
Posts: 2,886
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MV Taku
Nov 3, 2008 12:38:13 GMT -8
Post by Mill Bay on Nov 3, 2008 12:38:13 GMT -8
The Taku must have passed the inspections for the present time, because she was in Prince Rupert on Thursday night, and left late that evening to sail back north. (We saw her leave).
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M/V LeConte
Chief Steward
~ I believe in Ferries! ~
Posts: 147
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MV Taku
Jun 15, 2009 3:58:47 GMT -8
Post by M/V LeConte on Jun 15, 2009 3:58:47 GMT -8
Here are a couple of shots I have snapped in the past week and a half. The Taku has been following the LeConte into Sitka on Saturday Mornings. I grabbed these from our Solarium, while the Taku was in some of the "skinny spots." Also, got these when she left Sitka.
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MV Taku
Jun 15, 2009 6:06:03 GMT -8
Post by Northern Exploration on Jun 15, 2009 6:06:03 GMT -8
Love the pics of the Blue Canoes. I really need to get a trip to BC and get a trip on one of them soon.
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MV Taku
Oct 25, 2009 17:34:37 GMT -8
Post by SS Shasta on Oct 25, 2009 17:34:37 GMT -8
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MV Taku
Oct 29, 2009 14:35:55 GMT -8
Post by uricanejack on Oct 29, 2009 14:35:55 GMT -8
Most forms of inspection if carried properly will find deficiencies.
If an inspector finds no deficiencies he probably just showed up collected a fee and used a rubber stamp.
This is true of all kinds of inspections. House, Vehicle, Plane, Train Automobile, Ship or Ferry.
In Most cases involving ships. The inspector will make a note of the deficiency and require notification of completion of repair.
Only if there was a serious deficiency or a Very large No of deficiencies would ship is detained.
Ships are subject to survey. By a No of different agencies. Including the Coast Guard and Classification Society ABS or American Bureau Of Shipping.
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M/V LeConte
Chief Steward
~ I believe in Ferries! ~
Posts: 147
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MV Taku
Oct 30, 2009 2:28:57 GMT -8
Post by M/V LeConte on Oct 30, 2009 2:28:57 GMT -8
Here are some scans of the Taku's brochure. Sorry, the scanner was cutting off about 1/2 - 3/4 of an inch. Enjoy! ~LeC
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MV Taku
Nov 22, 2009 16:59:28 GMT -8
Post by Kahloke on Nov 22, 2009 16:59:28 GMT -8
The last leg of my recent AMHS journey was aboard the M/V Taku. Here are some photos of her. Taku en route from Sitka, Alaska - 8 July 2008 Another view of the Taku in the narrow channel leading to the east from Sitka, Alaska @ the Ketchikan AMHS terminal - 9 July 2008 Builder's Plaque with credit to the king of west coast ferry designers, Mr. Spaulding All photos by JST ©
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MV Taku
Nov 22, 2009 17:01:58 GMT -8
Post by Kahloke on Nov 22, 2009 17:01:58 GMT -8
Here is the final installment in my photo essay of the AMHS trip that I and family did earlier this month. The following photos were taken on the M/V Taku as we left Ketchican, or the following morning after we disembarked at Prince Rupert. Outside deck, port side, view aft as we are leaving Ketchikan - 9 July 2008 Taku - deck plans from AMHS brochure This photo & the one above - M/V Taku en route from Prince Rupert to Ketchikan, Alaska - taken from the beach on Ridley Island near Prince Rupert Grain Terminal - 10 July 2008 All photos by JST ©More photos here: s90.photobucket.com/albums/k268/wetcoastkidjst/AMHS/
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MV Taku
Nov 22, 2009 17:05:22 GMT -8
Post by Kahloke on Nov 22, 2009 17:05:22 GMT -8
On the weekend I visited Prince Rupert, BC, where I was able to get a few photos of the AHMS vessel M/V Taku. These photos track her entrance into the harbour, passing the new Rupert container port, and finally arrival at the Fairview Terminal. All photos by JST©
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MV Taku
Dec 19, 2009 15:45:16 GMT -8
Post by plansea on Dec 19, 2009 15:45:16 GMT -8
M/V Taku layup schedule
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MV Taku
Jan 31, 2010 10:23:31 GMT -8
Post by plansea on Jan 31, 2010 10:23:31 GMT -8
Mint Box showing M.V. Taku No one wants bilge breath !
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MV Taku
Jan 31, 2010 13:11:32 GMT -8
Post by plansea on Jan 31, 2010 13:11:32 GMT -8
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MV Taku
Jan 31, 2010 13:28:30 GMT -8
Post by plansea on Jan 31, 2010 13:28:30 GMT -8
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MV Taku
Jan 31, 2010 14:48:30 GMT -8
Post by lmtengs on Jan 31, 2010 14:48:30 GMT -8
What's with the bars in the Pursers office window?
We don't have those at the Pursers office on the Northern Expedition, so why does AMHS need them?
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FNS
Voyager
The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
Posts: 4,947
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MV Taku
Jan 31, 2010 17:42:53 GMT -8
Post by FNS on Jan 31, 2010 17:42:53 GMT -8
What's with the bars in the Pursers office window? We don't have those at the Pursers office on the Northern Expedition, so why does AMHS need them? Must be a retain from the old style purser/ticket office "windows". The RHODODENDRON had these same kind of brass bars in her purser's office "window" before her renovation in the early 1990s. Her purser's office was located on the side opposite of the galley at the same end (the Clinton end on the Mukilteo run). My high school history teacher was purser aboard her in the 1950s on Hood Canal. Like the TAKU, there were shutters that sealed the "window" when not staffed.
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FNS
Voyager
The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
Posts: 4,947
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MV Taku
Jan 31, 2010 18:06:11 GMT -8
Post by FNS on Jan 31, 2010 18:06:11 GMT -8
In addition, there were no bars on the purser's office opening on the ILLAHEE, KLICKITAT, NISQUALLY, and QUINAULT. In their old wooden cabin configuration, they had a "Dutch door". The purser's office on the NISQUALLY and KLICKITAT was at End Number Two by the cafe and the ILLAHEE and QUINAULT had theirs by the archway leading passengers into the main lounge at End Number One. The ILLAHEE had a glass window in the upper door part in her purser's office.
The VASHON had a "Dutch door" at the opening of her purser's office.
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MV Taku
Feb 1, 2010 17:49:18 GMT -8
Post by lmtengs on Feb 1, 2010 17:49:18 GMT -8
But... my question was why are these bars present on all these ships?
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Mill Bay
Voyager
Long Suffering Bosun
Posts: 2,886
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MV Taku
Feb 1, 2010 19:05:18 GMT -8
Post by Mill Bay on Feb 1, 2010 19:05:18 GMT -8
But... my question was why are these bars present on all these ships? Use your head: Why do windows normally have bars on them? To prevent crime, theft and burglary.
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M/V LeConte
Chief Steward
~ I believe in Ferries! ~
Posts: 147
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MV Taku
Feb 5, 2010 21:47:16 GMT -8
Post by M/V LeConte on Feb 5, 2010 21:47:16 GMT -8
This area is the Main Purser's Counter. And this area is the window for the Purser's Office (Immediately to the left (port) of the previous photo): Most of our ships have an arrangement similar to this. Because we have passengers aboard for days, and the Purser's Office and Counter areas aren't manned 24/7, they are to prevent the dishonest from... attempting to do dishonest things. That and it keeps those vicious pursers from roaming around and eating people. ;D Another example from the Tusty: The Pursers Counter area:
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MV Taku
Feb 5, 2010 22:22:36 GMT -8
Post by lmtengs on Feb 5, 2010 22:22:36 GMT -8
But... my question was why are these bars present on all these ships? Use your head: Why do windows normally have bars on them? To prevent crime, theft and burglary. It's kind of hard to steel something on a ship. You're in a small moving building, filled with employees, who know their way around much better than you... I wonder who would win? The thief or the employee?... But I guess those kinds of just-in-case measures are worth it...well...just in case!
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Quatchi
Voyager
Engineering Officer - CCG
Posts: 930
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MV Taku
Feb 8, 2010 15:44:08 GMT -8
Post by Quatchi on Feb 8, 2010 15:44:08 GMT -8
I am not advocating theft, but...
It wouldn't be that hard to reach through that window while no-one is looking and grab something. It might be something worthless or it could be something valuable. The crew might not even notice until days later that an item is missing. So, you stick bars on the window so people cant get their arms to far into the room.
Might also be a safety issue for the crew working in that room, if there is money in their and there some dumb, drunk, belligerent moron on the ship he might climb through the opening while the crew is in there and cause harm.
I think it is a worthwhile precaution. I am sure that not everyone on the ships up in Alaska are the best of people; just like down here. We have roll shutters that are closed when there's no-one in the Chief Stewards Office, if you stick bars on you can leave it open and still have information available to read.
Cheers,
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MV Taku
Feb 15, 2010 19:46:18 GMT -8
Post by plansea on Feb 15, 2010 19:46:18 GMT -8
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MV Taku
Feb 16, 2010 7:08:04 GMT -8
Post by EGfleet on Feb 16, 2010 7:08:04 GMT -8
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