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Post by landlubber on Mar 14, 2012 14:55:02 GMT -8
While traveling onboard the Coastal Inspiration yesterday (Mar 13) on the 5:45pm sailing to Nanaimo, I noticed that we made a considerable detour (towards the mainland) to go around 4 Canadian Navy frigates that were loosely shadowing a large ship that was very close to the shoreline of Vancouver Island. This was approx 3/4 of the way to Departure Bay. As we were passing abeam the mystery ship, I noticed that it appeared to be one of BC Ferries' own ships that was under observation. Since this all seemed so out of the ordinary, I went outside to photograph the mystery ship as best I could given the fading light of evening and with my camera set to it's maximum focal length. Anyone care to guess which ship this may be? And does BC Ferries lend (or rent) it's ships out to the Navy for "exercises".. as I'm guessing this was? Attachments:
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Post by SS San Mateo on Mar 14, 2012 15:12:49 GMT -8
I'm pretty certain it's the Queen of Alberni based on the shape of the stack, short passenger deck and car deck window configuration.
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Post by Scott (Former Account) on Mar 14, 2012 15:13:34 GMT -8
That's the Queen of Alberni. It would have been 5:45 PM sailing en route to Tsawwassen.
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Post by landlubber on Mar 14, 2012 15:37:56 GMT -8
Do'h! Of course.. it was surely the Queen of Alberni. A bit behind schedule, and itself detouring around the same frigates, just to the other side of them. On the other hand, if indeed it was the Alberni, it was certainly traveling very very slowly. I watched it for a very long time, and the ship in my photo really did seem almost stationary.
Thanks for the replies.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Mar 14, 2012 16:32:42 GMT -8
While traveling onboard the Coastal Inspiration yesterday (Mar 13) on the 5:45pm sailing to Nanaimo, I noticed that we made a considerable detour (towards the mainland) to go around 4 Canadian Navy frigates that were loosely shadowing a large ship that was very close to the shoreline of Vancouver Island. There's a good chance that those were Orca-class training vessels, and not frigates. The Orca class ships often travel in groups and do some strange-looking ocean manouvers in Georgia Strait. They are all named for animals (Orca, Grizzley, etc) They look like this:
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Post by WettCoast on Mar 14, 2012 21:37:24 GMT -8
I suspect that all of you are wrong. It is without doubt the 8th sister, i.e. the Queen of Richmond, out on see trials in preparation for its annual run at the beginning of next month.
And that lads & lasses is my definitive position on this!
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Post by Northern Exploration on Mar 15, 2012 8:31:02 GMT -8
The Orcas are fun to watch when they are doing simulated exercises. I imagine that they would simulate a problem on a ferry, or in these days of immigrant trafficing, intercepting a human smuggling ship.
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Post by landlubber on Mar 17, 2012 8:59:19 GMT -8
Although it is perhaps a bit off-subject to be discussing Royal Canadian Navy ships on a website devoted to West Coast Ferries.. I would nevertheless like to say for the record that the 4 Navy ships that I observed (and that we made such a large deviation around) were in fact Frigates and not Orca-Class vessels. There is no doubt in my mind about that. Also.. our Rt 30 deviation that day took us all the way to approx the half-way point of Rt 2 before turning towards Departure Bay. Prior to that turn, we had enjoyed a great view of downtown Vancouver and Stanley Park that one does not normally see when travelling between Tsawwassen and Nanaimo. I wonder if today's article in the Times-Colonist about the test-firing of a MK48 torpedo off the east coast of Van Island this week might explain the presence of the Frigates. www.timescolonist.com/Submarine+HMCS+Victoria+fires+first+exercise+torpedo/6316138/story.html
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Post by Low Light Mike on Mar 17, 2012 9:34:43 GMT -8
Although it is perhaps a bit off-subject to be discussing Royal Canadian Navy ships on a website devoted to West Coast Ferries.. I would nevertheless like to say for the record that the 4 Navy ships that I observed (and that we made such a large deviation around) were in fact Frigates and not Orca-Class vessels. Sorry for assuming you didn't know what you were seeing. You might enjoy this thread on this ferry forum (a very diverse ferry forum, haha) ferriesbc.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=nonBCF&action=display&thread=7576
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Post by landlubber on Mar 17, 2012 10:43:40 GMT -8
On the contrary Flugel Horn.. I enjoyed your suggestion that they might be Orca-class instead. Absolutely nothing wrong with that. But after studying pictures of both classes, I am 99% certain they were Frigates. I only wished I had taken a picture of one to be sure.
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KE7JFF
Chief Steward
Posts: 106
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Post by KE7JFF on Mar 17, 2012 13:10:35 GMT -8
Keep in mind too, the Orca class ships also go play with some US Navy vessels.
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Post by hullnumbers on Mar 17, 2012 15:52:32 GMT -8
If this was close to the Island I suspect, the Orca was on training and possibly on Guard cause theres an area by Nanoose that is a mililtary testing ground.
Anyways on the front page of the TC (Times Colonist) of today there was a story on HMCS Victoria sub successfully firing a test torpedoe.
Think BC Ferries is plotting something. (Joking)
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Post by Scott on May 21, 2013 15:06:15 GMT -8
This isn't BC Ferries, I know, but I'm wondering if anyone can identify this ship seen in Georgia Strait on the 11:00 sailing from Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen this afternoon (the photo was taken around 12:30). I don't think it's a ferry, although it has some features that a ferry would have - like what looks like passenger accommodation in the forward part of the ship. But the aft of the ship looks more like a working vessel. I obviously didn't get a close enough look for a name, even with a zoom. Anyone recognize it? - John H
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Post by Mike C on May 21, 2013 15:12:28 GMT -8
This isn't BC Ferries, I know, but I'm wondering if anyone can identify this ship seen in Georgia Strait on the 11:00 sailing from Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen this afternoon (the photo was taken around 12:30). I don't think it's a ferry, although it has some features that a ferry would have - like what looks like passenger accommodation in the forward part of the ship. But the aft of the ship looks more like a working vessel. I obviously didn't get a close enough look for a name, even with a zoom. Anyone recognize it? Was this vessel heading north or south? Just seeing if I can pull it up on MarineTraffic...
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Post by Scott on May 21, 2013 15:15:05 GMT -8
Heading north. In this photo, she would have been in front of Mayne Island or maybe Galiano. The clouds were pretty low until we got close to Tsawwassen.
- John H
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Post by Mike C on May 21, 2013 15:36:46 GMT -8
Heading north. In this photo, she would have been in front of Mayne Island or maybe Galiano. The clouds were pretty low until we got close to Tsawwassen. I wasn't able to identify it, but it doesn't appear to be any passenger vessel. Every time I thought I had zoned-in on a passenger vessel, it informed me that it was a smaller, uglier ship called the Queen of Alberni, whatever that is.
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,171
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Post by Neil on May 21, 2013 16:51:09 GMT -8
It kind of resembles a European truck ferry, with limited accommodation for drivers.
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Nick
Voyager
Chief Engineer - Queen of Richmond
Posts: 2,078
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Post by Nick on May 21, 2013 17:36:47 GMT -8
There's some interesting looking cranes on the aft section of the ship. I'm thinking science vessel of some kind, with accommodations for scientists and staff.
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on May 21, 2013 17:56:53 GMT -8
I think it could be for scientists working with the ocean.
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Post by Scott on May 21, 2013 19:38:46 GMT -8
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Post by DENelson83 on May 31, 2013 15:13:11 GMT -8
My browser will not support downloading attachments from this forum. Can you post it on an image-hosting site like imgur?
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Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
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Post by Koastal Karl on Jun 1, 2013 8:36:39 GMT -8
Yes she is a cable laying ship which is what I have been told and that is the Wave Venture! She is usually docked at Ogden Point at the pier closest to the breakwater. She is not there right now. She usually is not here while the cruise ship season is in full swing as we can sometimes have three ships here all at once some days. Never knew she was a ferry before.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jun 15, 2013 6:03:23 GMT -8
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Post by WettCoast on Nov 23, 2015 22:08:13 GMT -8
This is a very old one posted on the new Facebook group "BC Nautical History". It is a sternwheeler with a very unusual pilot house that could be on the coast in BC or Washington, or possibly inland, or who knows where. I am thinking that maybe one of the members here such as EGfleet or FNS or mrdot might have some idea. It would be great to also ID the location.
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Post by westernflyer on Nov 24, 2015 18:58:40 GMT -8
This is a very old one posted on the new Facebook group "BC Nautical History". It is a sternwheeler with a very unusual pilot house that could be on the coast in BC or Washington, or possibly inland, or who knows where. I am thinking that maybe one of the members here such as EGfleet or FNS or mrdot might have some idea. It would be great to also ID the location. I think it is the S.S. Baramba. Better known by her original name, R.P. Rithet. Not sure about the photo location but at this stage in her life she would likely have been operating in the Howe Sound area. Edit - I think the photo location may be Snug Cove, Bowen Island.
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