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Post by chinook2 on Sept 27, 2008 14:10:54 GMT -8
Could they possibly be trying to keep a major cavitation issue quiet while the builder works on a fix, in the year prior to an election, possibly without rattling million dollar windows around Swartz Bay?
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Post by chinook2 on Sept 20, 2008 10:35:20 GMT -8
I wonder why they took the Wack off the southern gulf islands route? For Route 40 (Discovery Coast). Wack's first duty was route 6, but wound up full time at Earl's Cove by 1993 when the Capilano moved to Snug Cove and the Cumbie took over the Gulf Islands spot. During this period (1991-1993/4) Tsawwassen was second ship on Route 9, basing from Tsawwassen. By 1994 or 1995 The Nanny was running alone on the summer schedule, so Tsawwassen was restricted to backup duties through the summer. She was used twice that I know of in summer 1995--replaced the Victoria on route 1A when the Vicky had to sub on another route for a week or two, then later in same year filled in for the Cumbie back on route 6. The availability of the Tsawwassen in the summer for route 4 IMHO was what led BCF to create route 40 specifically for the Wack, But not until 1996.
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Post by chinook2 on Sept 19, 2008 14:28:47 GMT -8
Simple. The Island Sky will sub for those vessels. Oops, forgot about that one.
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Post by chinook2 on Sept 19, 2008 14:25:45 GMT -8
If things really are that bad on SOBC, then it sounds like the responsible thing to do is to remove her from service and take the necessary time to fix things correctly. Once CC starts service, she could be the #1 boat of out Swartz Bay, SOVI could move to Tsawwassen and replace SOBC as the #1 boat from that side, and Saanich can continue as the #2 boat out of Swartz Bay. Route 1 will be going back to a 3-boat schedule on the 15th of October, right? That would work, unless SOBC is still out of commission for the Christmas season, in which case either Vancouver or New Westminster would have to be available for 2nd boat Tsawwassen. My feeling is the CC is a little small to be doing 1st SB on the weekdays, at least in the AM--the first couple of sailings generally fill right up even when the afternoon is slow. makes sense to me to send the first watch of the day out with SOVI, then the afternoon crew does their shift with CC. Better balance between capacity and operational savings.
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Post by chinook2 on Sept 19, 2008 14:00:32 GMT -8
I don't understand the "make it look nice logic". Most people take the ferry to get from point A to B. They don't care about overpriced gift shops or other fancy amenities. Heck, half of the people stay in their cars! BCF should clue into this and put some more money into actually getting people to where they want to go at more then 13 kn. Without catering and merchandise, many crew would be sitting collecting a paycheque, playing cards, and waiting for the boat to sink so they can man the lifeboats. Coast Guard crewing requirements. If they could sail with the same crew levels that WSF and the Coho run under, they would, and retail operations, if they existed, would likely be contracted out.
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Post by chinook2 on Sept 19, 2008 13:02:20 GMT -8
Don't know if this has been discussed elsewhere, but with Tsawwassen gone, what will the relief/refit deployments be when Burnaby and Nanaimo are drydocked??
I imagine Burnaby covering Nanaimo, Chilly subbing for Burnaby, then either Cumberland, Capilano or PRQ on route 4 with Bowen taking the place of the selected vessel. Any one have information, or at least better ideas?
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Post by chinook2 on Sept 7, 2008 12:47:51 GMT -8
So what would be the problem of having a C-Class as relief vessel on rought one? Didn't they serve the run before at one point? Decades ago; There might not even be any of the same crew members still employed as crew working out of one of the major terminals any longer. Gotta be a crewing issue--C's are perfectly operable on route 1. Surrey and Oak Bay spent their first year plying the route, and a C was used as 5th boat for a couple of summers in the early 1990s.
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Post by chinook2 on Aug 25, 2008 14:02:46 GMT -8
Was offline for the weekend, so wasn't keeping close track of these events, so I have a question.
The evening schedule manouvre on Sunday was unique--holding back the Vancouver and Saanich to 11pm. Any one know if those 11pm sailings were scheduled prior to the SoBC returning?? The only reason I could see for doing that, especially if reservations had been sold.
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Post by chinook2 on Aug 14, 2008 15:51:42 GMT -8
Interesting---did not know the SuzyQ was reactivated to cover for the Alberni. Probably would have ran from early August until Labour day weekend.
I do recall the previous winter that when the Hood Canal bridge collapsed in late 1978, BCF offered to lend WSF the Suzy and one other ship (the old Surrey maybe) to provide extra capacity while the bridge was being rebuilt. WSF declined on the grounds that the BCF ships did not have sewage tanks.
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Post by chinook2 on Aug 14, 2008 2:51:27 GMT -8
IIRC the 9 Sidney and V/B class ships did not originally have carpet. Green dogwood wall to wall was installed during stretching. The Sidney and Tsawwassen were carpeted later in the 1970s likely same time as the restaurant and coffee shop were changed to Cafeteria and upper lounge etc.
I remember the SuzyQ had platform car decks, but have not found any reference to BCF installing them. Anyone know if the ship came to BCF with them already installed?
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Post by chinook2 on Jul 26, 2008 2:51:46 GMT -8
The newly lifted and repowered V's were the first boats to trim the sailing time to 1 hr 35. The spirits can make it 1 hr 30 on a good day.
Ex-girlfriend's grandmother used to work on the Mayne back in the 60s (snack bar) and she lived on Saturna, so it likely did home port there.
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Tie Ups
Jul 16, 2008 13:41:00 GMT -8
Post by chinook2 on Jul 16, 2008 13:41:00 GMT -8
re Swartz Bay: Berth 3 is normally left open for the Skeena to come and go. If the Saanich is tied up she is in Berth 2. As she is a double ender she has no big problem making the approach.
Getting a V into 3 is a little harder, since it is boxed in by Berths 2 and 4 can't just swing in alongside and nudge her in; a much longer approach from out in the channel is needed. Watched the Saanich back in last year at the end of a 10pm sailing from TSA, and it took them about 15 -20 minutes to inch her in.
Berth 3 was originally Berth 2, before the current 2 was built for the QofA in 1976. It was the primary Berth until that time, after 2 was built Berth 1 took over that duty.
When there were only four berths the summer tie-ups would look something like this: current berth #s in brackets
Berth 1 and 2(3): QofVictoria, Q of Saanich Berth 3(4): Queen of Sidney (for route 1a) Berth 4(5): Mayne Queen (or Pender Queen/Saltspring Queen) -- either the primary or secondary vessel may have home ported on one of the islands; MDS vessel would have to have tied up at Fulford.
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Post by chinook2 on Jul 11, 2008 14:00:11 GMT -8
Years ago a veteran crew member from Long Harbour told me that the QoTI had flooded and sank at Deas Dock during a cold snap in early 1989, due to lack of frost watch that night. Apparently BCF spent about as much floating and drying her out as they eventually got from her sale. This incident might explain the lack of engines. Anyone know if this is true?
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Post by chinook2 on Jun 29, 2008 16:19:16 GMT -8
The interiors of Sidney and Tsawwassen were not really any fancier than the later 7 ships, apart from the raised foward lounges--all had brown and/or tan office style chairs, with a few rows of Highback chairs at the back of the forward lounge. SID and TSA did have fancier ashtrays, a little bit of creative metalwork on somebody's part. Railing tops on the outside decks were originally oak--these were replaced by the 1980s. The add-on restaraunt was very simliar to the later ships, but of course the snack bar was way bigger as it was on the sundeck in the original restaraunt area.
Sidney and Tsawwassen were my favorite ships growing up, but on a busy summer day on route 1 or 2 they could be miserable, as they were sorely deficient in lounge space, and had no sheltered, shady areas on the outside decks. I remember one trip on the Tsawwassen, mom and I sat in the snack bar stairwell while baby sister napped in mom's arms.
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Post by chinook2 on Apr 20, 2008 4:50:13 GMT -8
As I am planning to seize the moment and take a ride on our beloved Tsawwassen, I hope they do not figure this obvious solution out: Keep the QofT up at Little River for the month, and bring the Burnaby down to rte 9.
Assuming that's not going to happen: focus on through routing via SB through the month, and if needed for the long weekend, perhaps have the Saanich and/or Vancouver make one stop each at Village bay on the Friday and Monday taking some Mayne and Saturna traffic off the Tsawassen. Publish 8 pm( or 8:20) and 10 pm sailings for those nights, spreading the reservation load around. The V's often make an extra round trip anyway on long weekends.
Would be fun to watch a rookie stern in landing of a V at Village.
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Post by chinook2 on Mar 21, 2008 14:28:40 GMT -8
Long time listener, first time caller....
I am encouraged to hear that David H. is open to the idea of an event cruise to pay off the Tsawwassen. This is something I have been thinking about for some time, and I have an idea that would be a great send off and a chance for BCFS to honour its own heritage for a change.
A weekend of special trips, with proceeds going to BC Maritime museum, and Vancouver Maritime Museum.
First Day:
1st trip leaves Tsawwassen, to Swartz Bay, perhaps with stops at Gulf Island terminals. Passengers debark, and transport to BC Maritime museum, and possibly other attractions.
Passengers from Victoria board and do round trip, again possibly with stops in one direction.
upon return to Swartz Bay original group from Vancouver reboards for return to Tsawwassen.
After trips, ship repositions to Departure Bay
Next day, similar scenario, with passengers from the Island side laying over and going to the Vancouver Maritime Museum. A special triangle route would include a stop at Langdale for groups from each side.
I believe this covers all of Tsawwassen's historic regular assignments (don't think she's ever done route 30, correct me if I'm wrong). And very importantly, brings her back to Route 1, where she started.
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Post by chinook2 on Mar 22, 2008 2:07:36 GMT -8
Why V's over C's? simple. No fixed mezzanine decks. In low traffic times the Esquimalt can carry more of the baseline work (ie trucks). Worth the extra payroll, I am sure. The Coq would be there otherwise.
Prediction on CI deployment: off season, when SoVI not in refit, on weekdays the two will share the 1 spot with SoVI in the busier morning--pm watch can fire up the CI--max capacity for the morning, max efficiency in the evening.
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