KE7JFF
Chief Steward
Posts: 106
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Post by KE7JFF on Feb 14, 2012 6:58:16 GMT -8
I would like to think if the cats were operated longer, perhaps a second generation could of been built with all the kinks worked out. The whole thing to me while was expensive, it was a learning experience for everyone in trying to push the province foward. I wish they just built one cat first to use as an giant experiment.
As for the later German vessel acquisition, I've heard Flensburger has also a strong sales lobby when bids are up.
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KE7JFF
Chief Steward
Posts: 106
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Post by KE7JFF on Nov 24, 2011 4:38:52 GMT -8
Having been on a vessel out in the Great Lakes in rough water (which can be just as bad as the crossing the Strait of Georgia at some times) I've come to the conclusion that people that are not regular boat farers panic when their coffee cup slides on the table. They think something akin to the Poseidon Adventure is going to happen.
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KE7JFF
Chief Steward
Posts: 106
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MV Coho
Oct 27, 2011 11:25:15 GMT -8
Post by KE7JFF on Oct 27, 2011 11:25:15 GMT -8
I'm sure you guys can cough up 5.50
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KE7JFF
Chief Steward
Posts: 106
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Post by KE7JFF on Oct 17, 2011 12:18:14 GMT -8
When the Columbia was sent to the Vigor shipyard at Swan Island in Portland last time it was having issues, I know that whole island was swarming with AHS people it seemed like for a month.
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KE7JFF
Chief Steward
Posts: 106
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Post by KE7JFF on Oct 14, 2011 16:24:46 GMT -8
I think I might take a trip to the infamous Powells Books and see what they have in stock. I found some real gems of books like "Cooking of British Columbia" once.
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KE7JFF
Chief Steward
Posts: 106
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Post by KE7JFF on Oct 9, 2011 22:45:13 GMT -8
When I was in Victoria back in August, I went into the giant Value Village over on Store St and while looking through the cups & mugs collection, I found a BC Ferries mug given for someone who had 25 Years of Service. I nabbed it for 4.00 and now I drink my coffee from it daily.
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KE7JFF
Chief Steward
Posts: 106
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Post by KE7JFF on Oct 7, 2011 4:28:12 GMT -8
Nanaimo right now is just a mid-island hub for people coming from the Lower Mainland and it does great at that if you have a car. I think that's because there's no great ground connections for foot passengers; if they could solve that problem, I could see a foot ferry being more viable.
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KE7JFF
Chief Steward
Posts: 106
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Post by KE7JFF on Oct 6, 2011 16:52:45 GMT -8
I should clarify my earlier statement. I personally have an issue with these "career CEOs" who go to grad school and get their MBA, but then spend 20-30 years just hopping around from company without actually focusing on an particular industry. The example I use of this is the current CEO situation at HP.
I want to see a CEO who is less MBA and more admiral if that makes sense. While I would like to see someone within BC be promoted up, anyone in the marine transportation industry would work. Though, it would be interesting to see how a CEO from a cruise line would run things at BC Ferries.
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KE7JFF
Chief Steward
Posts: 106
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Post by KE7JFF on Oct 1, 2011 11:32:10 GMT -8
I want to say on WSF, there is something in the regulations that vehicle spacing is at the discretion of the crew but I could be wrong.
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KE7JFF
Chief Steward
Posts: 106
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Post by KE7JFF on Sept 27, 2011 14:15:46 GMT -8
Correct me if I am wrong, but it sounds like Hahn is a "Professional CEO" who just goes around to company to company without feeling any obligation to stick around.
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KE7JFF
Chief Steward
Posts: 106
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Post by KE7JFF on Sept 18, 2011 7:15:01 GMT -8
I'm curious does anyone have pictures of one of these "staterooms"? I've been thinking of taking a trip out of Bellingham and would be interested. Here are some photos of a few of the staterooms. Sorry they are not the greatest, but hopefully will give you some idea of what they are like. First, this is a four berth "outside" cabin from the Columbia. Outside here meaning the cabin has a window whereas an "inside" cabin would not have one. These two pics are of a two berth cabin from the Taku. Finally these two pics are of a four berth cabin on the Malaspina. The cabins vary a little from vessel to vessel but are generally smaller than what you would find on a cruise ship and definitely smaller than your average hotel room. AMHS reservations sometimes will refer to them as cabins to try an emphasize to people that they are not big, but they are clean and comfortable. And it is nice to have a private place on your journey and your own bunk at night. By the way if you get a cabin, you get the whole room, AMHS doesn't rent single bunks to travelers. Hope this helps. Thanks for the photos! Yeah, I knew I wasn't getting a parlour room or anything, but I just wanted to see how much of a difference it was over a room in a train. Actually looks better than I thought. Is there 120V power outlets in the room?
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KE7JFF
Chief Steward
Posts: 106
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Post by KE7JFF on Sept 16, 2011 19:15:01 GMT -8
I'm curious does anyone have pictures of one of these "staterooms"? I've been thinking of taking a trip out of Bellingham and would be interested.
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KE7JFF
Chief Steward
Posts: 106
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Post by KE7JFF on Sept 14, 2011 21:30:28 GMT -8
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KE7JFF
Chief Steward
Posts: 106
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Post by KE7JFF on Sept 8, 2011 12:29:40 GMT -8
I haven't been on other ferries in the WSF system yet, but my observation from the Chelan is that I am surprised that being the largest ferry system in the US, WSF is not using services of a national concessionaire like Delaware North which is known for operating food services very well.
I understand the idea behind using state business for WSF, but from reading the whole Puget ordeal, it sounds like they can't figure out a simple issue like how to handle venue changes.
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KE7JFF
Chief Steward
Posts: 106
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Post by KE7JFF on Aug 31, 2011 5:45:01 GMT -8
I didn't see much rust in general bleeding through the paint; the most I saw was by the wire feedline on the B side sun deck.
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KE7JFF
Chief Steward
Posts: 106
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Post by KE7JFF on Aug 30, 2011 20:31:51 GMT -8
According to the Maintenance Schedule, yes. I read somewhere recently that the reason why the Elwha is back on fall schedule (even though a good day in November for the Sidney run is 20 cars) is that the Chelan can't keep up with the traffic in the evening hours with the domestic traffic. It's a catch-22--the Elwha is an expensive waste of resource on the Sidney run in the fall, but she can handle the domestic traffic in the evening. Interesting. Is the Elwha still SOLAS certified? I thought that ran out last year...
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KE7JFF
Chief Steward
Posts: 106
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Post by KE7JFF on Aug 30, 2011 20:26:01 GMT -8
I have some good photos of the Chelan from my trip on August 14...I'll post them when I can.
I have to say, the Chelan is now my favorite ferry on the Strait of Georgia!
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KE7JFF
Chief Steward
Posts: 106
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Post by KE7JFF on Aug 23, 2011 15:45:19 GMT -8
The Elwha is back on the international route in the fall?
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KE7JFF
Chief Steward
Posts: 106
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Post by KE7JFF on Aug 20, 2011 23:20:22 GMT -8
Ah ok! I'll need to read up on that.
Its interesting the Black Ball brochures make Horseshoe Bay sound like it's somewhere hard to find...but yet easy now thanks to the Upper Levels Thruway...
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KE7JFF
Chief Steward
Posts: 106
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Post by KE7JFF on Aug 20, 2011 14:31:17 GMT -8
I love old schedules!
I have a question, did the Black Ball always depart from Horseshoe Bay? Was the Tssawssen Terminal a BC Ferries development?
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KE7JFF
Chief Steward
Posts: 106
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Post by KE7JFF on Aug 20, 2011 2:09:07 GMT -8
With Regards to CBSA and US CBP, they will go where requested; however if you have an arrival at an odd time like at a middle of a normal shift change I know CBSA tends to request compensation for that. Both agencies do prefer you use dedicated ports of entry for passenger services.
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KE7JFF
Chief Steward
Posts: 106
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Post by KE7JFF on Aug 8, 2011 18:36:33 GMT -8
Down here in Portland, we have Vigor Industrial, which is at the old Kaiser Shipyard on Swan Island. I've gone down there a few times and I was amazed at the sheer number of Canadians workers working on the ships they have in there.
Come to think of it, Vigor now bought out Todd Shipyard in Seattle and now have ferry building experience.
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KE7JFF
Chief Steward
Posts: 106
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Post by KE7JFF on Aug 6, 2011 21:41:01 GMT -8
I've always wondered where old dishes on any passenger-oriented service like ferries and railroad dinning cars ends up when they overhaul the service; I'm wondering in the case of BC Ferries if they are in the Port of Victoria
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KE7JFF
Chief Steward
Posts: 106
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Post by KE7JFF on Aug 5, 2011 17:22:35 GMT -8
Oh, there's a new twist in that murder! its linked to the previous murder on the Island! www.bclocalnews.com/news/126840393.html"The victim in Wednesday’s killing on Gabriola Island was the common-law wife of the victim in the island’s last murder in April, 2005."
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KE7JFF
Chief Steward
Posts: 106
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Post by KE7JFF on Jul 30, 2011 6:56:14 GMT -8
I have a reservation already so I am good. What time does the booth at the termianl open for check in? The ticket booth is on duty from about four AM--the first sailing leaves at 4:15ish, I think, bound for Friday Harbor. Yeah, I figured that out from looking at the PDF schedule of the WSF Ferry System. I will plan to be there around 0645 to be safe. I don't mind a quite night drive.
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