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Post by Mike on Apr 12, 2019 11:48:31 GMT -8
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Post by Starsteward on Apr 13, 2019 15:19:17 GMT -8
Didn't the 'Spirit of Vancouver Island' just get home in the nick of time! Undoubtedly a mad scramble to get stores/provisions aboard and also do a final sweep-through in order to resume her regular run as of April 12. I'm assuming that 'training' of regular staff could have been done quite quickly as many of them had been through drills etc. on the 'SOBC'. Surely forum members will report on any cosmetic changes done during 'SOVI's' conversion that were different from her sister's conversion. The next chapter in the BCFS evolution is awaiting the delivery of the first of the 'Island' class vessels.
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Post by Mike on Apr 13, 2019 15:41:30 GMT -8
Didn't the 'Spirit of Vancouver Island' just get home in the nick of time! Undoubtedly a mad scramble to get stores/provisions aboard and also do a final sweep-through in order to resume her regular run as of April 12. I'm assuming that 'training' of regular staff could have been done quite quickly as many of them had been through drills etc. on the 'SOBC'. Surely forum members will report on any cosmetic changes done during 'SOVI's' conversion that were different from her sister's conversion. The next chapter in the BCFS evolution is awaiting the delivery of the first of the 'Island' class vessels. She doesn't enter service until the 18th.
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Post by Starsteward on Apr 14, 2019 9:57:37 GMT -8
Didn't the 'Spirit of Vancouver Island' just get home in the nick of time! Undoubtedly a mad scramble to get stores/provisions aboard and also do a final sweep-through in order to resume her regular run as of April 12. I'm assuming that 'training' of regular staff could have been done quite quickly as many of them had been through drills etc. on the 'SOBC'. Surely forum members will report on any cosmetic changes done during 'SOVI's' conversion that were different from her sister's conversion. The next chapter in the BCFS evolution is awaiting the delivery of the first of the 'Island' class vessels. She doesn't enter service until the 18th. Good thing I didn't rush out to take a trip then. Thanks for the update.
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Post by roeco on Apr 14, 2019 16:42:59 GMT -8
I would assume the Spirit of VI will now be the regular year round ship on her reg run since shes now LNG powered.
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Apr 14, 2019 18:09:30 GMT -8
I would assume the Spirit of VI will now be the regular year round ship on her reg run since shes now LNG powered. I believe both Spirits are year rounds regular vessels on route one after conversion to LNG fuel.
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Post by WettCoast on Apr 17, 2019 11:44:41 GMT -8
I would assume the Spirit of VI will now be the regular year round ship on her reg run since shes now LNG powered. I believe both Spirits are year rounds regular vessels on route one after conversion to LNG fuel. They have been #1 on Route One since the vessels were new in 1993/94. There are exceptions, of course, due to required refits and low traffic periods in late fall and winter, but for 75% or more of the year a Spirit class vessel will be leaving from Swartz Bay and Tsawwassen for the standard odd hour sailings from 7 AM to 9 PM daily.
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Apr 17, 2019 12:10:55 GMT -8
I believe both Spirits are year rounds regular vessels on route one after conversion to LNG fuel. They have been #1 on Route One since the vessels were new in 1993/94. There are exceptions, of course, due to required refits and low traffic periods in late fall and winter, but for 75% or more of the year a Spirit class vessel will be leaving from Swartz Bay and Tsawwassen for the standard odd hour sailings from 7 AM to 9 PM daily. But now the Spirit Class vessel will be used year round except refit for vessel.
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Post by Mike on Apr 17, 2019 18:28:58 GMT -8
They have been #1 on Route One since the vessels were new in 1993/94. There are exceptions, of course, due to required refits and low traffic periods in late fall and winter, but for 75% or more of the year a Spirit class vessel will be leaving from Swartz Bay and Tsawwassen for the standard odd hour sailings from 7 AM to 9 PM daily. But now the Spirit Class vessel will be used year round except refit for vessel. Do you have information to back that up? I don't foresee BC Ferries changing their usual procedure of having the Coastals running full time in the winter in place of the Spirits.
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Nick
Voyager
Chief Engineer - Queen of Richmond
Posts: 2,078
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Post by Nick on Apr 17, 2019 19:44:34 GMT -8
But now the Spirit Class vessel will be used year round except refit for vessel. Do you have information to back that up? I don't foresee BC Ferries changing their usual procedure of having the Coastals running full time in the winter in place of the Spirits. Assuming fuel prices stay where they are, with respect to lng vs diesel, I fully expect the Spirits to be in the #1 spot year round (barring refits). The fuel savings will compensate for increased labour, and the added capacity will be appreciated.
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Post by WettCoast on Apr 17, 2019 20:20:13 GMT -8
Do you have information to back that up? I don't foresee BC Ferries changing their usual procedure of having the Coastals running full time in the winter in place of the Spirits. Assuming fuel prices stay where they are, with respect to lng vs diesel, I fully expect the Spirits to be in the #1 spot year round (barring refits). The fuel savings will compensate for increased labour, and the added capacity will be appreciated. That is my understanding as well. Before the arrival of the Coastal class vessels the Spirits were always (since 1995) in the #1 slots, except, of course, during refits.
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Apr 17, 2019 21:00:14 GMT -8
But now the Spirit Class vessel will be used year round except refit for vessel. Do you have information to back that up? I don't foresee BC Ferries changing their usual procedure of having the Coastals running full time in the winter in place of the Spirits. I remember reading in Spirit of British Columbia mid-life project page and also Spirit of British Columbia operate all year except when she went in for maintenance. So, I would assume Spirit of Vancouver Island will operate on similar schedule.
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Post by Dane on Apr 18, 2019 11:44:26 GMT -8
Huge changes over the SoBC. Joking! From a passenger perspective they're back to being identical!
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Post by Charles on Apr 18, 2019 12:00:26 GMT -8
Did anyone else notice the fact that the coat of arms has been removed from under her bridge?
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Post by Mike on Apr 18, 2019 12:26:20 GMT -8
Did anyone else notice the fact that the coat of arms has been removed from under her bridge? It was removed before she departed for Poland. I'm guessing in the rush to get her back in service, they forgot to reinstall it?
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Post by Starsteward on Apr 18, 2019 12:50:02 GMT -8
Did anyone else notice the fact that the coat of arms has been removed from under her bridge? The coat of arms should be put back in place a.s.a.p., as well as being restored to all BCFS vessels. Used to love it when the coat of arms plaque was front and centre above the bow doors of the vessels, especially back when all the 'sisters' were in operation.
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Post by WettCoast on Apr 23, 2019 8:43:21 GMT -8
Does anyone know of a reason why the SoVI continues to operate as #2 out of Swartz Bay, making the even hour sailings? Seems odd to me.
The following is quoted from a LLM post from almost five years ago. You can find that post here.
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Post by Dane on Apr 23, 2019 14:25:38 GMT -8
I don't know why, but it's only a couple weeks. Maybe training? It goes into its normal spot next week.
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Apr 30, 2019 21:28:25 GMT -8
MV Spirit of Vancouver Island has not received her coat of arms yet. Her overall mid-life is exactly the same except she is a lot noisy when docking.
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Post by Scott on May 10, 2019 12:31:27 GMT -8
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grk
Chief Steward
Posts: 227
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Post by grk on May 11, 2019 14:33:33 GMT -8
Thank you Scott for the great photo of the machinery spaces. Perhaps you, or another poster, can answer a few questions! As built I think the Spirits had 4 diesels, two per shaft, one a bit larger than the other. There was gearing to reduce the RPM from that of the diesels down to suitable shaft RPM which I think ran at a constant RPM, with vessel speed controlled by variable pitch on the propellers.
With the new Wartsila power plant, are there just two main engines? Are those geared to the shaft, or has the propulsion switched to diesel electric such as what is found on the Coastals?
I am not really a "gear head", just always curious as to how things work and sound! This goes way back to noting the difference in the sounds of the original engines between the Esquimalt/Saanich pair versus the Victoria/Vancouver ones.
Thanks
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Post by Scott on May 11, 2019 22:52:05 GMT -8
Thank you Scott for the great photo of the machinery spaces. Perhaps you, or another poster, can answer a few questions! As built I think the Spirits had 4 diesels, two per shaft, one a bit larger than the other. There was gearing to reduce the RPM from that of the diesels down to suitable shaft RPM which I think ran at a constant RPM, with vessel speed controlled by variable pitch on the propellers. With the new Wartsila power plant, are there just two main engines? Are those geared to the shaft, or has the propulsion switched to diesel electric such as what is found on the Coastals? I am not really a "gear head", just always curious as to how things work and sound! This goes way back to noting the difference in the sounds of the original engines between the Esquimalt/Saanich pair versus the Victoria/Vancouver ones. Thanks The post-MLU Spirit Class continue to operate as constant RPM with CPP. Two dual-fuel engines are coupled to a Wartsila reduction gear on each shaft. For clarification, the photo I took shows the two engines that power the starboard shaft.
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Post by WettCoast on May 23, 2019 22:45:57 GMT -8
Spirit of Vancouver Island, almost freshly back from her LNG upgrade, approaches Active Pass with the 5 PM sailing from the mainland to Swartz Bay - 22 May 2019
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Post by WettCoast on Jun 13, 2019 20:34:36 GMT -8
A 'new & improved' Spirit of Vancouver Island approaches Tsawwassen Terminal with the 3 PM sailing from Swartz Bay on 17 May 2019. I was aboard for the next sailing in the other direction.
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Post by Starsteward on Jun 14, 2019 10:58:20 GMT -8
A 'new & improved' Spirit of Vancouver Island approaches Tsawwassen Terminal with the 3 PM sailing from Swartz Bay on 17 May 2019. I was aboard for the next sailing in the other direction.
Ok kids, here's your 'riddle of the week' to solve. Jim your photo of the 'Spirit of Vancouver Island' and the picture of the 'Spirit of British Columbia' in the box below have something affixed to their exteriors that are different. What is it and the item should be mounted in the same place on both vessels? Whoever comes up with the correct answer may be eligible for a one-way ticket TSW-SB on the bus for the old price of $4.25.
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