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Post by Dane on Dec 25, 2012 13:40:10 GMT -8
But not to build them in Canada... I didn't say anything about the company, that was the Cheese. I will look into this tomorrow a bit. Right now I am just avoiding work lol
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Post by Dane on Dec 24, 2012 20:22:41 GMT -8
A few random thoughts in no particular order:
- I just recalled Translink's second to last major procurement of equipment was from outside of Canada; the Canada Line cars. Additionally there are strong rumours the next Sky Train cars will be from out of country. The Canada Line was very strongly driven by the BC Government vice Translink, but nonetheless the SeaBus doesn't represent new behavior. This isn't a justification, just an observation.
- I just has an excellent Facebook chat with a friend from University. I forgot her family was deeply involved in the shipbuilding industry of Singapore. She told me a few interesting things after she read this thread... labor in Singapore isn't actually that cheap, apparently. Particularly skilled labor. While it certainly exists, and there are no wage controls in the country, reputable companies are apparently well behaved. Based on my own casual observations it seems Damen has a solid track record of reputable clients, including (Wikipedia tells me) the Government of Canada for design work. She also added, while somewhat unsure of specifics, that Singapore is a hub for a lot of the higher quality work done in Asia. I asked to get in touch with her dad as I would love to have more on this.
- I didn't answer a question Jim asked reference "is CNG actually a new technology?" while far from knowledgeable in this field it seems that there is not a lot of commuter ferries that the Google machine can find me with the technology. And as I said earlier, I continue to believe the SeaBus should be designed and executed very conservatively. Reliability and simplicity are key to successful service.
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Post by Dane on Dec 24, 2012 19:25:53 GMT -8
John, documents I have read from the late-1980s said exactly what you just posted, and this evolved as you said the Queen of Capilano. Unfortunately the entry into service of the North Shore's namesake Queen was hardly smooth it seems the general concept worked well again. I have always been surprised that the PRQ was the only vessel of the three past-sisters to get the major overweight modification.
It is nice to see more contemporary BC Ferry designs have been more appropriate to their intended services as well. Despite romanticizing the past the Powell River class required substantial modification to being them into line with the Authority's requirements. However there was also little corporate knowledge on which to design from at the time, either.
Minor vessels have been a topic of little discussion it seems. As I believe many of us agree planning at this point may be futile with a potential substantial political shift ahead, but nonetheless it would be nice to see some more outward consideration of what's needed; other than the outline designs we see on Power Point decks a couple times a year - which are never the same.
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Post by Dane on Dec 21, 2012 22:40:37 GMT -8
A little quick on the firing trigger. I had since revised my commentary since I went back to an article in the Vancouver Sun that was in today's edition after reading the Singapore comment, and wanted to check it with a primary source, which I did, hence the revision. At ease with the comments. You're a little too quick on the trigger. Wait, so you can post incorrect information, but if someone calls you out on it they're "quick at the trigger"? Oh Paul.... I have a suspicion that the duty will be refunded, and further that these discussions have already taken place even if informally. A precedent was set with BCFS by governments at both federal and provincial levels which continue to be in power. Having worked with Translink in planning I do suspect the provincial government had very little to nothing to do with this contract. While I have been removed from the organization for four years people I know still there indicate, in general, nothing has really changed. When I was there the province only got engaged when the public started getting outspoken for a prolonged period, or TL called out the Province for under-funding.
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Post by Dane on Dec 17, 2012 19:56:35 GMT -8
I agree with Paul. Hmmm, rare event lol.
But seriously new technology is a terrible idea for the SeaBus. Reliability and conservative decisions in operations is what has created the dependable, reliable service that we all know and love. I see it as simply as that. Further, Translink is not in a fiscal place to build needless new infrastructure. Other technologies outside the norm (CNG) have been forced on TL in the past from political levels and it has been an expense exercise in futility.
Where I do disagree with Paul is with respect to the release and the vessel names. Just looks like sloppy drafting.
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Post by Dane on Dec 16, 2012 19:17:17 GMT -8
In 2008 and 2009, when I was an active Route 3 traveler, the secondary vessel ( Queen of Cowichan ) often used berth two for the first and last sailings of the day as there wasn't need for the upper car deck - this was of course in summers when two vessel service was in place.
Has this stopped?
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Post by Dane on Nov 27, 2012 22:35:11 GMT -8
Does this mean we can expect delays and late arrivals? No - it has a very padded schedule, and I am sure because of the effort involved, is run with priority over almost everything when it really needs to move. I am hoping this is not the last year for the train now that the company is operated by a CEO that demonstrates all that can be wrong with large corporations.
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Post by Dane on Nov 19, 2012 14:54:03 GMT -8
Oak Bay docked at DPB at 1:50am, departed for HSB at 2:20am, arrived at 4:20am. I believe this is a record for the latest/earliest southern region sailing. Route two has had twenty four hour service for short periods in the past.
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Post by Dane on Nov 4, 2012 20:07:38 GMT -8
I actually just switched on Friday from my PlayBook, which was starting to have issues after the 5000th OS update, to the MS Surface. Such a crazy weekend I haven't used it much to gather my thoughts. But I will post when an opinion has been formed.
New phone next week and I will be totally Windows 8, in all three forms (phone, RT, and Desktop).
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Post by Dane on Oct 21, 2012 21:17:28 GMT -8
When are they running three boats?
I am out of touch obviously lol
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Post by Dane on Oct 21, 2012 13:27:03 GMT -8
There is no need to hope, unless the project is cancelled it is already underway...
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Post by Dane on Oct 21, 2012 10:10:58 GMT -8
More wear and tear? That seems bizarre given the balanced schedule they ran on until the third vessel joined.
I am curious how the solicitation for bids is going for the second SeaBus? I cannot open TransLink stuff on my phone, which I am on now, because of complex coding no other website seems to require!
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Post by Dane on Oct 17, 2012 20:39:43 GMT -8
I am strongly supportive of mid-January as I will be in BC. Obviously the ferry service should coordinate its opportunities for ferry fanning around my annual leave schedule. Haha!
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Post by Dane on Oct 7, 2012 14:00:50 GMT -8
I disagree about the price, I was actually a bit surprised at the price last time I was back in BC - thought it would be higher.
While I hope it does not go up, I could see it happening. As a casual observer cafeteria prices have gone up disproportionately to buffet prices. A meal and a half in the cafeteria, generally, equals a meal in the buffet. Pretty decent deal for most people to have the all-you-can.
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Post by Dane on Sept 28, 2012 20:17:32 GMT -8
I doubt the trees were removed for the sight line of the parking lot - as a former Parks employee I can tell you those trees represent a lot of paperwork to justify removal! Might have been an issue with the small area of trees, deterioration, and proximity to the parking lot - or similar combination of items.
Always a shame to see trees go down, although BC Parks typically plants far more in a year than are destroyed.
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Post by Dane on Sept 25, 2012 21:18:21 GMT -8
Happy Birthday everyone I have missed in the last while
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Post by Dane on Sept 21, 2012 14:41:30 GMT -8
I share the sentiments about the giant breakfast. Back when i was Park Ranger Dane I would eat that lovely all aboard with "bacon-bacon-brown". It was amazing. And more importantly I would go my whole first day of the shift without eating!
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Post by Dane on Sept 17, 2012 20:39:40 GMT -8
Scott who owns the compound? Is it the engraving dock?
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Post by Dane on Sept 10, 2012 20:57:31 GMT -8
BC Ferries said in a few venues last year that the CR would redeploy to Route one in the off peak. The Queen of New West, as a result, is essentially a permanent number two. There are not any passenger amenities that come immediately to mind that the NW lacks over the CR, except a proper dog area? Obviously everything on the CR is typically bigger and better, though.
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Post by Dane on Sept 10, 2012 19:55:23 GMT -8
Neat Crofton video:
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Post by Dane on Sept 10, 2012 19:49:57 GMT -8
Go to the 7 minute mark:
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Post by Dane on Sept 9, 2012 17:49:09 GMT -8
I won't tell you what the crews of the KENNEWICK and SALISH have done for the passengers. Why?
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Post by Dane on Sept 9, 2012 17:44:15 GMT -8
BCF's Facebook calls it "newly turned on" 26 May 12. That probably is not to-the-day accurate but reasonable enough.
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Post by Dane on Sept 9, 2012 17:43:27 GMT -8
So, today was the first time I actually looked at BC Ferries' official Facebook page. I hadn't even "Like"d it until today! I know, shocking.
I am curious, though, who manages it? The reason for the question is that it has several deviations from the usual stringent imagine control machine the BCFS has created. Notably there is explicit reference to the Queen of the North sinking (in an area other than financials etc where it needs to be discussed), several images of the Dogwood, and a surprisingly positive outlook on pre-privitization of services. It was the QotN that really got my attention - the rest I attribute to the anniversary celebrations a few years ago.
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Post by Dane on Sept 3, 2012 18:59:40 GMT -8
Apple is on it, Flugel
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