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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Jun 18, 2020 12:13:05 GMT -8
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Post by Curtis on Jun 29, 2020 0:00:25 GMT -8
We may not have as much coverage of Island Aurora as we do Island Discovery, but when the Aurora came over to Westview for trials last month, you bet I was out there covering it! Warning: VERY Photo Heavy! All Photos are © CS16 Photography and may only be used with Permission from the Owner.With Texada Island and the Comox Glacier looming behind her. The Aurora patiently waits for the North Island Princess to clear the berth. 3 Ferries in one shot. Not something you get to see too often round here. Here's the kind of shot I wish I could have got when the Island Discovery did her trials a few months back. I guess the Aurora is the next best thing. With the NIP on her way, Aurora sets her heading for Westview. Now for a closer look.
A modern sight among the various pleasure craft and commercial vessels that occupy Westview's south harbour. From a more elevated perspective at the side of the highway. I'd say she and her sister fit in nicely with their surroundings. From here I took a break for lunch. But I was back at the wharf in time to see her off. Note here that she's swapped ends. Away she goes. Before we go, one last shot of her and the NIP. Probably the last time these two in particular will cross paths... Unless say the NIP has a longer than expected stay at Deas. But even then, Aurora will likely have her first refits and warranty work done at Point Hope. If you'd like to see more from this set, it's viewable on my Flickr page.
That's all for now!
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Post by paulvanb on Jul 29, 2020 19:36:37 GMT -8
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Post by paulvanb on Jul 31, 2020 18:27:14 GMT -8
The Island Aurora as seen from my hotel balcony on Sointula tonight!
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jul 31, 2020 19:59:40 GMT -8
The Island Aurora as seen from my hotel balcony on Sointula tonight! I've enjoyed that hotel deck view many times, while on a work trip each year in late December. I'm glad that you're there.
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Post by paulvanb on Aug 6, 2020 21:44:29 GMT -8
The Island Aurora as seen from my hotel balcony on Sointula tonight! I've enjoyed that hotel deck view many times, while on a work trip each year in late December. I'm glad that you're there. Sointula is a very special place. Visited the lighthouse and rubbing beach. Rough Bay, with all the nets sheds, etc. is a great place to take photos. Hoping to go back again one day.
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Post by paulvanb on Aug 7, 2020 21:41:34 GMT -8
Cannot believe that last week at this time I was on Sointula!
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Aug 19, 2020 18:58:20 GMT -8
On the 1:45 pm sailing from Sointula, Malcolm Island, BC to Port McNeill, BC. I am posting these photos because we don't have many photos of her. Island Aurora by Blue Bus Fan, on Flickr Island Aurora by Blue Bus Fan, on Flickr I would like to thank you paulvanb, for giving me a good time of day to get photos of her.
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Post by paulvanb on Aug 19, 2020 20:28:31 GMT -8
On the 1:45 pm sailing from Sointula, Malcolm Island, BC to Port McNeill, BC. I am posting these photos because we don't have many photos of her. Island Aurora by Blue Bus Fan, on Flickr Island Aurora by Blue Bus Fan, on Flickr I would like to thank you paulvanb , for giving me a good time of day to get photos of her. You're welcome. It is a beautiful area to visit.
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Sept 27, 2020 20:18:28 GMT -8
MV Island Aurora has safely arrived in Blubber Bay and has restored normal schedule to Taxada Island.
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Post by bigcountry on Oct 2, 2020 12:34:52 GMT -8
Now the Aurora has had to cancel sailings due to a mechanical issue... Texada can’t catch a break with these Island Class vessels
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,177
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Post by Neil on Oct 2, 2020 20:21:22 GMT -8
Now the Aurora has had to cancel sailings due to a mechanical issue... Texada can’t catch a break with these Island Class vessels I guess we need to subscribe to 'kahloke"s optimism, expressed a few days ago, that subsequent sisters in this class will be improved by experience. Still... Damen isn't a newbie at building ferries, and Texadans are certainly the guinea pigs here, with all the breakdowns. Some problems with new ships seem almost bizarre. I seem to recall that the cafeteria on the first Salish ship serving the Comox route had to shut down the deep fryer because of heat or ventilation issues, when it was new. Who would have predicted that, although these days, there seem to be techies researching the most arcane issues, so maybe they should have. Then you have the Denman cable ferry shedding plastic. We were told by BC Ferries about all the intricate math that went into the specifications for the world's longest cable route in salt water... could they not have known that plastic used as a dry lubricant would be sloughed off at an alarming rate? Then you have the Northern Sea Wolf. All in all, I wonder sometimes how much of new vessel construction or adaptation is actual technology, and how much is wishful thinking. Kind of like orange haired people who disdain epidemiological science.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jan 8, 2021 20:16:01 GMT -8
I traveled to Sointula on Island Aurora, on January 3, 2021. I'm working on some videos and photos, but here is a preliminary set that shows crew innovation to compensate for what I think was poor design for lane number markings. As you are boarding, the boarding officer tells you your lane. You need to see that number clearly marked, even before you board the ship. The painted-on lane wordmarks don't seem adequate for this, as you only see them when you are practically on top of them. ...so the crew (I am presuming) innovated with some comic-sans font-like numerals, both on the deck and on the car-stops. Here are some views: DSC00170 Island Aurora by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr DSC00171 Island Aurora by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr Aurora - 54 lane markers by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr DSC00178 Island Aurora by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,177
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Post by Neil on Jan 8, 2021 22:56:04 GMT -8
I traveled to Sointula on Island Aurora, on January 3, 2021. I'm working on some videos and photos, but here is a preliminary set that shows crew innovation to compensate for what I think was poor design for lane number markings. As you are boarding, the boarding officer tells you your lane. You need to see that number clearly marked, even before you board the ship. The painted-on lane wordmarks don't seem adequate for this, as you only see them when you are practically on top of them. ...so the crew (I am presuming) innovated with some comic-sans font-like numerals, both on the deck and on the car-stops. So helpful that they put the numbers at the ends, because there are so many lanes... could be hard to keep track. I also like the arrows on the deck. Like... here's one side of the lane, and there's the other. I expect from your next posting to see some instructions in the lounge, for the seating. Like, this is the part of the seat that your bum goes on, and this upper bit, that's what your back goes against. Oh... and put your feet here, on the floor bit.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jan 10, 2021 19:00:02 GMT -8
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Post by compdude787 on Jan 16, 2021 23:57:23 GMT -8
Why do they even need the numbers in the first place? Why can't the crew just direct vehicles to the lane that they need to be in? This is what WSF does on ferries much larger than this one.
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Post by randomferryguy on Jan 18, 2021 14:24:04 GMT -8
Its more than likely it is for crew. The loading officer will telling deckhands on the radio what lanes cars and overnights need to be in. Can be especially confusing when loading a double ender (RoRo) ferry. Port and STBD stay the same on the vessel but outside the vessel correspond with the direction youre headed. Why do they even need the numbers in the first place? Why can't the crew just direct vehicles to the lane that they need to be in? This is what WSF does on ferries much larger than this one.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jan 21, 2021 22:01:52 GMT -8
It seems that the last time I posted a ferry video, the Langdale Queen was still in the fleet....
Here is Island Aurora, seen by me in early January 2021, with on-board and shore-side views.
I travelled between Port McNeill (on northern Vancouver Island) and Sointula (on Malcolm Island), and then I enjoyed shore-side views from Beach Drive in Port McNeill.
This video includes the on-board safety announcements.
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Jan 29, 2021 12:26:05 GMT -8
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jan 30, 2021 10:35:18 GMT -8
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Post by princessofvanfan on Jan 30, 2021 18:06:06 GMT -8
One of the things I don't like about this type of design (Quinitsa, Quinsam, Skeena Queen, etc.) is the view from the passenger lounges. Instead of a panoramic view from up high, you only get to see from one side of the ship down low.
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Jan 30, 2021 21:03:14 GMT -8
One of the things I don't like about this type of design (Quinitsa, Quinsam, Skeena Queen, etc.) is the view from the passenger lounges. Instead of a panoramic view from up high, you only get to see from one side of the ship down low. A eventually passenger will be able to upper sundeck. As currently standing this deck is block off, for reason due COVID.
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Post by princessofvanfan on Jan 31, 2021 1:02:53 GMT -8
One of the things I don't like about this type of design (Quinitsa, Quinsam, Skeena Queen, etc.) is the view from the passenger lounges. Instead of a panoramic view from up high, you only get to see from one side of the ship down low. A eventually passenger will be able to upper sundeck. As currently standing this deck is block off, for reason due COVID. That's great on warm, sunny days.
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LensLuckyBC
Oiler (New Member)
Waiting out this pandemic
Posts: 15
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Post by LensLuckyBC on Feb 6, 2021 17:23:55 GMT -8
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Post by britishcolumb1a on Feb 10, 2021 9:15:13 GMT -8
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