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Post by WettCoast on May 22, 2006 22:28:03 GMT -8
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Post by Queen of Nanaimo Teen on May 22, 2006 22:36:56 GMT -8
What happened to the Ominica Princess? It is like a k class, i like it!
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Post by WettCoast on May 22, 2006 22:43:12 GMT -8
Here is another view from the trip. It shows the landing at Southbank on Francois Lake's south shore. M/V Francois Forester - Francois Lake - arriving at Southbank - 22 May 2006 WCK/JST photo © by Wett Coast, on FlickrThe older ferry, the Omineca Princess is tied up just to the west of the berth used by the Francois Forester. BTW, Francois Lake is located about 35 km south of Burns Lake, in north central BC. [Burns Lake is located between Prince George and Prince Rupert on Hwy 16.] This former BC Highways Dept. ferry route has been privatized like other inland ferries in the southern interior of BC. The current operator is 'Waterbridge, Inc'.
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Post by WettCoast on May 23, 2006 22:04:46 GMT -8
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,171
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Post by Neil on May 24, 2006 21:42:19 GMT -8
Boy, that is just about as basic as you can get on a ferry of that size. Looks like they got the design from 'ferries-r-us'. I've taken the Omineca Princess- it looks like it might have had a bigger passenger lounge. Interesting photos... thanks.
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Post by WettCoast on May 25, 2006 18:28:16 GMT -8
A shot of the Omineca Princess from July, 1990 The Omineca Princess was built to carry up to 34 cars, and 200 passengers. I gather that it will remain as a backup to the Francois Forester. The FF is about a third again larger all around then its predecessor. Some things I noted about the FF: - it is the only 'BC Ferry' that I recall seeing that is not registered in Victoria. It is registered in Prince Rupert. Is it possible for a vessel to registered in an inland city? - In addition to the small foot passenger lounge it has three washrooms - ladies, mens and disabled.
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Post by Mike C on May 25, 2006 20:00:22 GMT -8
On heavy traffic periods, they should run them in tandem.
Does the Omineca Princess serve as anextra vessel?
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Post by WettCoast on May 25, 2006 20:48:32 GMT -8
If you look closely at the photo below it shows that the OP's wheelhouse windows have been covered up. That suggests to me that she is 'laid up'. Though I suspect it could easily be put back in service during refits done on the FF. BTW, I don't think that there can be more than about 2000 residents in the entire region south of Francois Lake that depend on this ferry to get to town [Burns Lake]. I think that the FF by itself making 19 round trips per day ought to be an adequate level of service. The ferry does, apparently, move a lot of logging trucks, especially now that they are working flat out to salvage beatle killed lodgepole pine trees, and reduce the risk of forest fires. It is poosible to drive around the east or west ends of Francois Lake on rough logging roads, but it would take probably 90 or more minutes to do what the ferry does in 15. And that is in the summer months only.
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Post by Ferryman on May 25, 2006 21:00:46 GMT -8
Ah, so that's why her bridge windows looked different. I was under the impression they upgraded her, by giving her a different style of windows. Obviously that didn't happen.
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,171
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Post by Neil on May 25, 2006 21:58:26 GMT -8
Wetcoastkid, you might not like Beatles music, but you shouldn't blame them for killing pine trees. More likely that beetles are the culprit.
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Post by Low Light Mike on May 26, 2006 6:46:32 GMT -8
Wetcoastkid, you might not like Beatles music, but you shouldn't blame them for killing pine trees. More likely that beetles are the culprit. I thought that the beatles were mainly interested in Norweigan wood. (that one's for you, Mr. Hornby)
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Post by Fenklebaum on May 26, 2006 8:36:52 GMT -8
Could that be one of the Ministry's fabled tugboats nestled between the pilings and the Omineca Princess?
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Post by WettCoast on May 26, 2006 23:00:53 GMT -8
Yes, you are right. In the photo posted here it is in between the FF's rescue boat and the OP. I believe that they used the tug to push a barge across the lake when the OP was out of service. There is still a barge at Southbank, just east of the ferry landing. I assume the tug and barge service is never used anymore.
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Post by NMcKay on May 31, 2006 6:08:04 GMT -8
well, theres another Freshwater only boat if BCF wants to buy her, cut her up, and move her.
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Post by Curtis on May 31, 2006 10:50:13 GMT -8
Would be a good idea if they want to do that. I wonder what kind of shape she is in and what her age is?
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Post by WettCoast on Dec 10, 2006 17:58:53 GMT -8
On Saturday, December 9th, I went to Burns Lake. My son was participating in a nordic ski race at the Omineca Ski Club trails just south of the town. I found myself with a window of about one hour in which I drove another 15 minutes south down Highway 35 to the Francois Lake north shore ferry terminal. Once there I waited for about 20 minutes and then took the following winter pictures of Francois Lake and the Francois Forester. The weather was not all that wintery. It was trying to rain with a temperature of +3 o C. jst photo This is the view of the dock that was used by the Omineca Princess. The Francois Forester 'docks' on the beach just to the right of this dock. jst photo The Francois Forester out in the lake approaching the north shore terminal. jst photo The Francois Forester arriving at its north shore 'beach' landing.
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Post by WettCoast on Apr 19, 2008 12:41:50 GMT -8
The Francois Lake ferry is now visible on a highway web cam. www.th.gov.bc.ca/bchighwaycam/index.aspx?cam=140You just may be able to catch a glimps of the Francois Forester. I have had a quick look around to see if other inland ferries can be seen on web cams. So far I have not come up with anything.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Apr 19, 2008 13:59:37 GMT -8
You just may be able to catch a glimps of the Francois Forester. Thanks for the link. I'm going to be watching for her to come into the berth, and then leave on the 3:20pm sailing. But the web-cam only refreshes every 15-minutes, and so I will see a 3:15pm view, and 3:30 view only.....
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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 Aug 27, 2008 21:21:28 GMT -8
Last week I was on the Francois Forrester which is the ferry that crosses Francois Lake. It is one of the bigger inland ferries. She isent as big as the Osprey 2000 though. The sailing takes about 15 mins to cross the lake. I took 5 trips on this ferry as I was at the lake for 2 nights. I took the car over 5 times as it is free and I dident want to be the only foot passenger, lol. So I went over and explored for an hour on the other side then came back. The next day we all took the ferry over again and drove the roads on the other side of the lake. You can actually get back to the the ferry terminal on Northside without having to take the the ferry back but it's a longer drive. We did that then took the ferry back over again then looked around over there then came back again. It really is nice to drive up and just drive on the ferry without having to spend money to get on. These are some of the photos
There are two blue berth structures on each side. The Northside berth is holding the other ferry that is out of service. When the Francois Lake Ferry comes into the Northside she has her own ramp they lower to load cars. On the Southside it is like a regular berth she comes into. She was built in Prince Rupert and shipped down in pieces if I am correct is what the ferry worker told me. hmm what else. That's it for now. It was really neat to get on another inland ferry which will probably be the only one this trip.
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,171
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Post by Neil on Aug 27, 2008 21:51:36 GMT -8
Thanks for that photographic account, Karl. One thing that struck me about the Omineca Princess when I rode her, and the other inland ferries as well, was the lack of rust. Sure is an easier life for a boat when you don't have to deal with salt water.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Dec 3, 2009 14:48:29 GMT -8
Last week I was on the Francois Forrester which is the ferry that crosses Francois Lake. It is one of the bigger inland ferries. She isent as big as the Osprey 2000 though. The sailing takes about 15 mins to cross the lake. I took 5 trips on this ferry as I was at the lake for 2 nights. I took the car over 5 times as it is free and I dident want to be the only foot passenger, lol. So I went over and explored for an hour on the other side then came back. The next day we all took the ferry over again and drove the roads on the other side of the lake. You can actually get back to the the ferry terminal on Northside without having to take the the ferry back but it's a longer drive. We did that then took the ferry back over again then looked around over there then came back again. It really is nice to drive up and just drive on the ferry without having to spend money to get on. These are some of the photosFerry info and schedule on the Northside Her little lounge area which I was suprised she even had a lounge Southside Omenica Princess which is not in service anymore A floating drydock on the Southside for the ferry On the ferry Southside Zodiac I am one of three vehicles onboard the return trip Docked at the Northside There are two blue berth structures on each side. The Northside berth is holding the other ferry that is out of service. When the Francois Lake Ferry comes into the Northside she has her own ramp they lower to load cars. On the Southside it is like a regular berth she comes into. She was built in Prince Rupert and shipped down in pieces if I am correct is what the ferry worker told me. hmm what else. That's it for now. It was really neat to get on another inland ferry which will probably be the only one this trip.
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,171
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Post by Neil on Dec 4, 2009 11:58:06 GMT -8
Not much of a photo, I realize, but this is the Jacob Henkel, predescessor to the Omineca Princess. 1984. Omineca Princess, same year.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jul 19, 2010 19:13:02 GMT -8
Re MV Francois Forester at Francois Lake (near Burns Lake):
- while riding this ship last weekend, I asked an officer whether they ever use the MV Omineca Princess, which is tied-up at the NorthShore dock.
The officer said that the BC Gov't Asset Management Plan is considering a ship switch. - Omineca Princess would resume being the only ferry on Francois Lake. - Francois Forrester would be cut-up and moved to Arrow Lakes, presumably to boost capacity on the overloaded Galena-Shelter Bays route (replacing the small MV Shelter Bay on that run).
I'll keep my eyes open for news on this possibility.
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Post by lmtengs on Jul 19, 2010 19:35:28 GMT -8
Interesting news, Flug.
Are there any online places where this kind of news is posted, or does the government keep it all hush-hush until one day a trucker crashes his truck to avoid hitting a huge ferry barreling down the highway? ;D
...I know they cut them up when they bring them down, but it's fun to try and picture a full, one piece ferry zooming down the street...
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jul 19, 2010 22:21:10 GMT -8
Interesting news, Flug. Are there any online places where this kind of news is posted, or does the government keep it all hush-hush until one day a trucker crashes his truck to avoid hitting a huge ferry barreling down the highway? ;D I think the best source of info on the Inland Ferries is the DriveBC.ca website. They have a good inland ferries page on that site.
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