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Post by Balfour on Oct 20, 2006 7:22:51 GMT -8
Route 30 is actually quite convenient for people living in Delta, Surrey and anywhere south of the Fraser. It provides easier access to the Island north of Nanaimo, and it's a better alternative to going through downtown Vancouver to Horseshoe Bay. The vessels aren't "truck only", but they are designed to carry more trucks thatn any other vessel in the fleet.
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Post by Ferryman on Oct 20, 2006 7:44:48 GMT -8
Well, considering that the V's are no longer certified to use their galley decks, I think that puts them on par with the New West, in terms of truck capacity. The Upper deck on the V's however, probably can't have SUV's ranging in various sizes parked in there, because of the height clearance. The New West is the only V, that can keep up to speed with the Alberni, even with turn-around time.
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Post by Extreamme on Oct 20, 2006 8:18:32 GMT -8
Well then I can't think of any possible way to put three ships on Route 1 because B.C. Ferries has already announced that the first two Super Class Vessels are going on Horseshoe Bay Deaparture Bay and Duke Points dock is to small for them and the Spirit's and the current C's are not allowed to go threw Active Pass. Wait a minute why don't they have Queen of Oak Bay as the extra C and leave Alberni and Surrey on Route 30
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Post by Extreamme on Oct 20, 2006 8:19:03 GMT -8
sorry four ships in the summer on Route 1
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Post by Islander12 on Oct 20, 2006 9:41:16 GMT -8
If you're refering to their platform decks(ie deck 3), I don't know where you got that from. The platforms are rarely used however they can still be used. On the Saanich atleast the port side is out of service however they can still lower the starboard side if they want.
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Post by Ferryman on Oct 20, 2006 11:35:48 GMT -8
Yes, I was referring to the platform decks. The name had slipped my mind for some reason....
I know for a fact, Transport Canada will not certify the platform decks on the Esquimalt, because they're too old. Scott told us that a few months ago, when we did a round trip on the Esquimalt on Route 3. He knows, because his parents both work at Departure Bay, and the Esquimalt spends quite a bit of time there. I just assumed after hearing about the Esquimalt, and seeming the V's are pretty much the same age, that the platform decks wouldn't be used anymore.
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Post by Mike C on Oct 20, 2006 16:26:28 GMT -8
Ah, well, I stand corrected on a few things, thanks for catching that.
Well, I can see why they would ban use on the V's, too old of course. I've personally never been down to the car decks on the V's, too lazy.
HOWEVER, they (BC Ferries) continues to use the platform decks on the Queen of Tsawwassen. I know this, because my family drove on one a few years ago. And, as far as I'm concerned, they continue to use the platform decks on the B's and the last remaining Sidney.
Extreamme: In lifting of the Queen of New Westminster, they decided to increase the height of the main vehicle deck at the same time so that it would be suitable for transporting large commercial vehicles on Tsawwassen-Duke Point.
And, as well, when Duke Point was built in 1997, the made it so that an extra berth could be easily added. This berth could be built to take Super C's if they wanted to.
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Post by Ferryman on Oct 20, 2006 18:32:54 GMT -8
The Platform decks on the B's, and the Tsawwassen are just a little bit different. These decks are held up by steel posts. The Decks on the V's however, are held up by a cable/pulley system suspended from the ceiling.
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Post by Scott on Oct 22, 2006 20:52:01 GMT -8
Is it true that the Duke Point dock couldn't handle the Spirits? I thought I heard somewhere that it actually could, but I have no way of confirming or denying it.
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Post by markkarj on Oct 28, 2006 15:07:45 GMT -8
Extreamme: In lifting of the Queen of New Westminster, they decided to increase the height of the main vehicle deck at the same time so that it would be suitable for transporting large commercial vehicles on Tsawwassen-Duke Point. I was meaning to ask about this... is that the upper or lower car deck that increased in height, or both? The upper deck looks somewhat taller than the other V-class ships, but not by much. Two other questions: 1) What's the New West's retirement date? 2) I thought that the hull of the Queen of New West was redesigned or strengthened... does anyone know the extent of the refit when she was lifted? Thanks... M
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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 28, 2006 15:23:13 GMT -8
MarkKarj:
All I can tell you is that the Upper-car-deck of the QNW is taller than the V-class's upper car decks.
This allows suv's & trucks-with-canopies to use the upper deck, leaving the lower deck available for bigger things.
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Post by Dane on Oct 28, 2006 17:21:18 GMT -8
1. Aren't both car decks higher clearance on the Queen of New West? (Whether there's platform decks, or not)
2. C Class can go through Active Pass... find one document anywhere that says they can't. They have to be in a mode that people describe as "Fuel inefficient" but it still leaves them ahead of the ships they'd be replacing. Moreover, the Alberni and Surrey have both worked Route 1 since the Alberni grounding. Your post also read to indicate that the Spirits couldn't go through Active Pass.
3. There is a difference between a ferry fitting into a berth and the berth actually being usable for revenue. The side-loading of the Super Cs and S Class preclude them from (or will preclude them from) using most berths.
4. Do we actually have word about the Vancouver and Saanich's Galley decks?
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Post by Political Incorrectness on Oct 28, 2006 19:41:45 GMT -8
Dane, with the number three. Please prove your point of "side-loading" are you talking of a port or starboard loading of vehicles or passengers?
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Post by Dane on Oct 29, 2006 23:06:35 GMT -8
No I'm talking about supplies (forgetting the correct naval term here). Just before the buffet there is that large side door on the main passenger deck (is that deck 5?) That is used for getting all that deliscious food into the Kitchen... not sure if anything else is transported that way or not? Anyways the S Class are the only vessels designed with this.. and the Super Cs I gather are similar. The only terminals that can load/restock the S Class in this manner are Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay.
To "prove" my point.... look at any picture of an S Class and you'll see the big doors for reloading about 9/10th of the way back on the main passenger deck.
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Post by Political Incorrectness on Oct 30, 2006 14:45:52 GMT -8
Thanks for the clarification dane.
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Post by kylefossett on Oct 30, 2006 15:59:14 GMT -8
dane there is a crane there for lifting the food carts onboard the vessels. on the v-class, b-class and tsawwassen this is done behind the cafeteria where there is a crane that lowers and raises the carts from the car deck.
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Post by WettCoast on Oct 30, 2006 20:19:26 GMT -8
Dane is talking about the opening on the port side only of spirit class ships that is seen just aft of the funnel in the above photo of SoBC. They are, I believe, the only vessels in the BCF fleet provisioned in this way. One of you enterprising southerners could get a photo of this entrance in use while the SoVI is in port at Swartz Bay. I believe that you can see this well from the foot passenger ramp. They might not use it on all sailings perhaps just at 7:00 am and 3:00 pm crew changes. The whole door drops down draw bridge style I believe.
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Post by Ferryman on Oct 30, 2006 20:42:00 GMT -8
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Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
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Post by Koastal Karl on Oct 30, 2006 21:06:46 GMT -8
I have seen them loading the food and supplies that way before. Sorry no photos though. I sometimes wonder cause they close that side of the vessel and the foot passengers have to walk around the other side and wait to disembark as they close the two doors which close off that section.
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Post by CN2972South on Oct 31, 2006 22:42:00 GMT -8
I've seen them stock the galley on the SOBC at Swartz Bay that way as well.
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Post by Retrovision on Nov 8, 2006 2:23:58 GMT -8
Route 30 is a fairly new route still, compared to the other Major Routes. This route was started in 1990. The Alberni, post lifting, was the main ship on Route 3 for a while, then was moved to supplemental service on Route 2 I believe, and most likely an extra on Route 1 as well. Queen of Alberni, only months before lifting, seen at Horseshoe Bay
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Kam
Voyager
Posts: 926
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Post by Kam on Nov 9, 2006 11:00:53 GMT -8
Wow, I can’t believe how fast things are moving at Flensburger! Just looking at the module plan at www.fsg-ship.de/ and im stunned at how fast the modules appear to be coming together..
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Kam
Voyager
Posts: 926
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Post by Kam on Nov 29, 2006 11:11:49 GMT -8
I found a press release on the Caterpillar website on the MaK 8M 32C engines to be used on the "Super C Class". www.cat.com/cda/components/fullArticle?m=94249&x=7&id=264384In that release they say: "The currently valid emission regulations of the International Maritime Organization (IMO I) are, of course, observed. It is also possible, if required, to retrofit the M 32 C engines with the unique Caterpillar® ACERT® technology system without difficulty in order to satisfy lower limiting figures which are expected in the future. For this purpose, FlexCam Technology (FCT) or SingleFluid CommonRail (SFCR) are available. The employment of the FlexCam Technology, for example, reduces the soot emission in the part-load range to the point where it is invisible and lowers the NOx emission by a further 30 % below the current IMO limiting value." I wonder why the technologies are not being installed on the new ships right from the word go rather than having to do a retrofit down the road? I think BCF is going to take some heat for this one down the road..
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Post by Dane on Nov 29, 2006 15:51:28 GMT -8
I don't. Someone would have to notice, and with BC Ferries it has been demonstrated hell has to freeze over, first.
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Post by Hardy on Nov 29, 2006 16:06:43 GMT -8
While passenger cap on Rte 30 can sometimes be frusterating, as a "trucker", I find the biggest annoyance is the scheduling snafu that slower vessels pose. "The Company"'s loading procedure seems to allocate deck space fairly effectively, although at times more selective loading of vehicle "pairs" would result in more commercial "footage" being loaded.
Back to fleet deployment, QoCoq seems to be an acceptable substitute vessel, but paired with QoVan, they have capacity issues. Albeit the weather has not co-operated, resulting in more non-comm traffic on Rte 30 lately. It is hard to say whether it is just the snafued schedule, or just lane space capacity, but this "dynamic duo" is far from stellar.
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