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Post by Retrovision on Oct 19, 2006 18:38:01 GMT -8
(From: www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/October2006/19/c2397.html - © 2005 CNW Group Ltd.) BC Ferries takes possession of vessel to replace Queen of the North VICTORIA, Oct. 19 /CNW/ - BC Ferries is pleased to announce that the acquisition of the MV Sonia for the Inside Passage route has been successfully concluded and the company has now taken possession of the vessel. The purchase price of the two-year old vessel was 34.5 million Euros or approximately $49.3 million Cdn. The ship is currently in Greece for painting and other work. It will undergo extensive modifications over the winter to improve customer amenities and meet safety requirements to operate in Canadian waters. BC Ferries is conducting a request for bid process involving local and international shipyards for the refit work. The shipyard that will perform the modifications to the ship will be selected by the end of October 2006. The vessel will be renamed and reflagged and is expected to enter service next spring. The ship has 70 state rooms and will accommodate over 600 passengers and 101 vehicles. BC Ferries is extremely pleased to acquire this ship so that full service to the north coast can be restored for the summer of 2007. Find the official news release from BCFS here: www.bcferries.com/news/files/06-066qnorthreplacmntvesselsonia.pdf
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Post by Balfour on Oct 19, 2006 18:58:28 GMT -8
Alright I'm stoked!
It will be interesting to watch what happens in the next few weeks. I hope a local company will do the refit work.
It will also be interesting to see what her interior will be like what kind of Modifications they do to her!
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Post by Dane on Oct 19, 2006 19:09:26 GMT -8
It will also be interesting to see what her interior will be like what kind of Modifications they do to her! I have no substantiantion for this... however, I assume it will be interior cosmetic work, the Coastal Interior stuff that's done here. I say that because a lot of the mechanical stuff has already started in Europe.
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Post by Ferryman on Oct 19, 2006 21:11:18 GMT -8
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Kam
Voyager
Posts: 926
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Post by Kam on Oct 20, 2006 0:24:44 GMT -8
Looks better already with just the primer on her! lol..
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Post by Retrovision on Oct 20, 2006 11:05:08 GMT -8
Even though these pics might seem like they're showing her being worked-on for BCFS because the date is noted as "17th October 2006," I think that's probably only the upload-date of the pic. Correct me if I'm wrong; it's difficult to tell if this is her being stripped-down for BCFS colours, or is, as the caption for the first pic implies, when she was originally built... Both pics: © 2006 Apostolos Kaknis - All rights reserved
"SONIA_AT_PERAMA_UNDER_CONSTRUCTION"
"SONIA_AT_PERAMA_FITTING_OUT"
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Post by Ferryman on Oct 26, 2006 7:07:45 GMT -8
Ok, found this link on the yahoo forum, to another recent picture of the Sonia. This site has proven to be accurate with the dates, and this one is from October 17th. (bottom picture) www.faktaomfartyg.se/adamantios_korais_2004.htmSide Note: They also have the Sonia listed as part of the BCF website now.
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Post by Ferryman on Oct 29, 2006 18:26:53 GMT -8
Another couple of "recent" pics of the Sonia. These ones dated, October 25. I've left a message with the owner of the pictures, to get some confirmation on the actual date of the photos. Notice the title of the picture, and look at the funnel..... apostolossphotos.fotopic.net/p35477233.html
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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 Oct 29, 2006 18:57:22 GMT -8
The funnels looks blue on the inside which means they are probably getting ready to paint the funnles in the BC Ferries scheme.
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Post by WettCoast on Oct 29, 2006 20:50:20 GMT -8
The metadata for these new photos show that they were taken on the afternoon of Oct 25th.
Date/time original - 25/10/2006 1:16:56 PM
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Post by Ferryman on Oct 30, 2006 17:59:30 GMT -8
I've just recieved a message, from Mr. Apostolos Kaknis, in Greece.
"Yes the photos is recent. I today i took some new shots with new funnel livery!"
No sign of the shots yet, but I'll be checking back on that site for updates.
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Neil
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Posts: 7,177
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Post by Neil on Nov 1, 2006 13:24:32 GMT -8
B.C. shipyard wins contract to retrofit Northern replacement vessel Victoria Shipyards starts work on $9 million contract next month
VICTORIA, Nov. 1 /CNW/ - BC Ferries announced today that Victoria Shipyards has been awarded the contract to perform major modification work on the replacement vessel for the Queen of the North. In capturing the $9 million contract, Victoria Shipyards was successful over three highly-qualified international yards. BC Ferries evaluated the bids in accordance with the process specified in the bid documents. Key criteria included the schedule, project plan, contract terms, technical competency and overall price. "BC Ferries is very pleased that Victoria Shipyards was the successful bidder on this project," said David L. Hahn, BC Ferries' President and CEO. "We look forward to the arrival of the vessel in Canadian waters, which will take us another major step closer to restoring full service to our Northern routes next summer." The vessel, currently named MV Sonia, is being painted in Greece and preparations for its transatlantic crossing are well underway, including engine modifications to enable the use of cleaner-burning marine diesel fuel. On November 15, 2006, a crew of BC Ferries' employees is scheduled to sail the ship from Greece to British Columbia. En route, she will travel through the Panama Canal and is expected to arrive at Victoria Shipyards in mid-December. The modifications that Victoria Shipyards will undertake include: << - Updating safety and security equipment - Modifying the stern ramp to be compatible with BC Ferries' berths - Upgrading electrical, heating and lighting systems - Expanding, upgrading and reconfiguring the gift shop, galley, passenger food amenities and crew common areas >> The vessel will be renamed and reflagged as a Canadian vessel. It will enter service on BC Ferries' Port Hardy - Prince Rupert - Queen Charlotte Island routes in April 2007.
%SEDAR: 00020627E
For further information: Media Contact: BC Ferries, Communications, Victoria: (250) 978-1267; Customer Contact
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Koastal Karl
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Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
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Post by Koastal Karl on Nov 1, 2006 20:44:42 GMT -8
yay, she will be in Victoria. I am assuimg Victoria Shipyards is the Esquimalt Drydock. We might have some of the first photos of her here as I dont live to far away from there so I can see her pretty much every day. This will be cool!
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Post by Ferryman on Nov 1, 2006 21:54:04 GMT -8
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Post by Dane on Nov 1, 2006 21:57:57 GMT -8
Thanks for the pics, very cool!
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Post by Retrovision on Nov 1, 2006 22:02:15 GMT -8
These two deserve to be posted, methinks ( © 2006 Apostolos Kaknis - All rights reserved.)
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Post by Curtis on Nov 2, 2006 8:27:01 GMT -8
Now She's almost a complete Member of the Fleet.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 2, 2006 17:48:05 GMT -8
Vic Ship does work out of the Esquimalt Drydock. Look for the Sonia between the 15th -19th of December.
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Post by Political Incorrectness on Nov 2, 2006 17:59:54 GMT -8
Oh and make sure you look at the Panama Canal webcams for her transit.
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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 Nov 2, 2006 18:10:12 GMT -8
ah someone beat me too it. I saw in the Times Colonist article yeah the Sonia will be arriving around the December 16th they mentioned. I wonder when she will be transiting the Panama Canal??
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Post by Retrovision on Nov 2, 2006 19:38:54 GMT -8
Oh and make sure you look at the Panama Canal webcams for her transit. If anyone on the inside-track knows when the Sonia will transit the Panama Canal, I'm sure that a few people here would be forever in your debt if you let us know
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 2, 2006 19:38:59 GMT -8
It's still Hurricane Season, so lets hope that she gets here. LOL
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Post by Retrovision on Nov 2, 2006 19:46:21 GMT -8
It's still Hurricane Season, so lets hope that she gets here. LOL Atleast she doesn't have to 'round the 'Horn, like most vessels did in order to reach our coast in the days before the Panama Canal (and (almost) all vessels before the Suez Canal).
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Post by WettCoast on Nov 2, 2006 20:04:19 GMT -8
Perhaps, if they just waited a couple of years and allowed for more global warming and loss of Arctic ice ...
They could take the North-West Passage...
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Post by Scott on Nov 2, 2006 21:58:22 GMT -8
I don't know if anyone mentioned it yet, but it does appear that the big round windows on the front, aren't actually windows at all. They are "viewing holes" for the outside deck part of the ship. It doesn't look like there will be any great interior viewing areas.
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