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Post by bpawlett on Oct 7, 2007 18:18:44 GMT -8
caught the 11;45 extra sailing to horseshoe bay on sat on the esquimalt was very stoked about it. havent rode the esqie in many years and man she is lookin rough, couldnt believe the amount of rust and paint peeling etc, i wonder how she is passed by transport canada to sail, but she keeps truckin along, anyway it will be a sad day when the v's are gone, long live the v's!!!!
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Post by Hardy on Oct 7, 2007 18:27:45 GMT -8
I am not in the know enough to know when her last certification was, but I imagine that since BCFS is not planning on getting her re-certified, that they have done precious little in the way of maintenance. The problem with the cancer is that it becomes rapidly worse, and whereas a little TLC and maintenance might have kept her looking presentable, it is probably a wholesale plate replacement that is now needed to fix the rust problems. Shame that for a relative pittance, they could have "kept up appearances".
Even with all the plans and speculation, I could still put forward a half-decent case for keeping the spare old V's around, were they to be in "good enough" shape. Seems though that they are intent on running them into the ground to make sure that they don't have any recourse but to scrap them.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 7, 2007 18:37:01 GMT -8
Shame that for a relative pittance, they could have "kept up appearances". Hyacinth thinks that it's a shame that she couldn't use the Esquimalt's upper-aft dining room for one of her famous candlelight suppers: Onslow thinks that they should have a beer & telly lounge on the Esquimalt: (for those who don't watch British TV, don't worry about it.....)
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Post by Northern Exploration on Oct 7, 2007 19:07:39 GMT -8
Since this is a forum of all ages I will refrain from saying what "our Rose" would want on a ferry but it likely would involve the staterooms.
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Post by Balfour on Oct 8, 2007 9:35:38 GMT -8
Since the deck of the Queen of Esquimalt is in such bad condition with all the patches of cement, and the fact that some if it is loose, I managed to pick up piece of cement from the deck. Basically I have a piece of the Queen of Esquimalt sitting in my room.
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Koastal Karl
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Post by Koastal Karl on Oct 8, 2007 10:36:46 GMT -8
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Post by Shane on Oct 8, 2007 10:55:21 GMT -8
I was on the Queen of Tsawassen this morning, on the first sailing from the Sechelt Peninsula to Powell River, and she seems to be falling apart just like the Esquimalt.
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Mill Bay
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Post by Mill Bay on Oct 8, 2007 11:05:23 GMT -8
A little bit Shane, but the holes in the deck surface aren't nearly as big as the one's on the Esquimalt, yet. About the concrete though, is it really actual pieces of the Esquimalt herself, or just superficial patches that have been put on to cover over parts of the old ship that have already been lost forever... *sigh*... it almost makes you want to cry...
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Post by queenofcowichan on Oct 8, 2007 12:16:40 GMT -8
At the other end of the scale, I can remember one ride on the Queen of Esquimalt from Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen. She was probably replacing the Spirit of BC at the time but what I remember most about this trip was that the Esquimalt Had a fresh paint job and the outside decks were in emaculate shape. You would have been forgiving if you thought you were on a new ship. But the sad reality is at the end of thier service life there is no need to spend the money or time to keep them shipshape especially if they are about to be sold for scrapp.
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Mill Bay
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Post by Mill Bay on Oct 8, 2007 12:27:47 GMT -8
But the sad reality is at the end of thier service life there is no need to spend the money or time to keep them shipshape especially if they are about to be sold for scrapp. Unfortunately, you are right Q of Cowichan... But this is such a sad delusion though... besides... for a nice, private company like BCFerries, you would think that the appearance of all their vessels would be a little more important to them, so that they would appear nice and clean to the public. I know we often have condemned them for spending too much money on fancy interiors for the ships... but a little bit of paint or resurfacing the decks isn't that much of an expense.
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Neil
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Post by Neil on Oct 8, 2007 13:11:22 GMT -8
If I were BC Ferries I wouldn't be painting over the rust either, since the 'Esquimalt is toast as soon as the first super-C gets here. At least it's not like WSF's dear old steel-electrics, with their leaky hulls, and no replacements in sight.
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Mill Bay
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Post by Mill Bay on Oct 8, 2007 14:08:13 GMT -8
If I were BC Ferries I wouldn't be painting over the rust either, since the 'Esquimalt is toast as soon as the first super-C gets here. At least it's not like WSF's dear old steel-electrics, with their leaky hulls, and no replacements in sight. Ha! to BCferries... that's kind of a Catch-22... they might not have that much rust, if they had kept paint on the ships... Actually, I know it's pretty hard to keep steel from rusting in salt-water conditions... they should have thought of building the Super-Cs out of fiberglass... no rust in that case. But for another perspective, compare the recent pictures of the Coho with Esquimalt... the Coho is older the the Esqie, but there wasn't a spot of rust on her...
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Post by Dane on Oct 8, 2007 14:28:17 GMT -8
I think the Coho is repainted every year, isn't she? Most major BC Ferries vessels are every two I believe?
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Post by Curtis on Oct 8, 2007 20:23:31 GMT -8
It's just sad how they maintain our original fleet of spauldings. Where has the money to Maintain these Ships gone? Somewhere Between the 80s and the end of the 90s they just stopped I guess, and they've been rusting up ever since. Just what happens when the Government Makes the Decisions. At least they replaced the floors on the upper deck of the Queen of Burnaby.
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Post by Dane on Oct 8, 2007 23:21:05 GMT -8
Where has the money to Maintain these Ships gone? Germany. And I don't mean that in a political "how could they," sort of way... Just like many have said, why invest in something that is going away? (That said I am suprised at the little liability craters BCFS has let go on the outer decks)
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Mirrlees
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Post by Mirrlees on Oct 8, 2007 23:49:50 GMT -8
I've been thinking about that too, Dane. If someone tripped and did a "header" into a life raft locker or a hand rail this just screams lawsuit all over it. I'm really amazed that BCFS has grossly overlooked this; especially since she will see daily service on Rte. 30 most of the winter.
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Post by kylefossett on Oct 9, 2007 16:35:33 GMT -8
it has been discussed before but here goes. because the queen of esquimalt is the little hussy of the fleet, meaning she gets around, she does not have a set rotation of crew on her. this results in the extra maintenance not being done. all the other major vessels have an overnight crew that comes aboard to do maintenance
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Post by Ferryman on Oct 9, 2007 18:33:52 GMT -8
Ok, so she doesn't have a set crew on her, fair enough. But how would that justify that there's no need for extra overnight maintenance, when she's berthed at the different terminals she runs at?
Ok, so Departure Bay has been doing roof work because water was dripping from the ceiling whenever it rained. Good, there's a step forward. But when I walk around in the public areas of the ship, I litterally feel the outer decks crumbling at my feet, and then having to step over multiple potholes, my personal safety decreases immensely. Scattering orange pilons around the deck everywhere isn't good enough. Someone has mentioned this as a major tripping hazard. Kids enjoy running around all over the decks in the wind, and some people who take it for granted that there's no tripping hazards on board. Usually those types of people are the ones looking for a lawsuit. So why isn't BC Ferries at least sending someone aboard with a bucket of cement, and patching these problems? I'm not saying this because I'm a Fanatic of the Ferries, and am critical about the looks of things. I think it would be better on BC Ferries' part to repair these things, that way it allows them to keep a good name amongst the public. Common sense really. After all, safety is priority?
Hah!
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Post by bcfcbccsscollector on Oct 9, 2007 21:34:31 GMT -8
There was a story recently on CHEK news about the possibly eviction of the Coho from the inner harbour. They had a clip showing crew loading on the car deck and I may say, that one could likely EAT off this deck! The deck and interior was to say....SPOTLESS!!! And this was looking at it from a TV screen! (Which is usually not as good as the real thing). And this is the ferry that preceded the Sidney and Tsawwassen! Black Ball has clearly looked after this vessel and it REALLY shows. BC Ferries could learn ALOT from them in regards to maintenance and upkeep. So it is one vessel vs. several in terms of maintenance, but "A little goes a long way".......... Maybe there is a hidden agenda on the horizon? ?? My two pennies worth.. D
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Mirrlees
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Post by Mirrlees on Oct 9, 2007 21:41:53 GMT -8
Hear, Hear!
In reference to post #17
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Mill Bay
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Post by Mill Bay on Oct 9, 2007 21:42:48 GMT -8
It also makes you wonder what the Coastal ships will look like in the same amount of time... 40 years on... will there be holes in the deck...?
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Post by Curtis on Oct 10, 2007 10:03:47 GMT -8
It also makes you wonder what the Coastal ships will look like in the same amount of time... 40 years on... will there be holes in the deck...? Think of the C Class Vessels Before their MLU to Picture what they'll be like in about 20 Years. Or just Think about the V Class' Current State for 40+ Years. We should Worry About the Coastals when it begins to happen.
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Post by bpawlett on Oct 10, 2007 11:50:38 GMT -8
I think if bc ferries looked after the v's a bit better in the past and present they probably could stick around for another 5-10 years, i guess its the whole money issue. they better look after those super c's.
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Post by queenofcowichan on Oct 12, 2007 18:21:22 GMT -8
FYI: Currently I am at the Wellington Branch of the Vancouver Island Library and while I was waiting for the transit bus between 6;15 and 6:45pm this evening the Queen of Esquimalt was still in berth 3 at Departure Bay, I am guessing she was not put into service today.
Ps the mv Quinsam is begining to look like a rust bucket!
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Post by Hardy on Oct 13, 2007 17:29:28 GMT -8
I think if bc ferries looked after the v's a bit better in the past and present they probably could stick around for another 5-10 years, i guess its the whole money issue. they better look after those super c's. One would think that they should keep money on preventative maintenance (PM) rather than wait for breakdowns and big repairs... but that would require thinking. Who knows. Tough to say these days with the things that are happening (or in the case of extra sailings, NOT HAPPENING....)
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