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Post by kylefossett on Dec 22, 2007 10:51:28 GMT -8
Why would there be a crewing issue if there were going to be extra sailings anyways? is there enough crew based anywhere other than comox-powell river that know the firefighting and safety equipment on the queen of burnaby? yes you could bring crew down island with you but at christmas time would any of them be willing? my contact has worked onboard the queen of nanaimo for many years and has told me that if they where to go to the queen of burnaby they would take the 3 days training and familiarization. they may look like the same veseel on the outside but once you get inside them it is completely different.
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Post by Coastal Canuck on Dec 22, 2007 12:14:06 GMT -8
Why would there be a crewing issue if there were going to be extra sailings anyways? is there enough crew based anywhere other than comox-powell river that know the firefighting and safety equipment on the queen of burnaby? yes you could bring crew down island with you but at christmas time would any of them be willing? my contact has worked onboard the queen of nanaimo for many years and has told me that if they where to go to the queen of burnaby they would take the 3 days training and familiarization. they may look like the same veseel on the outside but once you get inside them it is completely different. however my friend told me that the Queen of Vancouver and the Queen of Burnaby have the same firefighting and saftey equipmen layout.
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Nick
Voyager
Chief Engineer - Queen of Richmond
Posts: 2,078
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Post by Nick on Dec 22, 2007 13:55:16 GMT -8
Maybe they used to have the same equipment, but a lot of that got changed around in her MLU last winter (I know because I sent the plans to TC for approval). Also, the Vancouver's crew is busy already because the Van is still doing a bunch of extra sailings on Rt. 1.
As for why there would be crewing issues, as kyle fossett said, even though the ships look similar, they often have many differences in their safety equipment and handling characteristics. Each ship has its own crew that knows their ship inside and out. Also, each crew is balanced with the right number of people holding each required certificate, so it is hard to mix and match and still have the crew capable of dealing with emergencies.
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Post by blackshadow on Dec 22, 2007 14:59:46 GMT -8
Burnaby is the only vessel with DBC twin track of chutes and only vessel similar is Spirts. Transport Canada requires 75% of the crew to have this training course before it can sail.
Vancouver has MAK engines were has Burnaby has Mireeles and different generators. Even the Nanaimo isn't completely the same either.
Crewing office out of Little River is having hard time keeping the ships running as it is, and then asking for crew to train Nanaimo crew. I know personally as they being calling for me to work my Holidays. Spend time with my kids at Christmas or spent with group of people wanting to spend christmas with they kids. And this isn't just around Christmas, but year around. If one wants to work 24/7 for 365 days a year BCFS has job for you. O course you are willing to work your days off and Holidays at straight time.
In others words very bad timing for vessel being out. It will be easier to get CR running than switching Burnaby. There have been crew training for past week on the CR and Nanaimo office should be able to muster crew for CR has there engineers on her was right now and they have the crew which was to be on the Coq.
WE WANT THE CR RUNNING ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Post by Retrovision on Dec 22, 2007 15:25:10 GMT -8
Update, which BC Ferries hasn't advertised in a News Release yet I am so surprised.
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,175
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Post by Neil on Dec 22, 2007 16:39:10 GMT -8
Instead of the usual jibes about BC Ferries being stupid for not moving vessels around like checkers pieces, it's nice to get some information as to why it's not always that easy. Thanks blackshadow and coxnnnick.
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Post by Hardy on Dec 22, 2007 20:31:25 GMT -8
John H says: and I agree fully. Lets put the old girl to work. Why not just stick her directly on Rte-2 rather than playing magical ferry swapping?? Rather than moving so many boats around and disrupting routes that are operating as they should ... ? But then again, it is not as easy as just "wishing" a ship to be reassigned.
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Post by Hardy on Dec 22, 2007 20:42:32 GMT -8
The entire spectre of different ship layouts, safety equipment and all that brings forward the issue of standardization again. While I know that this is hard to do, and that each ship does indeed develop it's own quirks and foibles, if more systems are made to be uniform across a broader number of ships, then these differences are minimized. I realize that safety of the crew and pax is paramount above all else, and I would never suggest that a crew which is completely unfamiliar with a ship be asked to work on her and sail her. That being said, you don't particularly need to know the number of paces to a fire extinguisher from any given point to be able to safely operate a ship; don't get me wrong, I am not attempting to minimize the importance of familiarity with a ship, I am just saying that it is not necessary to know that the 416th Phillips head screw on the 13th window on the port side is stripped and needs an easy-out to remove! Shuffling crew is a pain in the arse under any condition, and especially so at the holidays. That said, sometimes exigent circumstances exist and sacrifices need to be made. It is all a matter of how important it is to provide what level of service and at what cost you are to provide that service, as well as how efficiently do you want that service to be provided. All in all, as Neil correctly points out, the ships are not simply chess pieces or "Battleship" pieces to be placed and assigned willy-nilly -- there is more to it than twigging your nose and blinking your eyes ... it's not impossible to shuffle ships and crew to temporarily shore up service levels, but it is not an easy task either.
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Post by hwy19man on Dec 22, 2007 22:11:45 GMT -8
The Queen of Esquimalt is doing the Alberni's 10:45pm sailing from Tsawwassen according to the current conditions. And that would be a good idea to put the ol Tsawwassen back into service on the Comox route then move the Burnaby down to route 1 or 30. Problem with the Burnaby going back on Route 1 is that it can only carry 192 vehicles with the ramps down which reduces the overheight capacity. Even with the ramps up, the ship has some sort of restriction in regards to semis and their trailers. I remember that because when the Surrey had the fire incident, ships were sent all over the BCFC map and someone who works on route 1 told me there was a memo regarding the Burnaby's situation.
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Post by Coastal Canuck on Dec 23, 2007 12:58:20 GMT -8
Service Notices - Salt Spring Island-Crofton
Sailing Cancellations - Low Tides Posted December 23, 2007
Updated at 12:48 pm
Please be advised that the Bowen Queen has cancelled two sailings this evening due to extremely low tides.
Departing Time Status Vesuvius 20:40 Cancelled
21:40 Delayed to 23:40 Crofton 21:10 Cancelled
22:05 Delayed to 0005 (Monday December 24th)
For updated sailing information please call toll free 1-888-BC FERRY (223-3779).
We apologize for any inconvenience experienced as a result of these cancellations.
didn't the Bowen Queen have this problem on the Gabriola run
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Post by Low Light Mike on Dec 28, 2007 18:46:34 GMT -8
Duz anyone know what's happening on Galiano on new years? ================================
Heavy Foot Passenger Traffic Expected on Tuesday January 1, 2008 - Galiano Island Posted December 28, 2007
Due to anticipated heavy foot passenger traffic on the 5:40 pm sailing from Sturdies Bay to Tsawwassen on Tuesday January 1, 2008, there is a possibility of overloads on the MV Queen of Nanaimo.
For foot passengers unable to board this sailing, they may travel on the MV Mayne Queen, departing from Galiano Island at 5:55 pm bound for Swartz Bay, transferring to the 9:00 pm Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen sailing.
Customers are encouraged to consult the website for earlier departures from Galiano Island if an earlier arrival at Tsawwassen is preferred.
Customers are advised to plan ahead. BC Ferries wishes its customers safe travels during the holiday season. =============
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Post by Hardy on Dec 28, 2007 22:12:00 GMT -8
Other than NYD Polar Bear swims etc?
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Post by kylefossett on Dec 30, 2007 0:02:26 GMT -8
Duz anyone know what's happening on Galiano on new years? ================================ Heavy Foot Passenger Traffic Expected on Tuesday January 1, 2008 - Galiano Island Posted December 28, 2007 Due to anticipated heavy foot passenger traffic on the 5:40 pm sailing from Sturdies Bay to Tsawwassen on Tuesday January 1, 2008, there is a possibility of overloads on the MV Queen of Nanaimo. For foot passengers unable to board this sailing, they may travel on the MV Mayne Queen, departing from Galiano Island at 5:55 pm bound for Swartz Bay, transferring to the 9:00 pm Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen sailing. Customers are encouraged to consult the website for earlier departures from Galiano Island if an earlier arrival at Tsawwassen is preferred. Customers are advised to plan ahead. BC Ferries wishes its customers safe travels during the holiday season. ============= end of long weekend traffic. this and the am sailing are the only ones off the island that day direct to the mainland. galiano is a busy island when it comes to foot passengers going over for long weekends
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jan 2, 2008 20:08:22 GMT -8
Duz anyone know what's happening on Galiano on new years? ================================ Heavy Foot Passenger Traffic Expected on Tuesday January 1, 2008 - Galiano Island Posted December 28, 2007 Due to anticipated heavy foot passenger traffic on the 5:40 pm sailing from Sturdies Bay to Tsawwassen on Tuesday January 1, 2008, there is a possibility of overloads on the MV Queen of Nanaimo. For foot passengers unable to board this sailing, they may travel on the MV Mayne Queen, departing from Galiano Island at 5:55 pm bound for Swartz Bay, transferring to the 9:00 pm Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen sailing. Customers are encouraged to consult the website for earlier departures from Galiano Island if an earlier arrival at Tsawwassen is preferred. Customers are advised to plan ahead. BC Ferries wishes its customers safe travels during the holiday season. ============= www.cknw.com/news/news_local.cfm?cat=7428109912&rem=82613&red=80110923aPBIny&wids=242&gi=1&gm=news_local.cfmBC Ferries didn't have enough staff to operate vessel on New Year's Day. Jan, 02 2008 - 4:10 PM VANCOUVER/CKNW(AM980) - About one-hundred people were turned away from the Galiano ferry on New Year’s Day because BC Ferries didn't have enough staff to operate the vessel. 101 people had to take the long way home after a Galiano to Vancouver ferry was four staff members short. That means the ferry can only carry 750 people instead of 977. Ferries spokesperson Deborah Marshall says that's a stipulation of the transport Canada licensing system to ensure enough staff in the event of an evacuation. She says a service notice was posted in advance. Passengers weren't happy about a less-than-full ferry sailing away without them, forcing them to come back to Vancouver via Swartz Bay - a costly and time-consuming alternative. =============================
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Post by Hardy on Jan 2, 2008 20:27:00 GMT -8
Fluge my good man -- you unlocked the thread to post a 2008 article? I assume that is because the original service notice was a 2007 one? Or ... Pardon my nits, but I am picking now!
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jan 2, 2008 20:31:21 GMT -8
Fluge my good man -- you unlocked the thread to post a 2008 article? I assume that is because the original service notice was a 2007 one? Or ... Pardon my nits, but I am picking now! yeah, I did it to post the follow-up to the 2007 service-notice. That service notice seemed unusual to me, and so I was happy to see the CKNW story that explained it. Yup, I was just following up on a 2007 story. Moderator license....we do what makes sense to us. ;D In a perfect world, CKNW would have posted that story at 11:59 on 12/31....but then they wouldn't have known the impact re # of passengers left behind. Year-end cut-off: It's not just an accounting issue, it's a forum issue too.... So I followed the "matching principle" of accounting.
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Post by Hardy on Jan 2, 2008 20:41:39 GMT -8
Much as I thought. Thank you for indulging my eccentricities. We now return you to 2009 <vbg>
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