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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 25, 2007 12:37:49 GMT -8
Someone posted (in a temporary thread) this morning that he heard from a BCF Engineer that "the Esquimalt is "Officially" sold and to some Turkish outfit!...They are apparently in the process of stripping her down in Departure Bay!"
There were a couple of replies before the thread was locked and discussion redirected to here.
So here it is.
I think that the Route-30 RBI (reserved boarding on the internet webpage) is the best indication of the plans for Esquimalt for the next few months. I think she's still replacing the NewWest for most of the upcoming winter-spring....
Scott, you're the forum's Departure Bay berth-1 expert: What's happening with the Esquimalt these days? Are they stripping her?
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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 25, 2007 13:17:42 GMT -8
7-Sisters: This is your personal invitation to participate in discussion on this here thread. I'm interested in what you have to say about the issues on this thread, especially re the lack of maintenance work done on the Esquimalt in recent years. Do you agree that she's been the "rented mule" of the remaining 6 sisters, in that she hasn't had her own year-round crew, and so no one has really taken ownership of her upkeep? Please read through our various posts on this thread, and let us know what you think. I'm interested in reading your thoughts on these existing discussion items.
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Post by hergfest on Oct 25, 2007 13:49:11 GMT -8
You also have to remember that RBI isn't the end all, things can change. For instance, the Oak Bay and Cow are on the RBI through March of next year, but the CR should be in service before then.
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Post by 7sisters on Oct 25, 2007 15:36:20 GMT -8
Hey guy's...Sorry about once again dropping the ball and starting another thread!!...When i am at work i don't have time to scour the threads looking for another thread to do with the Esquimalt!...My apologies!.I'll be honest..I don't have a clue what is going on with that ship other than i live 5 minutes from Departure Bay and its sitting there as i type!..The fellow told me it has been sold and that they were starting to take stuff out of it.All i was doing was passing along this tidbit...I have know way to confirm wether his info was true or not..I was in know way trying to start a vicious rumor!...I just thought i would pass along what i heard...To be honest...I hope he is wrong!!!....I love the seven sisters and don't want to see any of them leave...But i believe it is inevitable they will eventually all be replaced!...Age is against them!!....We also have a client where i work and he is a skipper on the Esquimalt and he told me he thought her days were numbered as well.....I'll stop there!!....I have a pile more ferry postcards...Not sure if there is any interest for them on the album???.....Later Dan
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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 25, 2007 16:18:15 GMT -8
I have a pile more ferry postcards...Not sure if there is any interest for them on the album???.....Later Dan RE your question of whether there's any interest in your postcards: are you serious? ;D ;D Just read the many positive comments in your 7-sisters thread...they will do wonders for your ego. But since you asked: Yes, there is interest.
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Post by Scott (Former Account) on Oct 25, 2007 17:58:49 GMT -8
Scott, you're the forum's Departure Bay berth-1 expert: What's happening with the Esquimalt these days? Are they stripping her? Welders have been on her lately, but doing nothing other than routine work.
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Post by Salt Chucker on Oct 25, 2007 20:09:08 GMT -8
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Post by Hardy on Oct 25, 2007 20:35:28 GMT -8
Welders have been on her lately, but doing nothing other than routine work. Hmmm .... routine by WHOSE standards? Routine maint? Fixing deck and beams that have rusted out ... Or routine decommissioning? Removing fittings etc? But seriously ... I don't think that other than a few lootable items, that they would go ahead and start pulling her apart NOW in supposed SECRET ... Although, being of the HIGHLY skeptical nature, I will read VERY CAREFULLY any future BCFS news release that has the title: "Seat Sale" ;D Perhaps it could have a MUCH deeper meaning than discounted prices on passage..... <subtle hint to BCFS: eBay the stuff ya loot of her before ya scrap her, that way you can re-invest in the fleet in a meaningful manner!>
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Post by Hardy on Oct 25, 2007 20:40:03 GMT -8
Is that the replacement vessel that BCFS has planned in the interim? Or is this the added sailing/overflow contingency plan for Route-9/9a??
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Mirrlees
Voyager
Bathtub!
Deck Engineer- Queen of Richmond
Posts: 1,013
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Post by Mirrlees on Oct 26, 2007 20:50:43 GMT -8
Hey guy's...Sorry about once again dropping the ball and starting another thread!!...When i am at work i don't have time to scour the threads looking for another thread to do with the Esquimalt!...My apologies!.I'll be honest..I don't have a clue what is going on with that ship other than i live 5 minutes from Departure Bay and its sitting there as i type!..The fellow told me it has been sold and that they were starting to take stuff out of it.All i was doing was passing along this tidbit...I have know way to confirm wether his info was true or not..I was in know way trying to start a vicious rumor!...I just thought i would pass along what i heard...To be honest...I hope he is wrong!!!....I love the seven sisters and don't want to see any of them leave...But i believe it is inevitable they will eventually all be replaced!...Age is against them!!....We also have a client where i work and he is a skipper on the Esquimalt and he told me he thought her days were numbered as well.....I'll stop there!!....I have a pile more ferry postcards...Not sure if there is any interest for them on the album???.....Later Dan Dan, the Esquimalt is replacing the New West on Tsawwassen-Duke Point from Nov. 16 through March 31, 2008. This is right from B.C. Ferries RBI. It could be the rumour that you heard is just that....
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Post by Hardy on Oct 27, 2007 16:39:30 GMT -8
Dan, the Esquimalt is replacing the New West on Tsawwassen-Duke Point from Nov. 16 through March 31, 2008. This is right from B.C. Ferries RBI. It could be the rumour that you heard is just that.... As has been said, the website RBI information is not the BE-ALL and END-ALL of information. It is but one piece of information gathering, but there have been several instances already where things that were "stated" in the future RBI schedules were shown up to be false when the time actually came. The sole reason that I bring this up, is that it was only recently posted, and we have had the situation where ships returning post-MLU have been delayed, even though their return was "foretold" by RBI.
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Post by queenofcowichan on Oct 27, 2007 17:14:59 GMT -8
Nov 2 2007
10:30 am leaving Departure Bay Queen of Esquimalt 12:50 pm Leaving Horseshoe Bay Queen of Esquimalt
According to the RBI the Esquimalt is replacing the Coquitlam for 1 round trip!
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Post by Coastal Canuck on Oct 28, 2007 12:04:09 GMT -8
Nov 2 2007 10:30 am leaving Departure Bay Queen of Esquimalt 12:50 pm Leaving Horseshoe Bay Queen of Esquimalt According to the RBI the Esquimalt is replacing the Coquitlam for 1 round trip! what's the point of having the Esquimalt do 1 round trip instead of the Coquitlam
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Post by kylefossett on Oct 28, 2007 15:30:33 GMT -8
Nov 2 2007 10:30 am leaving Departure Bay Queen of Esquimalt 12:50 pm Leaving Horseshoe Bay Queen of Esquimalt According to the RBI the Esquimalt is replacing the Coquitlam for 1 round trip! what's the point of having the Esquimalt do 1 round trip instead of the Coquitlam might be a transport canada inspection on the coquitlam?
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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 28, 2007 15:41:13 GMT -8
might be a transport canada inspection on the coquitlam? ....are those usually 1-day affairs, re an inspection? Do they normally happen when a vessel is otherwise in-service (as opposed to being in refit) ? just wondering.
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Post by kylefossett on Oct 28, 2007 16:31:41 GMT -8
might be a transport canada inspection on the coquitlam? ....are those usually 1-day affairs, re an inspection? Do they normally happen when a vessel is otherwise in-service (as opposed to being in refit) ? just wondering. as far as i know they usually happen when the previous certification is coming due and when a TC inspector is available. might also be a life chute deployment test. i know when they doe those on the skeena queen it is usually during the day. interrupts the schedule by about 45 minutes. seeing as there is an extra vessel available for route 2, why interrupt the schedule when you can use that other vessel for a roundtrip.
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Post by queenofcowichan on Oct 30, 2007 11:24:25 GMT -8
Well, I do not know about you guys but if I get up in time I will go for a ride on the Esquimalt on Friday!
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Post by Nucksrule on Nov 4, 2007 18:37:14 GMT -8
Just curious, but about when will the Esquimalt's duties on rte. 30 be taken back by the New Westminster?
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Post by Low Light Mike on Nov 4, 2007 21:37:58 GMT -8
Just curious, but about when will the Esquimalt's duties on rte. 30 be taken back by the New Westminster? ...maybe "Never". If the NewWest is going in for a MLU, that means 5-6 months. This means Dec-June or so, and so maybe by June 08 the Coastal Inspiration will be ready for Route-30, based from Duke Point. If there's a gap in May-June 08 (ie. the Coastal Inspy is not ready), then I wouldn't be surprised to see Q-Coquitlam fill in for a few weeks on Route-30. Or maybe the Esquimalt, if she's still around.
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Post by Scott (Former Account) on Nov 4, 2007 21:45:11 GMT -8
According to RBI, the Esquimalt starts service on Route 30 on the 17th...
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Post by Hardy on Nov 5, 2007 22:02:15 GMT -8
Again, I must state, that while the information in the RBI system can be a good guide, by no means should the information on the RBI system be taken as the "BE ALL and END ALL" (ie gospel truth) of vessel deployment. I don't know how I can be emphatic enough about stating this ... Fluge, can I borrow your soap box for a few minutes??
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Post by Hardy on Nov 5, 2007 22:07:24 GMT -8
<shouting from soap-box> <flashing strobe light beacon> You also have to remember that RBI isn't the end all, things can change. For instance, the Oak Bay and Cow are on the RBI through March of next year, but the CR should be in service before then. Quoted for the sake of re-iterating this point yet again</shouting from soap-box> </flashing strobe light beacon>
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Post by Scott (Former Account) on Nov 5, 2007 22:30:52 GMT -8
Yes, I know that vessel placement on the RBI is not set in stone...
But that is currently the only information we have to go on until we see a formal service notice...
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Post by Hardy on Nov 6, 2007 3:51:55 GMT -8
Yes, I know that vessel placement on the RBI is not set in stone... But that is currently the only information we have to go on until we see a formal service notice... I fully understand this. But some posters (scroll back to see the 'offenders') are quoting the RBI information as "the cold hard truth". The information in RBI is, at best, tentative. We can use it as a guide. I take offense at people quoting back, "She's not <there/here>, RBI has her on this sailing at that time." THAT is my pet peeve, and my soapbox stance. RBI is informative, but it is not a definitive source. I doubt that the people that code the information INTO RBI do so based on anything other than PUBLISHED schedules, service notices that are in the pipeline already and TENTATIVE VESSEL DEPLOYMENT SCHEDULES which are supplied to them by a separate department at BCFS; in other words, the ones programming RBI are using OTHER people's info when they do so, they are not necessarily the ones that KNOW the actual fleet deployments. That, plus the other stated reasons, are why RBI alone is not a reliable source for information - good for speculation and an EDUCATED guess yes, but cold hard reliabe information NO.
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Post by queenofcowichan on Nov 7, 2007 12:54:30 GMT -8
The Queen of Coquitlam is a prime example that the RBI is not set in stone, after the Cowichan returns in about a week, the Coq is not listed on the RBI untill the XMass Rush as the #2 boat out of DB.
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