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Post by Ferryman on Apr 15, 2024 17:11:30 GMT -8
Last time I went on route 30 the total was less than $20. Today the total was $20.10 both ways. I don't ever remember this fee before. I didn't even enter the terminal property. The Nanaimo to Metro Vancouver have always had 25 cents Port Surcharge. I have read receipts from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay compared Metro Vancouver to Nanaimo which has had the Port Surcharge add to ticket this wasn’t from ferry fan point view and it was from cost saving point of view. Port of Vancouver doesn't charge the port fee...it's the Port of Nanaimo that does. Scroll down to the last page of this document.. npa.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Reformatted-Final-Fee-Document-2024-Web-Copy-V3.pdf
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Post by Ferryman on Mar 21, 2024 6:25:37 GMT -8
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Post by Ferryman on Mar 6, 2024 17:30:54 GMT -8
The Coastal Celebration has also repositioned down to Esquimalt for refit
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Post by Ferryman on Mar 5, 2024 10:02:31 GMT -8
Does anyone know when its going to leave dry dock? It's leaving today and is currently being refloated as I type this
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Post by Ferryman on Mar 2, 2024 19:55:47 GMT -8
The Coastal Renaissance has sounded its whistle many times today, for no discernable reason, while tied up at Departure Bay. Testing, I assume? Testing and making some adjustments. You never know who's monitoring the comments on this forum
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Post by Ferryman on Feb 5, 2024 18:55:19 GMT -8
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Post by Ferryman on Feb 4, 2024 20:44:16 GMT -8
How do the half-schedules work? It looks like Queen of New Westminster is doing a half-schedule currently but the rest of the ferries are doing full schedules. This usually means that the vessel is placed on "standby" for demand discretionary sailings, which are unadvertised, depending on crew availability
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Post by Ferryman on Jan 26, 2024 22:36:08 GMT -8
They could flip the ship around, sail through on the "good end", but this would take just as much time as Boundary. I find that a bit hard to believe. The turning around of the single-enders on route 1 adds maybe five minutes to their transit times and they have no problem keeping the schedule. The Celebration was being 'turned' at least on some tips this past fall. I watched it back in September do a 180 just off Tsawwassen Terminal.
Then there is all that extra fuel burned going the long way. It also appears that they are running the Inspiration a fair bit faster then they would normally on route 1 (+ 1 or 1.5 knots) thus increasing the fuel burn further and maybe putting additional stress on those drive motors.
Turning around a double ender is a different process than a single ender, because it's not standard practice to dock the vessel with the bridge team operating from the offshore end of the vessel like a single ender would. There's not enough crew to team up on both bridges simultaneously and so it takes time for crew to literally walk from one bridge to the other. What this means is the vessel would stop up entirely, and half of the bridge team would walk to the other end, take control at the other end, and then literally wait for the rest of the bridge team to arrive at the now-operational bridge. One other fun fact is that the Inspiration has a different propeller blade and hub arrangement compared to the other Coastals. She has slightly smaller propeller blades that afford more pitch which have actually resulted in a slightly higher service speed.
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Post by Ferryman on Jan 9, 2024 13:59:58 GMT -8
There was also a wind forecast for the area "South of Tsawwassen", that was exceeding wind parameters for the route 1 vessels. At forecasts with 30 knots or more, discussions will begin. At 40+k knot forecasts, it's usually a full stop. Sometimes wind forecasts are off a little bit, and sometimes the wind speed will actually be more than forecasted. I've been in 50-60 knot winds off of Tsawwassen a number of times when it was only forecasted to be 30-40 knots. I've also seen the reverse of that many times, where the wind doesn't turn out to be all that severe. Wind directions can also have a huge impact, which in certain directions will kick up a higher sea state due to room to fetch the wind. For example, the NW'ly winds at Tsawwassen, where they will receive the brunt of the waves from wind coming from the Northwest. It's a tough call to make, where you're damned if you do, or damned if you don't, either way weather.gc.ca/marine/forecast_e.html?mapID=02&siteID=14305Wind forecasts are taken from the Marine Weather website from Environment Canada, along with direct consultation with meteorologists at Environment Canada. They also review data from four weather buoys on the strait: Just east of Galiano/Valdes Islands, Halibut Bank (west of Bowen), English Bay, and Sentry Shoal (North of Little River). There you'll find hourly wind and sea state values and trends. Select the "weather conditions" tab within the above link to find buoy reports
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Post by Ferryman on Jan 4, 2024 17:14:03 GMT -8
The Queen of Cowichan is not on the schedule today, but she just left Departure Bay. I through the Queen of Oak Bay was always right after Christmas Break. I wonder why Queen of Cowichan is getting two refits in this off season. Not a second refit, but a chance for crew to practice extensive drills and training over the course of four days. Oak Bay's refit begins on Monday
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Post by Ferryman on Dec 31, 2023 11:03:10 GMT -8
Not sure if this has been captured at all. But it seems like the Bread Garden items have either been axed or reduced altogether. A few new items on the grab and go rack for those with a sweet tooth, include apple fritter donuts and apple strudels. This is in the perspective of what's being offered on the C-Class vessels
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Post by Ferryman on Dec 21, 2023 13:45:18 GMT -8
Looks like Hullo is running a two-ship service for the holidays
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Post by Ferryman on Dec 18, 2023 14:54:23 GMT -8
On the Coquitlam now watching the Cow do big loops, must be sea trials? Something a little different to watch! Indeed post refit sea trials. Little bit of an engine run-in after a main engine rebuild, and some other operational component repairs and upgrades. She'll be back on the run after a final cleanup later this week..
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Post by Ferryman on Nov 26, 2023 15:11:37 GMT -8
Queen of New Westminster's return has been delayed to December 10. I am kinda of shocked that BC Ferries isn’t delaying the two week rest period for Queen of Alberni due only Spirit Classes vessels route 1 on Friday and Sunday. Tonight, you'll see the Alberni reposition to Departure Bay to replace the Coquitlam on route 2 for the week. So yes, the Alberni's refit is also being impacted. Coquitlam is having mechanical issues and has been running as a single ender
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Post by Ferryman on Nov 20, 2023 9:33:56 GMT -8
When is the QoNW back in service? I can't wait to hear the new whistle! Even if it's not a new set of horns it will be nice to hear a properly tuned whistle. Early March, I think. The schedule says March 8. Should be back in time for the Christmas break?
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Post by Ferryman on Nov 19, 2023 10:13:27 GMT -8
The New West just over halfway through her life extension refit. Some new changes to the exterior....and even a new voice! Haven't heard the new whistle yet, but I suspect it might be a sound we've heard before from a sister ship... Great photos! What's the new whistle from? Is the old one still there? Are those covers on the bridge wings permanent and that weird round thing on the mast? This looks like a lot of changes! Covers on the bridge wings are permanent, but still in the process of being painted. These help preserve not only the bridge wing controls, but offer some level of shelter for the Master conducting the landing. I'm not entirely sure if the whistle is a brand new assembly or not. But I know for a fact that the existing whistle has been taken down. It would be neat if the Burnaby's whistle was restored and put back in use. Another addition that is tough to see in the photos, is the addition of a railing just in front of the bridge windows. It blends in fairly well already, but ultimately makes the task of cleaning the bridge windows much safer. Not sure if there are any obvious changes to the interior. A life extension is typically more of a restoration/preservation type of refit. Big emphasis on engineering components being replaced/upgraded, and steel restoration. Her superstructure will no doubt be cleaned up over the next few weeks. The painter's focus has been on the Orca, which is due to depart any day now.
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Post by Ferryman on Nov 18, 2023 19:26:01 GMT -8
The New West just over halfway through her life extension refit. Some new changes to the exterior....and even a new voice! Haven't heard the new whistle yet, but I suspect it might be a sound we've heard before from a sister ship...
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Post by Ferryman on Nov 11, 2023 9:57:49 GMT -8
I would agree that photo was taken at Swartz Bay. I forget the logistics of it all, but I seem to recall certain times when the Nicola, Tachek, and Tsawwassen were used on Route 5. Kevin Stapleton has a slightly larger format of that photo, showing mainly more of the berth structure pbase.com/kstapleton/image/27659320
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Post by Ferryman on Nov 9, 2023 12:25:01 GMT -8
A view of the ex-QPR sitting high and dry at a drydock in Port Moreseby, Papua New Guinea Attachments:
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Post by Ferryman on Nov 9, 2023 11:13:19 GMT -8
The Queen of Cowichan has just arrived at Vancouver Drydock for the second part of her life-extension refit. She began the journey there yesterday afternoon, when she was first towed to Tsawwassen, and then towed to Vancouver Drydock today
Meanwhile, the Queen of New West also repositioned from Esquimalt, to Tsawwassen where she was docked for a night or two before carrying on to Deas for the second part of her life extension refit
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Post by Ferryman on Oct 31, 2023 10:58:46 GMT -8
Random comment on this October 31st Halloween day: In forum history, Chris changing his username from Ferryman to "Scaryman" was one of the most clever moments. I still smile when I think of it, as evidenced by this post. I almost forgot about that! edited for today, and for old times sake!
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Post by Ferryman on Oct 27, 2023 13:06:49 GMT -8
Is the Queen of Alberni usually based out of Tsawwassen? Earlier this year it was Nanaimo. These days, normally Tsawwassen is her home port. This summer was the second summer of her being reassigned to Nanaimo from late June until Thanksgiving. However, this year's assignment was cut short when the Coastal Renaissance broke down The Alberni has spent a decent amount of time home ported in Nanaimo in years past. For the first part of her life she wss based in Swartz Bay, followed by Langdale, and then Nanaimo. She served from Nanaimo from the late 1980s until 2008, when the Coastal Class entered service on Route 30. At that time in 2008, the Alberni was switched from being homeported in Duke Pt to being homeported in Tsawwassen as she is today
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Post by Ferryman on Oct 26, 2023 22:03:53 GMT -8
Just wanting to point out based on both the service notice and the news article state that it's the rotors inside the drive motor assembly that need to be replaced. The entire drive motor assembly doesn't need to be replaced on all vessels.
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Post by Ferryman on Oct 25, 2023 1:18:35 GMT -8
BC Ferries service notices for Sturdies Bay:
"Due to adverse weather and unsafe docking conditions at Sturdies Bay (Galiano Island), the Salish Eagle was unable to stop as scheduled at Sturdies Bay this evening. The 5:45 pm departure from Sturdies Bay to Tsawwasen has been cancelled."
Another service notice:
"Due to adverse weather and unsafe docking conditions at Sturdies Bay (Galiano Island), the following Queen of Cumberland sailings have been cancelled for today, Tuesday October 24:
6:05 pm departing Sturdies Bay"
I have never seen a service notice like this before, why only Sturdies Bay?
Sturdies Bay is prone to North Easterly winds, with both winds and sea state. Even if the vessel has a tense landing, vehicle deck operations are risky with the ship pitching up and down in the swells. The cancelled Sturdies Bay stops happens a couple of times throughout every winter season. Back in the old days, they had the option to sail to Montague Harbour instead, leaving Sturdies Bay closed until the weather got better
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Post by Ferryman on Oct 23, 2023 10:16:33 GMT -8
Okay, so it's Saturday evening, and the Saltspring based route nine vessel, currently the Salish Eagle, is sitting at Tsawwassen for the usual four and a half hour layover, I believe to facilitate refueling. I guess my question is to our long time member, Chris, 'Ferryman', who I'm pretty sure has a fair bit of history on that route. What does the crew do for the evening? Are there regularly scheduled maintenance chores? And how does the crewing work? I know there's a morning and afternoon shift on that route when it does just two round trips out of Long Harbour. The Saturday afternoon shift would be a really long one, with the layover. Is crew change on Sunday? Hi Neil, The Route 9 saturday night fueling layover is a routine that has dated back well before the Salish Class ever came around. For the Salish Class, the Engineering crew is entirely focused on refuelling the vessel. In fact, they add a couple of extra engineering crew to help with the operation. The process of bunkering LNG is pretty intense and time consuming. Any glitch along the way, and the entire process starts from the beginning again. As for the rest of the crew, they do focus on more in depth maintenance of the vessel. The catering crew focus on doing a deep clean of interior passenger spaces, completing tasks that can't be completed while on the run or in between sailings. The Deck Department will catch up on completing safety equipment inspections and checklists, as well as wash-down of the sun deck. They also take advantage of the time to practice a variety of emergency drill scenarios. On special occasions, the crew partake in a crew potluck dinner before getting started with the maintenance routines. There's always work to be done on a ship, so there's always something to keep busy with.
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