Ferryman
Voyager
Posts: 7,475
Member is Online
|
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.
|
|
Ferryman
Voyager
Posts: 7,475
Member is Online
|
Post by Ferryman on Oct 21, 2023 6:34:55 GMT -8
The ex QPR (Lomaiviti Princess 1) has left Fiji and is bound for Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. The GSL facebook page mentioned she is heading into drydock. A year or two ago, GSL had suggested the QPR and Chilliwack would also go for scrap after the Nanaimo. I guess she's hanging around a bit longer!
|
|
Ferryman
Voyager
Posts: 7,475
Member is Online
|
Post by Ferryman on Oct 19, 2023 20:01:22 GMT -8
|
|
Ferryman
Voyager
Posts: 7,475
Member is Online
|
Post by Ferryman on Oct 14, 2023 17:17:13 GMT -8
Salish Heron has taken over Route 17 this afternoon. Salish Orca is on her way south for refit at Deas
|
|
Ferryman
Voyager
Posts: 7,475
Member is Online
|
Post by Ferryman on Oct 13, 2023 18:08:55 GMT -8
Some hiccups with the hydraulic system for the berth at Duke Pt today. Tonight it resulted with the Queen of Alberni being diverted to Departure Bay to offload traffic. The problem is now fixed and the Alberni is now heading to Duke pt to continue offloading traffic and to of course load traffic for the 17:45 sailing.
|
|
Ferryman
Voyager
Posts: 7,475
Member is Online
|
Post by Ferryman on Oct 10, 2023 16:14:18 GMT -8
The mighty Kahloke is currently heading south in Northumberland Channel, presumably about to proceed through Dodd Narrows into Stuart Channel. I think she's heading down to replace the Kuper, but I could be wrong Additionally, the SOVI moved over to Vancouver Drydock this morning. The Coastal Inspiration also repositioned over to Swartz Bay to cover for the SOVI. The Salish Heron is out on some sea trials off Pt Roberts Surely the Kahloke wouldn't go through Dodd Narrows? I was there ten days ago, and I couldn't believe the turbulence. At slack tide I guess it's doable, but why not the other side of Mudge? Is Dodd Narrows even 100 metres wide? According to the chart it's around 50 meters wide at the narrowest part, for navigable water anyways. It looks like they waited until high water slack to make a run for it through there. False Narrows is the name of the narrows on the north side of Mudge Island, which is essentially a dredged channel. It's tricky to navigate even in my little 16 foot boat at the best of times.
|
|
Ferryman
Voyager
Posts: 7,475
Member is Online
|
Post by Ferryman on Oct 10, 2023 11:18:13 GMT -8
The mighty Kahloke is currently heading south in Northumberland Channel, presumably about to proceed through Dodd Narrows into Stuart Channel. I think she's heading down to replace the Kuper, but I could be wrong
Additionally, the SOVI moved over to Vancouver Drydock this morning. The Coastal Inspiration also repositioned over to Swartz Bay to cover for the SOVI.
The Salish Heron is out on some sea trials off Pt Roberts
|
|
Ferryman
Voyager
Posts: 7,475
Member is Online
|
Post by Ferryman on Oct 9, 2023 12:59:55 GMT -8
Looks like Hullo has been running both vessels simultaneously this past weekend, including today. I haven't read the schedule close enough to know when two boats are running. Nice to see in any case.
Everyone that I've spoken to who have used it have said the sailings have been full or near full when they've gone.0
|
|
Ferryman
Voyager
Posts: 7,475
Member is Online
|
Post by Ferryman on Oct 9, 2023 10:53:54 GMT -8
Yes BC Ferries is taking smart move doing her annual refit right too: One would hope that they do both simultaneously. The vessel is just 'sitting' there, waiting for repaired parts to be re-installed. The Renaissance was already scheduled to go to refit after Thanksgiving, so the refit portion officially kicks off tomorrow. Otherwise she'd still be sailing on Route 30 until today.
|
|
Ferryman
Voyager
Posts: 7,475
Member is Online
|
Post by Ferryman on Oct 2, 2023 8:01:38 GMT -8
Just something I'm curious about, and there's no answer on the BC Ferries website... Does anyone know when the ticket booths open at the major terminals in the morning? It's been a loooong time since I took the 5:15am sailing from Tsawwassen to Duke Point. I think I used to get there around 4:30, and I don't recall sitting waiting. Swartz has a departure to the Gulf Islands just after 5 as well. I'm assuming that the reason the ' Capilano deadheads to Bowen for the first sailing is the lack of traffic from the mainland at that time, so no reason to open ticket sales for virtually no one. I'm guessing that it might be one hour before the first sailing that the terminals open, but maybe it's earlier. Yes, it's at least an hour before the first sailing. Especially because resos have to check in 30-60 minutes before sailing time. I know Duke Pt opens at 04:15, and traffic is already lined up at the booths that are labelled as "opening at xx:xx".
|
|
Ferryman
Voyager
Posts: 7,475
Member is Online
|
Post by Ferryman on Sept 28, 2023 13:13:07 GMT -8
Lots of ship shuffling planned in the coming 2-3 weeks. The SoVI now needs to head to drydock earlier than expected www.cbc.ca/amp/1.6981378
|
|
Ferryman
Voyager
Posts: 7,475
Member is Online
|
Post by Ferryman on Sept 28, 2023 13:09:48 GMT -8
|
|
Ferryman
Voyager
Posts: 7,475
Member is Online
|
Post by Ferryman on Sept 26, 2023 10:46:16 GMT -8
This doesn't apply to anything I'm planning on doing, but I'm curious... I take it that the NorAd only loads from the stern. If you're clueless about backing a car/trailer combo any distance, can you get someone to do it for you when they load? And... I assume this wouldn't be an issue on the NorEx, which I think loads bow and stern? It all depends on the load situation. Certain lengths of vehicle/towing combinations can make the turn around on the main deck just short of the Horseshoe, which is almost reminiscent of the Queen of Nanaimo days on Route 9. However, on full loads most vehicles may be forced to drive on to the dock in reverse, even at Prince Rupert. There is also the option to have your vehicle Hostled onboard, using a ship's deckhand (who has a Class 1 license). You have to be checked in alot earlier (4 hours early) in order to get that service, and I can't seem to find any reference to a hostler fee. Would likely be best to call and speak to someone on the reservations hotline to set it all up
|
|
Ferryman
Voyager
Posts: 7,475
Member is Online
|
Post by Ferryman on Sept 25, 2023 16:12:12 GMT -8
Yes, the New West has a lower threshold for wind, primarily due to maneuverability while docking/undocking at Tsawwassen. The wind was 30-35 knots from the SE this morning, with 3 foot waves. Tsawwassen is most prone to the SE winds with low pressure systems as well as the NW high pressure systems. Both directions of winds will set the vessels bodily sideways into the sides of the berths which can make it tough to entering the berth against
|
|
Ferryman
Voyager
Posts: 7,475
Member is Online
|
Post by Ferryman on Sept 20, 2023 8:46:32 GMT -8
Queen Of Coquitlam is now going under annual refit at the Deas Dock I am kinda of confused about her refit for this year is she going to come back into service just October 4 and 5 then going back into refit for a little longer or will she be able route “L” routing come October 6. The Coquitlam will be deployed to Route 30, Oct 5-10th for the Thanksgiving long weekend in place of the Coastal Inspiration. The Coastal Inspiration will be redeployed to Route 1 as the #2 Tsawwassen based ship (New West will be in refit). The Renaissance is still not repaired
|
|
Ferryman
Voyager
Posts: 7,475
Member is Online
|
Post by Ferryman on Aug 28, 2023 3:26:30 GMT -8
Would they do a in house scrap operation I wonder because of that crane. It appears to me that the crane is working on a piling/dolphin repair at the entrance to the basin. There was a really old/rickety dolphin there earlier this year when I was there last. Nice to see it finally be upgraded since that's the deep side of the entrance.
|
|
Ferryman
Voyager
Posts: 7,475
Member is Online
|
Post by Ferryman on Aug 14, 2023 21:13:28 GMT -8
Sounds like people looking for excuses not to work and I agree that today's winds weren't in any way critically dangerous the PoW whale watching catamaran went out/I saw it coming back in after dinner throwing a helluva spray which I think is part of the show people getting their money's worth. Also quite agree about the Captain running the vessel not mealy mouthed corporate dorks. Believe it or not, Transport Canada may have been part of the equation. Vessel Captain's are required to report defects to Transport Canada, and if severe enough, Transport Canada can essentially put the vessel under arrest until the issues are corrected. As for the wind parameters, that boils down to insurance. Insurance policy might state, "do not operate in 30+ knot winds and/or greater than 3 foot waves, or you won't be covered if something goes wrong out there. I don't blame them for erring on the side of caution, especially on their first scheduled day with passengers. I get that optics don't look promising on day 1, but you have to out yourself in their shoes- clearly it's was a lose/lose situation for them. Tie up due to weather and technical issues, or blast off into rough weather and make a bunch of people sea sick, or risk of injuring them on day 1. I'm sure details of what happened will come to light in due time while they cope with whatever is happening.
|
|
Ferryman
Voyager
Posts: 7,475
Member is Online
|
Post by Ferryman on Aug 7, 2023 20:16:13 GMT -8
Departure Bay seemed to be the hotspot in the ferry system today, having the biggest overloads compared to the other major terminals and was at one point a 3 sailing wait there this afternoon. The Horseshoe Bay side of Route 2 was also busy, but it didn't have the sailing waits like at Departure bay. Duke Pt was the third busiest, leaving Route 1 as probably the least overloaded major route, likely averaging around a 1 sailing wait either direction.
It's times like these when Nanaimo and the Central/Northern portion of the island can most certainly justify the extra service with 5 boats coming and going at this time of year. People often complain that "Nanaimo is over-served by the ferry service", when most certainly it is not.
|
|
Ferryman
Voyager
Posts: 7,475
Member is Online
|
Post by Ferryman on Aug 6, 2023 12:07:04 GMT -8
Seems like they've been doing a round trip to Vancouver and back at least once a day with one of the boats. When they initially started these trial runs, they were doing around 30kts each way. Today, I noticed they've been running at about 40kts. I thinks this 70 minute crossing time is a tough one to achieve, even at 40kts since it seems to be about 75-80 mins, dock to dock. I don't want to be too critical of them because I'd like to see them succeed. 75 -80 mins is still much faster than the conventional route.
|
|
Ferryman
Voyager
Posts: 7,475
Member is Online
|
Post by Ferryman on Aug 1, 2023 9:26:02 GMT -8
The Coquitlam seems to have been the #1 vessel on Route 3 for a couple days. Anyone know why? Mechanical problems with the Queen of Surrey from the sound of it. There was a service notice Thursday night that said there was a “mechanical problem with the air compressor.” Although there was a mechanical issue a few days back...which actually involved the Surrey crew shutting down the Surrey, who then jumped on to the Coquitlam to get it up and running just to finish the last round trip of the day on route 3. Not something you see very often. But for the past few days, the Surrey has been having some work done. The scope of the work doesn't impede the operation of the ship, but they're taking advantage of the added downtime of the #2 boat schedule to get the work done while it's tied up
|
|
Ferryman
Voyager
Posts: 7,475
Member is Online
|
Post by Ferryman on Jul 26, 2023 22:19:39 GMT -8
Copied over from the 'Ferries Busy' thread ...
... with that german lemon once again out of service.
While the C Cel has had more than its fair share of issues of late I don't think the choice of the word 'lemon' is particularly appropriate. I don't know if we will ever hear from BC Ferries exactly what caused the latest problem but I am thinking perhaps all of her issues since the beginning of this year are related. At the moment, however, the Alberni looks more reliable than C Cel.
BCFS needs to get new vessel construction underway ASAP.
The latest issue is unrelated to issues at the beginning of the year. The issue this time around is strictly related to the seals on the propeller blades. The Coastal Class have Controllable Pitch Propellers, which are a feat of engineering in itself, but in general, they are more prone to issues with leaks compared to fixed pitch propellers. The majority of the fleet have controllable pitch propellers, with only a handful of vessels with fixed pitch (typically the RAD driven vessels, aside from the Cumberland, and Capilano, if I'm not mistaken). The Celebration had both shafts and propellers removed for regulatory survey as part of the drydocking.
|
|
Ferryman
Voyager
Posts: 7,475
Member is Online
|
Post by Ferryman on Jul 17, 2023 14:12:30 GMT -8
She has returned to service but is 32 minutes behind schedule. ...and is running as a single ender for the remainder of the day
|
|
Ferryman
Voyager
Posts: 7,475
Member is Online
|
Post by Ferryman on Jul 14, 2023 9:52:04 GMT -8
The "Spuhels" and "Sthuqi" are on their way to Nanaimo today. Spihels is currently abeam Active Pass, northbound in the Strait. Sthuqi is just exiting Victoria Harbour as I write this.
|
|
Ferryman
Voyager
Posts: 7,475
Member is Online
|
Post by Ferryman on Jul 9, 2023 0:55:51 GMT -8
Depends on the vessel and the route. Short answer is when they need it
Spirits get fuel every night (Except Sunday, I think?). I would imagine the route 2 and 30 number 1 vessels would be similar.
Back before the LNG conversion, the Spirits burned about 12,500L of diesel per round trip. 4 RT per day is 50,000L. A tandem B-train holds about 60,000L or 60m3.
Similar math would apply to the other vessels proportionately to their fuel consumption.
So... I've always been wrong thinking that the route nine vessel sat at Tsawwassen for such a long time every Saturday evening, because that's when she got refueled? Only once a week? Yes, the Long Harbour based Route 9 vessel still has a Saturday evening layover for refuelling. Sometimes a top up is needed on Wednesdays, usually only diesel though.
|
|
Ferryman
Voyager
Posts: 7,475
Member is Online
|
Post by Ferryman on Jun 29, 2023 14:49:57 GMT -8
It was reported on the BC Coastal Mariners facebook page, that the Tenaka was towed out of Ucluelet yesterday. She's presently under tow by the "Westco Promoter", and is approaching East Point in Boundary Pass. Will be interesting to see where she ends up. My guess is Port Melon, but we will see. Good thing I didn't bet any money on that prediction. She is now headed up the Fraser River, bound for "Maple Ridge".
|
|