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Post by 1foot2ships on Jun 5, 2023 11:52:21 GMT -8
hi all, hi mods.... really great discussion here. i never thought ide be one of 'those guys', but could this maybe be moved to a better spot?
... i see there are threads for HSB, for DB, for TSW, for DP. would introducing new parent threads like 'route 2', 'route 1'... make sense?
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Jun 7, 2023 14:07:05 GMT -8
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Jun 9, 2023 22:23:42 GMT -8
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Post by paulvanb on Jun 16, 2023 14:50:14 GMT -8
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Post by hwy19man on Jun 26, 2023 13:37:12 GMT -8
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Post by pacificcat99 on Jul 12, 2023 19:21:44 GMT -8
Saw this on my social media feed today and then the Chek news article below. Get your stamps while supplies last.... www.cheknews.ca/spirit-of-bc-ferry-to-be-featured-on-canada-post-stamp-1160277/If they wanted to represent marine heritage I think they would have been better served creating a stamp of one of the originals (Tsawwassen or Sidney) but pretty cool nonetheless (at least for us who are hers) to get a BC Ferry on a stamp. |
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Neil
Voyager 
Posts: 7,309
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Post by Neil on Jul 12, 2023 20:11:00 GMT -8
Saw this on my social media feed today and then the Chek news article below. Get your stamps while supplies last.... www.cheknews.ca/spirit-of-bc-ferry-to-be-featured-on-canada-post-stamp-1160277/If they wanted to represent marine heritage I think they would have been better served creating a stamp of one of the originals (Tsawwassen or Sidney) but pretty cool nonetheless (at least for us who are hers) to get a BC Ferry on a stamp. I disagree. The Spirit of British Columbia (and her sister) is the largest passenger ferry ever built in this province- quite an accomplishment, given that no single yard could build her. Chances are slim that she'll ever be exceeded. Well worth commemorating. |
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Post by WettCoast on Jul 12, 2023 21:56:42 GMT -8
Saw this on my social media feed today and then the Chek news article below. Get your stamps while supplies last.... www.cheknews.ca/spirit-of-bc-ferry-to-be-featured-on-canada-post-stamp-1160277/If they wanted to represent marine heritage I think they would have been better served creating a stamp of one of the originals (Tsawwassen or Sidney) but pretty cool nonetheless (at least for us who are hers) to get a BC Ferry on a stamp. I disagree. The Spirit of British Columbia (and her sister) is the largest passenger ferry ever built in this province- quite an accomplishment, given that no single yard could build her. Chances are slim that she'll ever be exceeded. Well worth commemorating. Quite a few years ago the Princess Marguerite II was featured on a Canadian postal stamp. Good to see this happen with the SoBC. Attachments:
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Post by hwy19man on Jul 13, 2023 13:18:54 GMT -8
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,309
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Post by Neil on Jul 27, 2023 20:00:23 GMT -8
I'm disgusted at the hypocrisy of the BC Liberals/BC Unity if they actually are charging the current government with not treating the ferry system as another part of our highways network. During the whole time of Gordon Campbell's and Christy Clark's time in office, they focussed on cutting costs, treating BC Ferries as an expensive extravagance that benefitted entitled islanders. I don't quite trust the editing of this story, but there is also the complaint that drop trailer traffic is eating into the reservable space for non-commercial users, but again, this was a development of the David Hahn era, and drop trailers provide a significant chunk of the system's revenue, and they are an essential part of Vancouver Island's viability as a community, and a market. Trevor Halford is a fairly new MLA in the south Surrey area, and maybe he thinks he can disguise his party's record, now that they've changed their name. He can't. www.msn.com/en-ca/travel/news/drop-trailers-adding-to-congestion-delays-on-bc-ferries-trucking-company-says/ar-AA1esuAF?ocid=mailsignout&pc=U591&cvid=8f44894b30a3462b9908b55a4a534725&ei=18 |
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Post by WettCoast on Jul 28, 2023 10:52:00 GMT -8
I'm disgusted at the hypocrisy of the BC Liberals/BC Unity if they actually are charging the current government with not treating the ferry system as another part of our highways network. During the whole time of Gordon Campbell's and Christy Clark's time in office, they focussed on cutting costs, treating BC Ferries as an expensive extravagance that benefitted entitled islanders. I don't quite trust the editing of this story, but there is also the complaint that drop trailer traffic is eating into the reservable space for non-commercial users, but again, this was a development of the David Hahn era, and drop trailers provide a significant chunk of the system's revenue, and they are an essential part of Vancouver Island's viability as a community, and a market. Trevor Halford is a fairly new MLA in the south Surrey area, and maybe he thinks he can disguise his party's record, now that they've changed their name. He can't. www.msn.com/en-ca/travel/news/drop-trailers-adding-to-congestion-delays-on-bc-ferries-trucking-company-says/ar-AA1esuAF?ocid=mailsignout&pc=U591&cvid=8f44894b30a3462b9908b55a4a534725&ei=18Now called the B-CUP, a bra size, I think. Much of the issues that are currently plaguing our ferry system at the moment would be due, at least in part to decisions made by the BC Libs 20 years ago. Some examples: 1 - Withered ship building & repair capacity affecting the ability to even maintain the fleet today. 2 - The casual employee situation. BCFS was to operate as a commercial entity squeezing dollars wherever they could, including the costs of labour. Relying to a large extent on casuals was part of that. 3 - New vessels were added to the fleet but each new vessel replaced an existing vessel. There was no growth (additional vessels added) in spite of the significant growth of the coastal population.
B-CUP has no business lecturing the NDP on this file. Their record, as outlined by Neil above, is not one to be proud of.
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Post by 1foot2ships on Jul 31, 2023 21:31:41 GMT -8
"... but there is also the complaint that drop trailer traffic is eating into the reservable space for non-commercial users, but again, this was a development of the David Hahn era, and drop trailers provide a significant chunk of the system's revenue, and they are an essential part of Vancouver Island's viability as a community, and a market..." while i agree with the essense of neil's post, i wish to highlite some facts about the drop trailer service. when it was instituted, the intention was to use up dead space for goods with a slightly higher urgency than which seaspan/sry railink could provide. capture/create new market, increase efficiency to the tax-payer... yay! but then... this drop trailer service got too popular and it sigificantly cut into seaspan/railink's business. on top of that, this was a govt entity using union labour, cannibalising the business of a private corporation fuelled also by union labour. when applying the equity/ ethical lense... oh no! as for being a significant chunk of the system's revenue, yeah for sure, but this is simply a case of providing a supply and then watching demand far exceed initial growth projections; basically, enjoying "a nice problem to have" while doing away/ ignoring previous promises. now, with the larger drop trailer service + the secrecy surrounding % held for reservations, this equals the poor guy driving up sufferimg unfairly b/c two programs which were promised to have negligible effects are having exactly the opposite effect. end summary is that neil is correct: since the 1990s, transportation of passengers has been compromised more by BCUP than by NDP. |
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Post by The Black cat on Aug 30, 2023 16:50:45 GMT -8
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Post by Ferryman on Sept 28, 2023 13:13:07 GMT -8
Lots of ship shuffling planned in the coming 2-3 weeks. The SoVI now needs to head to drydock earlier than expected www.cbc.ca/amp/1.6981378 |
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Oct 3, 2023 18:24:19 GMT -8
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Oct 3, 2023 18:40:00 GMT -8
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FNS
Voyager
The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
Posts: 4,957
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Post by FNS on Oct 3, 2023 19:10:39 GMT -8
Lots of ship shuffling planned in the coming 2-3 weeks. The SoVI now needs to head to drydock earlier than expected www.cbc.ca/amp/1.6981378Here's an interesting clarification to a previous story: Clarifications A previous version of this story stated the Coastal Renaissance was getting repaired in Indiana. In fact, the vessel's rotor is the only part being repaired in Indiana. 1696100731892 Can a big ferry like this get to Indiana? It would take a few weeks for such a voyage to happen. |
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Post by paulvanb on Oct 4, 2023 18:03:44 GMT -8
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Post by Mike C on Oct 5, 2023 15:50:18 GMT -8
This hasn't been widely reported on, but did see some reporters Tweeting about it - BC Ferries has added three new operating divisions, each with its own new VP. I've included the press release on it below, but only really because I haven't found any other reporting on this item.
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,309
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Post by Neil on Oct 5, 2023 17:43:22 GMT -8
This hasn't been widely reported on, but did see some reporters Tweeting about it - BC Ferries has added three new operating divisions, each with its own new VP. I've included the press release on it below, but only really because I haven't found any other reporting on this item. I'm trying to think of all the times that I've read experts in maritime affairs opining that BC Ferries would be much more efficient if they had more management, and more 'operating divisions'. Can't think of any at the moment, but maybe I just haven't been paying attention.  |
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Post by yak on Oct 13, 2023 19:53:15 GMT -8
Lots of ship shuffling planned in the coming 2-3 weeks. The SoVI now needs to head to drydock earlier than expected www.cbc.ca/amp/1.6981378Here's an interesting clarification to a previous story: Clarifications A previous version of this story stated the Coastal Renaissance was getting repaired in Indiana. In fact, the vessel's rotor is the only part being repaired in Indiana. 1696100731892 Can a big ferry like this get to Indiana? It would take a few weeks for such a voyage to happen. Not that a ferry would actually make this journey but for trivia junkies, "Seaway Max" (the largest vessel that can transit the locks in the St Lawrence Seaway) is 740ft long and 78ft wide with a draught of 26 1/2ft. A Coastal Class ferry easily fits within the length and draught requirements but with a beam of 92 1/2ft she's a little too girthy. Interestingly the Sunshine Coast Queen (ex-Vacationland) would have had to do this journey in reverse - coming from Michigan. At 75ft wide she would have locked thru with "acres of space"... |
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Post by WettCoast on Oct 15, 2023 7:26:02 GMT -8
Youth arrested after fire set in washroom of Spirit of British Columbia ferry
I don't know how I (we) missed this one. It happened Tuesday night, October 10th. Could have been much more serious ...
A 16-year-old male was arrested after a fire was set in a washroom on the Spirit of British Columbia ferry on its 7 p.m. sailing from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay on Tuesday.
Police were called about 8:40 p.m. by B.C. Ferries, which reported that a fire had been set in a washroom on deck six, Sidney-North Saanich RCMP Const. Brent Vose said. Ferry crews quickly extinguished the fire, Vose said.
Police arrived as the ferry was pulling into Swartz Bay. They searched for and arrested a youth of no fixed address who matched the description they were given from witness accounts. He was taken off the vessel without incident.
The extent of the damage remains under investigation, RCMP spokesman Cpl. Alex Berube said Wednesday.
The youth was released on an undertaking to appear in court at a future date on a charge of mischief.
Passenger Tracey Rompain was in her vehicle on the upper car deck when a fire alarm sounded and a public announcement was made for crew to report to muster stations.
Travellers on passenger decks were sent to muster stations as well, she said.
Crew members checked on passengers in vehicles, initially telling them to stay where they were but later asking them to go up to deck six. Rompain said they were about halfway there when another announcement told them to return to their vehicles.
Unloading of vehicles was delayed while the incident was dealt with. As a result, the 9 p.m. sailing left Swartz Bay about 45 minutes late.
Anyone with information about the fire is asked to call Sidney-North Saanich RCMP at 250-656-3931.
It’s the latest in a string of incidents where B.C. Ferries had to bring in police.
On Monday morning, police were called when a passenger was abusive to a staff member at Buckley Bay, where the Baynes Sound Connector cable ferry was scheduled to leave at 10 a.m. The ferry was delayed by 30 minutes while the incident was handled.
B.C. Ferries says it has zero tolerance for abuse.
In late September, police were contacted after a meeting attended by B.C. Ferries officials, Southern Sunshine Coast ferry advisory committee members and area residents grew heated. B.C. Ferries officials said a woman at the meeting threatened to take a gun to everyone if the organization did not make changes.
The company has since cancelled all in-person meetings with advisory committees and drop-in sessions while it adjusts its safety and security policy.
cjwilson@timescolonist.com
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Post by WettCoast on Oct 15, 2023 7:40:46 GMT -8
This also from Facebook by a passenger who was onboard ...
-------------------------------- Edit: I did not recognize the name of that FB poster, but it turns out that she is an NDP MLA representing a Victoria area riding. Nevertheless I find her post to be refreshing ...
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Post by Starsteward on Oct 15, 2023 14:15:33 GMT -8
This also from Facebook by a passenger who was onboard ...
-------------------------------- Edit: I did not recognize the name of that FB poster, but it turns out that she is an NDP MLA representing a Victoria area riding. Nevertheless I find her post to be refreshing ...
Thanks for the original post, the subject matter being of "extreme importance"! The MLA in question, Lana Popham, just happens to be the current Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture in the current administration. I saw the original posting and was going to respond but 'life' got in the way so I am really glad you picked up the ball. (was going to say 'torch' but thought twice about it). ....for obvious reasons. Sounds like the perfect response from passengers and crew! Fire at sea is the #1 fear of mariners of ALL ilks. There are times I wish I were a judge. I don't know if the 'souvenir-hunters' are still attempting or stealing Life Rings from their various outdoor locations around the ships these days but the 'Northern run' used to be a favourite hunting ground for such items. The old adage still holds true: "If you see something, say something", lives may be at risk. |
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Dec 16, 2023 15:18:22 GMT -8
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