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Post by Mike C on Mar 7, 2013 14:52:32 GMT -8
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Post by Low Light Mike on Mar 7, 2013 14:55:27 GMT -8
I've merged-in some old thread posts into this here new thread.
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Post by Kahloke on Mar 7, 2013 15:19:06 GMT -8
This is all it said in the bill:
I don't see too much coming from this other than ideas that have already been shared in this thread: using the same design for newbuilds, possibly sharing some vessel components that could be common between both fleets, and maybe some collaboration in pursuing LNG technologies.
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Mar 7, 2013 15:50:31 GMT -8
This is all it said in the bill: I don't see too much coming from this other than ideas that have already been shared in this thread: using the same design for newbuilds, possibly sharing some vessel components that could be common between both fleets, and maybe some collaboration in pursuing LNG technologies. I kinda agree with joint transportation because BC Ferries would get better relief vessels for the Comox to Powell River route or the Tsawwassen to Southern Gulf Islands with an Olympic Class. But, the only problems I see is the safety systems on board the vessels because Canada has tougher rules than USA, the interiors, and the amenities on board the boat.
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Post by Kahloke on Mar 7, 2013 18:33:26 GMT -8
I kinda agree with joint transportation; because BC Ferries would get better relief vessels for the Comox to Powell River route or the Tsawwassen to Southern Gulf Islands with an Olympic Class. But, the only problems I see is the safety systems on board the vessels because Canada has tougher rules than USA, the interiors, and the amenities on board the boat. If BC Ferries were to do some newbuilds using the Olympic Class template, I don't believe it would take that much modifying to make the design work for BC Ferries. The biggest change would be a fully enclosed car deck with bow doors and possibly fewer port holes. that would, in turn, necessitate moving the rescue boats to the top deck, so you would have to eliminate a few passenger deck windows in the locations where those rescue boats would be lowered to the water. WSF has already incorporated MES stations on the passenger deck level, so that design aspect would not have to change at all. Outside of that, the other changes would be mostly for operational and cosmetic needs. The passenger cabin layout may be a little different to accommodate both a Coast Cafe and Passages Gift Shop, although you may be able to do a combined one like what Island Sky has. Furnishings, materials, and finishes would also be different, and there would probably be some differences in equipment, too. I would expect the BC version to have more in the way of life saving equipment on board, but even given all of that, it's still quite possible to do a BC Ferries variation of the Olympic Class design. Ferrynut did a nice little drawing of what that would look like some time ago.
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Mar 7, 2013 18:45:51 GMT -8
I kinda agree with joint transportation; because BC Ferries would get better relief vessels for the Comox to Powell River route or the Tsawwassen to Southern Gulf Islands with an Olympic Class. But, the only problems I see is the safety systems on board the vessels because Canada has tougher rules than USA, the interiors, and the amenities on board the boat. The passenger cabin layout may be a little different to accommodate both a Coast Cafe and Passages Gift Shop, although you may be able to do a combined one like what Island Sky has. I personality hate the combined Coast Cafe with the Gift Shop. But for the longer routes the ferries would need a cafeteria on board. I could see on board the Coast Cafe express combined with the Gift shop.
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SolDuc
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Post by SolDuc on Mar 7, 2013 18:52:18 GMT -8
The passenger cabin layout may be a little different to accommodate both a Coast Cafe and Passages Gift Shop, although you may be able to do a combined one like what Island Sky has. I personality hate the combined Coast Cafe with the Gift Shop. But for the longer routes the ferries would need a cafeteria on board. I could see on board the Coast Cafe express combined with the Gift shop.How about nothing at all and enjoy the scenery? I guess that's what all of us ferry fans would vote for!
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Mayne
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Post by Mayne on Mar 7, 2013 18:56:10 GMT -8
I personality hate the combined Coast Cafe with the Gift Shop. But for the longer routes the ferries would need a cafeteria on board. I could see on board the Coast Cafe express combined with the Gift shop.How about nothing at all and enjoy the scenery? I guess that's what all of us ferry fans would vote for! I would have a hard time enjoying a good ferry trip with out a good old bacon cheese burger, and I don't think I am alone on that one!
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SolDuc
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Post by SolDuc on Mar 7, 2013 19:03:37 GMT -8
How about nothing at all and enjoy the scenery? I guess that's what all of us ferry fans would vote for! I would have a hard time enjoying a good ferry trip with out a good old bacon cheese burger, and I don't think I am alone on that one! Well the #1 goal of a ferry is still to carry people across. And personally I would see a Coastal Cafe/Passages gift shop combined just like the island sky on route 17 ferries. However, I think that the summer route 9 boat would need both to be separated, but that the F/W/S boat could do with both combined.
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Mirrlees
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Post by Mirrlees on Mar 7, 2013 19:08:08 GMT -8
How about nothing at all and enjoy the scenery? I guess that's what all of us ferry fans would vote for! I would have a hard time enjoying a good ferry trip with out a good old bacon cheese burger, and I don't think I am alone on that one! Cheeseburger in Paradise!
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Post by Mike C on Mar 7, 2013 19:24:25 GMT -8
I would have a hard time enjoying a good ferry trip with out a good old bacon cheese burger, and I don't think I am alone on that one! Well the #1 goal of a ferry is still to carry people across. And personally I would see a Coastal Cafe/Passages gift shop combined just like the island sky on route 17 ferries. However, I think that the summer route 9 boat would need both to be separated, but that the F/W/S boat could do with both combined. See the Queen of Burnaby for full service cafeteria/gift shop shared space. It works extremely well on Route 17, as the loads are generally fairly light, and don't require two cashiers, except during busier sailings. The Island Sky does not have a full service cafeteria, but rather a random assortment of re-heatable items and candy. I don't know what I would do without my classic bacon cheeseburger. Or my waffles and bacon. So delicious.
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Post by WettCoast on Mar 7, 2013 19:41:20 GMT -8
I would have a hard time enjoying a good ferry trip with out a good old bacon cheese burger, and I don't think I am alone on that one! Cheeseburger in Paradise! Or you could forget the food altogether and just get drunk & .... (to quote Mr. Jimmy Buffett)
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Post by compdude787 on Mar 7, 2013 21:53:19 GMT -8
How about nothing at all and enjoy the scenery? I guess that's what all of us ferry fans would vote for! I would have a hard time enjoying a good ferry trip with out a good old bacon cheese burger, and I don't think I am alone on that one! The food onboard WA State ferries is too dang expensive (both in the galleys and in the vending machines) and I never buy it. Why spend $1.75 on just a bag of chips?
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SolDuc
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Post by SolDuc on Mar 7, 2013 22:07:06 GMT -8
I would have a hard time enjoying a good ferry trip with out a good old bacon cheese burger, and I don't think I am alone on that one! The food onboard WA State ferries is too dang expensive (both in the galleys and in the vending machines) and I never buy it. Why spend $1.75 on just a bag of chips? Yup, but WSF has shorter runs. While it is overpriced, if you are really hungry you can still buy it. The only things that are good and actually make profit on WSFs are coffee, hot chocolate and similar drinks (on the morning commuter runs). Their soups are not bad as well. But if BCFS had to use a WSF vessel, there would be the infrastructure for a small cafe.
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Post by Steve Rosenow on Mar 7, 2013 22:38:46 GMT -8
I would have a hard time enjoying a good ferry trip with out a good old bacon cheese burger, and I don't think I am alone on that one! The food onboard WA State ferries is too dang expensive (both in the galleys and in the vending machines) and I never buy it. Why spend $1.75 on just a bag of chips? Gonna have to disagree, coming from someone who's worked in the restaurant industry. It's about the same going rate for most restaurants in terms of food prices. A bowl of chili in a sit-down restaurant is about the same, price-wise, as what you'd get out of the large bowls aboard the state ferries. Same goes for most of their menu items. As for the food aboard the ferries, the burgers - if you get them fresh - are actually some of the best burgers I've ever had. Same goes for the chili and the breakfast burritos. In fact, I think both the chili and breakfast burritos that they serve aboard the ferries is the best I've ever had aside of cooking my own. And try working for Walmart. Some of their vending machine food exceeds $2. LOL
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mrdot
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Post by mrdot on Mar 7, 2013 22:58:03 GMT -8
:)well I don't think a happy face can get red and blue sides of the asile or an international co-op on ferries in our supernatural pacific northwest! the potential 3 way wrangling would be quite a bad soap opera indeed! maybe evergreen ferries would look much better from my perspective, and we could colour match the dogwood fleet! mrdot.
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Post by compdude787 on Mar 8, 2013 8:09:35 GMT -8
The food onboard WA State ferries is too dang expensive (both in the galleys and in the vending machines) and I never buy it. Why spend $1.75 on just a bag of chips? Gonna have to disagree, coming from someone who's worked in the restaurant industry. It's about the same going rate for most restaurants in terms of food prices. A bowl of chili in a sit-down restaurant is about the same, price-wise, as what you'd get out of the large bowls aboard the state ferries. Same goes for most of their menu items. As for the food aboard the ferries, the burgers - if you get them fresh - are actually some of the best burgers I've ever had. Same goes for the chili and the breakfast burritos. In fact, I think both the chili and breakfast burritos that they serve aboard the ferries is the best I've ever had aside of cooking my own. And try working for Walmart. Some of their vending machine food exceeds $2. LOL Alright, fine. Maybe is the same prices as other restaurants. But still, $1.75 for a half-full bag of Lays chips is a lot. WSF must be making a fat profit off of that. Burgers? Until you've gone to Five Guys, you have not had good burgers. If you're ever up near Northgate Mall in Seattle, stop by Five Guys. You'll be amazed at how good their burgers are! Walmart's vending machine food is more than $2?! Wow! So much for having low prices.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Mar 8, 2013 8:14:59 GMT -8
Does anyone find it odd that when we have a topic such as a ship procurement partnership between BCF & WSF, that all we seem to want to talk about is the impact on the burgers and soup ?
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Post by Mike C on Mar 8, 2013 8:25:36 GMT -8
Does anyone find it odd that when we have a topic such as a ship procurement partnership between BCF & WSF, that all we seem to want to talk about is the impact on the burgers and soup ? Route 1 traveler checking in: Pacific Buffet Restaurant. That is the be all and end all of ferry food discussion. Good day to you all.
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Post by hergfest on Mar 8, 2013 9:24:24 GMT -8
Biggest issues I see are the Jones Act and where the boats will be built. There are some shared design savings if BCF and WSF use the same design, but I don't see a BCF boat being built at Vigor, and a WSF can't legally be built in Canada.
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Post by Steve Rosenow on Mar 8, 2013 9:44:28 GMT -8
Gonna have to disagree, coming from someone who's worked in the restaurant industry. It's about the same going rate for most restaurants in terms of food prices. A bowl of chili in a sit-down restaurant is about the same, price-wise, as what you'd get out of the large bowls aboard the state ferries. Same goes for most of their menu items. As for the food aboard the ferries, the burgers - if you get them fresh - are actually some of the best burgers I've ever had. Same goes for the chili and the breakfast burritos. In fact, I think both the chili and breakfast burritos that they serve aboard the ferries is the best I've ever had aside of cooking my own. And try working for Walmart. Some of their vending machine food exceeds $2. LOL Alright, fine. Maybe is the same prices as other restaurants. But still, $1.75 for a half-full bag of Lays chips is a lot. WSF must be making a fat profit off of that. Burgers? Until you've gone to Five Guys, you have not had good burgers. If you're ever up near Northgate Mall in Seattle, stop by Five Guys. You'll be amazed at how good their burgers are! Walmart's vending machine food is more than $2?! Wow! So much for having low prices. I've yet to have Five Guys, although I do plan on it. I think the selling point of a WSF "Ferry Cafe" burger is that the buns are whole wheat. That and they're 1/3rd lb. angus. That I do like. As for the Walmart vending machine food, that's just for employees in the breakroom. Soda? Better be spending at least $1.50. LOL As for the chips? That's about usual. Most bags are half full anyways due to settling in shipment and handling. Can't really blame WSF for that.
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Post by Mike C on Mar 8, 2013 10:08:58 GMT -8
Alright, fine. Maybe is the same prices as other restaurants. But still, $1.75 for a half-full bag of Lays chips is a lot. WSF must be making a fat profit off of that. Burgers? Until you've gone to Five Guys, you have not had good burgers. If you're ever up near Northgate Mall in Seattle, stop by Five Guys. You'll be amazed at how good their burgers are! Walmart's vending machine food is more than $2?! Wow! So much for having low prices. I've yet to have Five Guys, although I do plan on it. I think the selling point of a WSF "Ferry Cafe" burger is that the buns are whole wheat. That and they're 1/3rd lb. angus. That I do like. As for the Walmart vending machine food, that's just for employees in the breakroom. Soda? Better be spending at least $1.50. LOL As for the chips? That's about usual. Most bags are half full anyways due to settling in shipment and handling. Can't really blame WSF for that. I'm going to jump in one more time here: Washington State Ferries food is by far the worst food I have ever paid for in my life. If you grind it up, add a touch of water, it becomes the light cement used for repairing sections of I-5. No substance have I ever encountered that is classified as edible, is as consistently bad as the so-called "food" aboard every WSF vessel. Don't get me wrong - I am not trying to start a Cascade-style international ferry preference war here - WSF provides a fantastic service - but food is not one of their strong sets. This is an area where the infrastructure would only be interchangeable if there was a vessel shortage. Because BCFS routes are longer, and more a highway system rather than a commuter system, the needs of riders are different.
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Post by Northern Exploration on Mar 8, 2013 12:25:29 GMT -8
I've yet to have Five Guys, although I do plan on it. I think the selling point of a WSF "Ferry Cafe" burger is that the buns are whole wheat. That and they're 1/3rd lb. angus. That I do like. As for the Walmart vending machine food, that's just for employees in the breakroom. Soda? Better be spending at least $1.50. LOL As for the chips? That's about usual. Most bags are half full anyways due to settling in shipment and handling. Can't really blame WSF for that. I'm going to jump in one more time here: Washington State Ferries food is by far the worst food I have ever paid for in my life. If you grind it up, add a touch of water, it becomes the light cement used for repairing sections of I-5. No substance have I ever encountered that is classified as edible, is as consistently bad as the so-called "food" aboard every WSF vessel. Don't get me wrong - I am not trying to start a Cascade-style international ferry preference war here - WSF provides a fantastic service - but food is not one of their strong sets. This is an area where the infrastructure would only be interchangeable if there was a vessel shortage. Because BCFS routes are longer, and more a highway system rather than a commuter system, the needs of riders are different. We are definitely in a Burger Craze in Canada. Five Guys just opened here. We also have a local (first restaurant was Ottawa) burger chain called the Werks. They have a mind boggling array of burgers on their menu. I have always thought that WSF should partner with a number of local chains and restaurants to come up with something similar to what the airlines have been doing. A variety of products branded from the restaurants to minimize prep time and give choice for commuter's who might be more prone to eat something in a hurry. BCF has done that with some of their offerings. Air Canada uses Cara Foods branded products from Milestones, Swiss Chalet etc. The idea is to improve or standardize quality and minimum prep time and costs. With WSF speed will also be a concern.
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Post by paulvanb on Mar 8, 2013 12:33:44 GMT -8
Unless the policy has changed, you used to be able to get beer on a WSF ferry!
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Post by compdude787 on Mar 8, 2013 17:07:26 GMT -8
As for the Walmart vending machine food, that's just for employees in the breakroom. Soda? Better be spending at least $1.50. LOL Yeah I realized that it's just for the employees. As for the chips? That's about usual. Most bags are half full anyways due to settling in shipment and handling. Can't really blame WSF for that. I know it's not WSF's fault but at least the fact that it's half full means you have less grease on your hands than you would if they filled the bag up all the way.
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