John H
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Post by John H on Dec 19, 2016 22:57:57 GMT -8
I'm just hoping there's an exception for the C-class vessels, especially since they still have a fair number of windows on the lower decks (especially the gallery decks) and because they don't really have the passenger amenities to deal with the extra people on the passenger decks, especially on a bad weather day.
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John H
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Post by John H on Dec 19, 2016 22:34:02 GMT -8
Do you think the rule about people remaining on the enclosed lower car decks would apply to the C-class vessels? Just wondering what "enclosed" really means. If everyone was forced out of their cars on the COASTAL RENNAISSANCE, there's quite a lot of room upstairs for everyone to find a seat if all the lounges are open. If the same thing happened on the QUEEN OF COWICHAN or the QUEEN OF ALBERNI, it would be a much different experience... it's already hard enough trying to find a seat or a table in the cafeteria on a semi-busy sailing with a lot of people staying down below in their cars.
Does the upcoming introduction of these new Intermediate vessels into service have anything to do with these "new rules" being floated about? Are the lower car decks on these vessels completely enclosed? From what I remember, they have a unique (to us) lower car deck.
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John H
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Post by John H on Dec 1, 2016 16:13:10 GMT -8
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John H
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Post by John H on Nov 13, 2016 22:01:18 GMT -8
It's hard to plan far ahead for sporting events in Vancouver, but in addition to the long weekend was a Canucks game and a BC Lions playoff game, so maybe they should have anticipated more traffic than they did.
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John H
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Post by John H on Nov 13, 2016 18:23:05 GMT -8
Hopefully anyone who needs to travel tonight has reservations. By 18:20 tonight, Departure Bay and Langdale appear to have sold out for the night. On Twitter, Departure Bay was announced as full at 1656, and Langdale at 1716, but since then they tweeted to stay tuned for an extra sailing for Langdale. The last sailings from Duke Point and Tsawwassen (to Swartz Bay) are filling up fast, 78% and 60% respectively.
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John H
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Post by John H on Oct 15, 2016 21:19:12 GMT -8
So... what are peoples' impressions of the storm tonight? Here on Hornby, the winds howled from 7:00 until 8:30, and that was it. BC Ferries cancelled all service on the three major cross-strait routes after 3:00. I know that the wind was considerable in the southern strait in the late afternoon; right now it's gusting to 56k at Vancouver, and only 35 at Nanaimo, surely, weather that you would expect the ferries to be able to get through.
Were their customers the victims of an alarmist forecast? Just looked outside, and the tree's aren't moving at all. I understand some places have had it worse, but I've been out driving all day and yesterday's wind was a lot worse than today in Vancouver. I guess BC Ferries does have to put some trust in the weather forecast in making decisions to cancel ferries... but if they were able to operate yesterday, albeit with delays, I doubt it would have been worse today - but that's with hindsight. Given all the hype this "3rd Storm" has gotten in the media, I'm not surprised BC Ferries did what they did.
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John H
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Post by John H on Oct 11, 2016 9:10:31 GMT -8
Spotted what I assume is the old Seaspan Doris on twitter today:
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John H
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Post by John H on Sept 24, 2016 22:45:29 GMT -8
You didn't mention the giant "transit light" towers that will be built at Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay, visible from all of Georgia Strait. When the lights are red, the CABLE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA and CABLE OF VANCOUVER ISLAND are in transit, and no marine traffic may cross the cable path, including the SKEENA QUEEN.
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John H
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Post by John H on Sept 21, 2016 21:49:05 GMT -8
When the Evergreen Line does open later this year, it is going to funnel a lot more people into an already busy Commercial Drive - Broadway Skytrain Station since people heading downtown from the Millennium/Evergreen Line will have to transfer to a new train. I'm sure that's why they're working on some major improvements to the Commercial-Broadway Station, which will eventually include a whole new platform for westbound trains. I wonder how they plan to handle what I imagine will be an increased passenger flow from Commercial-Broadway into downtown when Expo Line trains are already near capacity when they arrive at that station as it is. Ideally they would have some trains just running between Commercial-Broadway and downtown, but I'm not sure if that's possible.
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John H
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Post by John H on Sept 19, 2016 14:57:04 GMT -8
Another example of how schedules are cut back too much, too early; vehicles arriving at Swartz Bay now (12:47) will be on the 5:00 sailing to Tsawwassen. Terrible service on BC Ferries' busiest route. Looks like they added another round trip in the last hour with the COASTAL CELEBRATION doing a 4:00 from Swartz Bay and a 6:00 from Tsawwassen. At 2:30 today the 7:00 sailing was almost sold out, but now (3:57) it's just 50% full with the extra sailing added.
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John H
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Post by John H on Sept 18, 2016 21:35:57 GMT -8
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Post by John H on Sept 10, 2016 8:35:40 GMT -8
Still problems on Route 30 this morning: www.bcferries.com/bcfservicenotice?id=995278The QoNW cancelled her route 1 sailings, but hasn't filled in for any other ship this morning. The INSPIRATION did her 5:15 sailing from Duke Point but the 7:45 is currently still sitting in Tsawwassen waiting for authorities to clear overnight repairs. BC Ferries just tweeted a minute ago that the INSPIRATION will begin loading shortly, so I guess everything passed inspection. The ALBERNI is only going to be 30 minutes behind her all day. Late edit: A BC Ferries tweet blamed the QoNW cancellations on an "operational issue", which I assume means that the crew worked too late yesterday to be available for the trips this morning.
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Post by John H on Sept 9, 2016 20:28:56 GMT -8
Looks like the COASTAL INSPIRATION is done for the day. The 5:45 (TSA), 8:15 (DKP), and 10:45 (TSA) have been cancelled.
From BC Ferries service notices:
According to the "Actual Departures" page, the QUEEN OF NEW WESTMINSTER left Tsawwassen at 8:37 and the QUEEN OF ALBERNI left at 8:41 and is following the QoNW up to Duke Point. Guess the ALBERNI is going to "dog it" to give the QoNW time to unload and load.
Late edit: According to Marine Traffic, the QoNW is doing 20 knots and the ALBERNI is following doing 17. And the COLUMBIA is just ahead of them.
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John H
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Post by John H on Sept 8, 2016 19:39:44 GMT -8
I see that Hanjin Vienna anchored out at Constance Bank has over 100 containers aboard for Canadian Tire alone. She is stuck out there owing the financial woes of Hanjin; no money to pay for the dock, for the tugs, for longshoring, for the railway to move the containers, no money for fuel or supplies either. Up in Rupert, the Hanjin Scarlet has been financed to unload and that is now underway. There are typically 4 Hanjin ships a week on our coast. The rest are running real slow at sea awaiting a suitable outcome for their cargo handling. Had not heard about this on the local news, but maybe we will soon. Seems like a major story that could affect a lot of people. Wall Street Journal Article. www.wsj.com/articles/billions-in-cargo-remains-stranded-at-sea-1473285117
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Post by John H on Sept 5, 2016 19:31:29 GMT -8
There are two waits on route 1 from SWB.
Route 2 had two waits and the 2130h is filling up quickly. I wonder if the Cowichan will do a 2105h sailing?
Route 1 is showing hourly sailings to 2200h from TSA, but, from SWB until 2100h? The NW is doing a 2000h trip. Not sure when it filled up, but it's 2030h now and the 2130h on Route 2 from Departure Bay is full. Looks like that's it for the night. The 2245h from Duke Point is 77% full. Looks like Route 1 has calmed down.
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