|
Post by yak on Sept 27, 2022 21:18:07 GMT -8
I personally think that BC Ferries should get rid of arrival times on reservation page and sailing times on the schedule because they don’t seems to be matching the actual arrival times of vessels. I am have been noticing that route 1 vessels and some other routes the vessels having docking earlier than scheduled because today I was on the 1 pm sailing to Swartz Bay and Spirit of Vancouver Island started loading at the time she was supposed to dock at. The emphasis for Operations is on the departure time rather than arrival so I tend to agree. Crew will balance fuel consumption with the anticipated load to come to an appropriate crossing speed to maintain the schedule based on departure times. Edit: For the public facing side of the schedule I suspect the "Arrival Time" is, understandably, to give people a general idea of when they will be at their destination. Regular commuters may have a sense that a crossing takes "x" amount of time but someone unfamiliar with the route may benefit from an ETA on the website.
|
|
|
Post by yak on Sept 14, 2022 18:26:53 GMT -8
Regarding the Queen of Burnaby, and the disposition of the ship: Apparently the 'Burnaby will be towed south to Mexico, presumably for ship-breaking. Apparently it will be a Seaspan tug that does this tow, and all was being readied when the Seaspan strike postponed things. - I was told this by an acquaintance recently, who heard it from someone acquainted with the tug boat operators. So take this as you will, for whatever it's worth. In an unofficial capacity I'd heard something similar as a rumor/scuttlebut.
|
|
|
Post by yak on Sept 14, 2022 18:24:08 GMT -8
Why not go all the way and retrofit all of the Salish class boats with normal doors that can be activated by a switch and also opened manually? There are a lot of doors in public places that operate this way. Yes, Salish Heron's doors are a little quicker than the other 3, but it's still annoying. It might due Transport Canada requiring water tight doors. I actually don’t mind the ones on Salish Heron due the doors being more reliable, hopefully the other Salish Class vessels will get similar systems in place for doors as on Salish Heron.Negative (regarding water tight doors) but I haven't been on the Heron. What have they done differently on that ship?
|
|
|
Post by yak on Sept 14, 2022 18:21:31 GMT -8
Due to return to service on the afternoon of the 15th with the Aurora tying up in Departure Bay for the night before heading up to the Quathiaski Cove layby berth on the 16th. Kwigwis and Gwawis had some minor improvements done in Deas including modifications to the approaches for the gallery decks. Will Island Aurora be heading back to Port McNiell - Alert Bay - Sointula or start crew training for introduction of Island Class vessels to Campbell River to Quadra Island? Aurora will be heading back to her home port of Alert Bay mid-October. You will see her in the Quathiaski layby for a couple of weeks starting Friday.
|
|
|
Post by yak on Sept 12, 2022 9:09:17 GMT -8
Kwigwis and Gwawis had some minor improvements done in Deas including modifications to the approaches for the gallery decks. Question on the Island Class gallery decks: I haven't driven on/off those deck ramps, but my walkabout impression was that it's a tight corner for a vehicle to steer off the ramp, while avoiding the main ship bulkhead at the main car-deck ramp. I'm assuming that it's easier than it looks, for a vehicle driver. But similar to the garage-deck hatches when the Salish Class ships were new, is there passenger hesitancy to drive up to those gallery decks? Just curious. New things are often confusing for users. It was definitely identified as a target for improvement; the dog leg is more extreme than the approach to the garage-deck hatch on the Salish Class. There were some drivers who struggled to make the turn. The modifications were trialed on the K'ulut'a first and consisted of moving the railing back a couple of feet and moulding a wider addition to the bottom of the ramp. Drivers have been incentivized to go up on the gallery because they are among the first off on the other side (once the first few cars are cleared). This wasn't a good option on the Salish due to the amount of time it took to raise and lower the ramps but it works on the Island Class because there is minimal impact to the schedule.
|
|
|
Post by yak on Sept 11, 2022 21:10:48 GMT -8
A short photo-essay of a typical exchange of vessels from the Fleet Maintenance Unit (Deas) in Richmond. 1400 September 5th: Island Gwawis prepares to depart berth 3 in Deas Dock. Crew vehicles have been loaded and the Mate oversees FMU riggers releasing lines from the Bridge-wing.
1500 September 5th: Gwawis exits the Fraser River, keeping tabs on the hundreds of pleasure craft enjoying their Labour Day fishing for one more salmon. Complicating factors is the inbound Queen of Coquitlam (unseen) necessitating a "red to red" or "port to port" meeting and tight turn around the crowd.
1700 September 5th: Gwawis cruises past Entrance Island and through the anchorage into Nanaimo Harbour to conduct an exchange with the Island Kwigwis. The shuffle requires docking, discharging crew vehicles and then proceeding to the "VVP" (Visiting Vessel Pier). The ship-move crew then hustle back to Nanaimo Harbour on foot to load their vehicles on the Kwigwis and take over from the operational crew.
Evening of September 5th: having taken over command of the Island Kwigwis the ship-move crew load their vehicles and and proceed to berth 1 in Departure Bay to await favourable tides at Deas Dock the next day.
1530 September 6th: having made the return trip across the Strait of Georgia the Kwigwis awaits clearance from FMU to proceed to berth 4 in Deas Dock. Stiff winds and a flood tide on the Fraser River are reminders that no entrance over the shallow bar and through the narrow approach is totally routine.
1600 September 6th: sandwiched between the Queen of Coquitlam, Bowen Queen (unseen), and Queen of Burnaby the Kwigwis waits patiently while an assist tug makes fast her aft lines.
1700 September 6th: a flurry of Fleet Maintenance riggers descend to make fast the vessel until she departs in a week or so. The ship-move crew shut down the vessel and drive off until the next move...
|
|
|
Post by yak on Sept 11, 2022 20:10:59 GMT -8
Island Kwigwis is at Departure Bay. She has now made to Deas Island. Due to return to service on the afternoon of the 15th with the Aurora tying up in Departure Bay for the night before heading up to the Quathiaski Cove layby berth on the 16th. Kwigwis and Gwawis had some minor improvements done in Deas including modifications to the approaches for the gallery decks.
|
|
|
Post by yak on Aug 29, 2022 20:54:43 GMT -8
Here's a screen shot of what's left of the QUEEN OF NANAIMO. I'm just linking it HERE for those who are sensitive to the subject matter. These recent scrappings of the ships we know are making me old. I was born before the departed VANCOUVER, ESQUIMALT, SAANICH, NANAIMO, and TAKU were launched and after the VICTORIA. Engine room is next ... "Liked" this but that is definitely not the emotion I'd prefer to convey... In comparison to her career and the careers of the seven sisters I only spent a short time on her but it still saddens me to see her demise as she was my first BC Ferry as an employee. This is still how I prefer to see her off:
|
|
|
Post by yak on Aug 17, 2022 22:46:01 GMT -8
Question for anyone who has worked as a casual deckhand: How do you manage to make time for appointments, etc. if you’re constantly on call? Do you have methods of making it work, or do you just have to take a chance when you have an appointment? Hope I worded this alright. Haven't been a casual deckhand but I have some familiarity with the system. Everyone gets to know the Crewing department well, especially Casual employees. If you have an appointment your next call would be to Crewing to organize a period of "Casual Unavailability". Generally they are accommodating and appreciate the coordination instead of cold calling you in a panic and finding out you're not available.
|
|
|
Post by yak on Aug 17, 2022 1:45:41 GMT -8
Thank you for posting this. Do you think the BC Maritime Museum would be interested in the Zodiac? Wonder how much it would cost to ship that back to BC. I keep trying to look at various places to see if I can find the ship wheel for sale but no luck so far. The Nanaimo had a brass bell too right? Wonder if we can find it somehow? Key namesake items were removed and preserved prior to the sale to Goundar Shipping. Items such as the bell, wheel, etc are at the head office in Victoria. Two random recollections about this... First, after delivering the Nanaimo to Deas for decommissioning I remember being recruited for a mission of the utmost importance - securing the ship's bell. Under direction of the Master my Deck crew (I was Chief Officer at the time) were tasked with ensuring the bell was discreetly removed with an appropriate monkey wrench. Along with other key items it was quietly stowed in the back of a Toyota Tacoma to be driven off and held in our (not BCF's) care until we knew that it would make it's way into the right hands. A few weeks later the emails were flying out from the Atrium requesting that the missing bell be released. By that point the "Lomiavati Princess V" had been re-equipped with her own bell so there was some degree of confidence that the liberated "MV Queen of Nanaimo" bell would be preserved as a memento within the company and the request was obliged. Second, with months (weeks?) to spare before the ship's retirement I remember one of the Quartermasters completely inadvertently breaking off one of the wooden handles on the wheel. I still remember the look of horror on his face, though it was by no particular fault of his own that the decades of sweaty hands had worn through the grip. The Nanaimo spent that final period of time in the service of BCF with one smartly machined prosthetic brass handle among her wooden ones. I'd also heard that that particular wheel had come off the Sidney but perhaps Ferryman is more in the know than I am regarding that rumour.
|
|
|
Post by yak on Jun 7, 2022 19:22:39 GMT -8
My guess is she’ll be used as emergency relief if say one of her Island Class sisters has to be pulled from service. Or maybe she’ll swap places with one of her sisters for a week like we saw last month when she swapped with the Island Discovery. Nagalis and K'ulut'a are going to run on Routes 18 and 25 through the summer so that they get some use while under warranty.
|
|
|
Post by yak on Jun 7, 2022 19:16:35 GMT -8
I know this was asked awhile ago but the answer is that crewmembers have assigned duties in an emergency. On the Salish Class crew members are tasked with sweeping the lower car deck in an emergency in case there are any passengers down there (yes, I know nobody is supposed to be down there but we have to check anyway). In the case of a reduced 'license' the main effect is a reduced passenger count but a secondary quirk on a Salish is that there are no crewmembers assigned to sweep this deck. Therefore the lower deck is not utilized and there is a reduction in car count as well. I've never worked on a Coastal Class vessel but I believe the principle is the same when there is a locked lounge on certain 'licenses'; no crew are assigned to sweep those spaces.
|
|
|
Post by yak on Mar 8, 2022 8:45:00 GMT -8
Island K'ulut'a is currently tied up at Alert Bay Water Aerodrom, never seen BC Ferries tried up a this location. The "Gov Dock" location is the best option for a layby berth in Alert Bay and allows for two Island Class vessels to be present at Cormorant Island at the same time. This allows the delivery crew of the vessel coming into service to spend the night in Alert Bay before picking up the outgoing vessel the next day. The K'ulut'a will be departing for the Quathiaski layby berth later this morning.
|
|
|
Post by yak on Mar 4, 2022 22:22:02 GMT -8
Refit is complete - Aurora to Swartz Bay tomorrow (aiming for the Johnson Street Bridge between 1100 and 1200). Sunday will be a long transit to Quathiaski Cove and then Monday will see the ship arriving in Alert Bay after the K'ulut'a has finished her runs. Today she did sea trials with the added bonus of passing the Coho and the Salish Heron right at Ogden Point.
|
|
|
Post by yak on Feb 6, 2022 21:21:42 GMT -8
Island K'ulut'a underway from Alert Bay for Port McNeill. I understand that this vessel is 'just visiting' on this run but I am not too sure about that.
2 February 2022
All things being equal - about a month. The Aurora should be back on the run late February/early March. Things have been known to change on short notice though :-)
|
|
|
Post by yak on Jan 30, 2022 20:57:50 GMT -8
Aurora headed to Swartz Bay from Buckley Bay tomorrow and then to Point Hope Shipyard on Tuesday. Aiming for early afternoon under the Johnson Street Bridge...
|
|
|
Post by yak on Nov 18, 2021 20:41:52 GMT -8
She's making her way around the fleet - looking at Marine Traffic, Island K'ulut'a is currently docked at Powell River, while Island Discovery (the regular vessel on the Texada Island route) is now sitting at Buckley Bay. Quadra Queen II is tied up at Denman West, so the berths in this area are busy! Powell River Queen is back on its regular route as well. Might have just been some dock-fitting trials or just some test runs to ensure everything would fit properly. And perhaps her assignment on the Texada run is either for continued trials, or allowing for Island Discovery to go for a refit. I think Island Discovery is having cooling issues according to another thread. Maybe it’s time warranty work on both Island Aurora and Island Discovery perfect time to do warrant work on both vessels no need to display other vessels. Planned warranty work and an opportunity to implement some of the small changes made when Hulls 3-6 were constructed. Aurora is penciled in for a similar swap in January.
|
|
|
Post by yak on Jul 28, 2021 19:37:31 GMT -8
Westview terminal is getting another update only after six years but this will allow the terminal realigned to make efficient for the time being. In long term the trestle will be widened to allow double lane loading and unloading. www.bcferriesprojects.ca/westviewI hadn't seen your post before (or the terminal redesign proposal for that matter). Double lanes would be a huge benefit to on time performance for the Little River boat as long as traffic flow can be maintained up to Marine Ave.
|
|
|
Post by yak on Jun 23, 2021 17:52:00 GMT -8
I traveled to Sointula on Island Aurora, on January 3, 2021. I'm working on some videos and photos, but here is a preliminary set that shows crew innovation to compensate for what I think was poor design for lane number markings. As you are boarding, the boarding officer tells you your lane. You need to see that number clearly marked, even before you board the ship. The painted-on lane wordmarks don't seem adequate for this, as you only see them when you are practically on top of them. ...so the crew (I am presuming) innovated with some comic-sans font-like numerals, both on the deck and on the car-stops. So helpful that they put the numbers at the ends, because there are so many lanes... could be hard to keep track. I also like the arrows on the deck. Like... here's one side of the lane, and there's the other. I expect from your next posting to see some instructions in the lounge, for the seating. Like, this is the part of the seat that your bum goes on, and this upper bit, that's what your back goes against. Oh... and put your feet here, on the floor bit. I know that I'm responding to a bit of an older post Neil but you'd be surprised how useful lane numbers are now that it is tourist season. Locals tend to know where the Mate wants them to park on a load but it is astonishing how often (despite the duct-tape aids) the infrequent traveler attempts to squeeze themselves (and their roof-rack mounted kayaks) onto the gallery deck without crew direction. When numbers are eventually painted on deck I'm hoping they are bigger, bolder and perhaps neon.
|
|
|
Post by yak on Jun 10, 2021 19:32:59 GMT -8
Fascinating solution...
|
|
|
Post by yak on Jun 3, 2021 18:13:09 GMT -8
Would this be a pre-delivery run, or the actual voyage? There's no rescue boat on board. I don't think it's a good idea to sail without one. It may be difficult for this vessel to respond to any rescue missions on the way to BC. We didn't have rescue boats on the Salish delivery.
|
|
|
Post by yak on Apr 3, 2021 21:15:23 GMT -8
Queen of Cowichan in Departure Bay as seen from the visiting Quadra Queen II
|
|
|
Post by yak on Mar 16, 2021 19:07:34 GMT -8
Island Aurora viewed from the Seine Boat Inn departing Alert Bay during a late winter morning - March 14th 2021
|
|
|
Post by yak on Apr 22, 2020 23:03:58 GMT -8
I wonder if you drive onboard are you allowed up on the passenger decks or would they block it off?? What if someone had to use the washrooms?? I wonder if the outside decks would be closed?? I heard somewhere that only certain passenger areas are open! You are strongly encouraged to remain in your vehicle. Certain passenger areas may remain open for practical (bathroom) or safety (evacuation) reasons. See "Measures to reduce transmission risk" from Transport Canada's Ship Safety Bulletin 12/2020.
|
|
|
Post by yak on Apr 22, 2020 22:52:42 GMT -8
Besides some short days of docking practice and maneuvers with the Discovery, both ships have spent more time docked over the last two weeks. Is service entry being delayed? Anyone have any insight on the future plans for service for these vessels. BCFS is not returning emailed questions of mine. I wouldn't be surprised if they have delayed it. Operating losses are so horrific right now that I would imagine they're cutting corners wherever they can, and it's unlikely that summer capacity would need to be ramped up this year. As long as the elderly N.I.P. stays functional, there's little need to rush things. I don't really have any insider knowledge on this one other than what I hear in casual conversation but the push is still on to have the Discovery take over by mid-May. In terms of cost-benefit analysis keeping the N.I.P. in service beyond that time-frame would certainly be the more expensive option. Again, my impression from casual conversation and with the understanding that I have not yet personally set foot on an Island Class vessel, the crews training on board have been pretty impressed with these boats. I wouldn't read too much into how the vessels are being utilized during this pre-service period.
|
|