Ah, thanks Scott! I was wondering when BCF was going to put up the link to that on their site! A-Channel News was showing that this evening, but I couldn't find anything. I'm assuming she'll be going through the Strait of Gibralter tomorrow? (I think that's what it's called....) Once she goes through that part, she heads for the Canary Islands, for a fuel stop. Then she's off to the Panama Canal, and probably another fuel stop somewhere around that point.
Also, by the sounds of it, Captain Trafford Tailor is her Captain at the moment. I could be wrong though, you never know with the media these days.
As you have her position - why not try and use Google Earth - Map and see if you can spot her?
Then you can be an arm chair expert....as least in navigation
Done and done.
An odd thing in Google Earth... The first set of co-ordinates showed her location on the map correctly, but the second set puts her in a position that doesn’t jive with the BCF map. I know little to nothing about navigation, so I’m wondering if I have to translate something? She made the transition from East to West Longitude last night, maybe I’m missing a step?
As a testament to my stellar map reading and navigation skills, while playing Ship Simulator last night I managed to run the Titanic up on a reef. Nothing more traumatizing than seeing your ship rolled over on it’s side with her screws up in the air! Sigh....
On the topic of Webcams, I’ve set up a couple of computers to record the webcam feeds at the Panama Canal. So when she does pass I’ll be able to post the video.
I’ve made a test video that can be downloaded at:
It’s encoded with Divx, so if it doesn’t play, download the free codex at
Post by Koastal Karl on Nov 24, 2006 9:45:25 GMT -8
Well this is pissing me off. None of our computers show the Sonia as being in the Atlantic. It still shows the position from two nights ago. What the hell is going on??
Post by Coastal Canuck on Nov 24, 2006 15:32:29 GMT -8
I checked the web cam last night and she was in the Atlantic and know she is back in the Mediterranean Sea and the update time is later with it in the Mediterranean rather than in the Atlantic so she turned around for some reason
The ferry you see in the picture "kam" posted above is a FRED OLSEN ferry. I right clicked on the photo on the linked site and saved it. I then opened it up in my Windows XP program and zoomed into it closely. "FRED.OLSEN Express" is on her side.
The link to the webcam is at the lower right corner of the page.
I quickly took my digital cam and took a picture of the full screen resolution off my 19 inch flat screen monitor. Sorry it is a little blurry (the full screen resolution of the moderate quality stream was a bit blurry to start with), but having a form of any historic photos of this ship enroute to BC is priceless. The live streaming video source didn't let me stop, capture, and save to HD. I had little time to capture the SONIA as the images cycle from one cam to another in this harbour area filled with ships of all kinds.
It's a half/half day there as there is sun and mist fouling some cams in the cycle.
Don't know how many times they'll have a cam aimed at the SONIA during the cycles of cams the rest of today. She is due out this evening, Canary Islands time (possibly mid morning or so our time).
Anyway, here she is!
May she and her crew have a good voyage to the next port of call in this trip from Greece to British Columbia.
Port of Origin: Piraeus, Greece Port of Call: Tenerife, Canary Islands Final Destination: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada Position: Lat 28 deg 27' N / Long 15 deg 57’ W Course: n/a Speed: 0 knots Notes: MV Sonia is at anchor off Tenerife and will move to port late Friday evening to take on fuel and stores. The vessel is expected to depart from Tenerife Saturday evening. All is well onboard.
Data Updated: 12:00, November 24, 2006 Our next scheduled update will be posted at 12:00, November 27, 2006
PRINCESS MARGUERITE, OLYMPICS, PUGET SOUND, EARLY 1970S
Post by Low Light Mike on Nov 25, 2006 9:13:44 GMT -8
The link that Ferry Nut Seattle just posted is still the Nov.22nd static image.
Someone, please explain with W O R D S how to find the tracker.
I go to BCFS website.
I choose: "about BC Ferries"
I choose: "Our Fleet"
I don't see any Sonia tracker.
Someone who uses words, please explain.
Thanks.
=================
later comment: - that tracker page is sometimes screwed up: I just checked twice, 5 minutes ago, and it showed up as Nov.22, off Italy. Now, I just checked again and it's finally showing the Canary Islands.
Others have experienced this too, from reading your comments on this thread. Does anyone have any ideas on why this tracker sometimes looks out of date.
Don't just say that it looks fine to you now....if you know what I'm talking about, please offer your comments.
ps: I still can't find the tracker page on the website.....someone please explain with words where it is....instead of just posting the link.
Thanks !
Last Edit: Nov 25, 2006 9:19:33 GMT -8 by Low Light Mike
Post by Koastal Karl on Nov 25, 2006 9:29:41 GMT -8
I have been having trouble with the tracking the Sonia from day 1. Whenever I go to the link Scott posted it still shows Nov 22nd. Dont know if it is the tracking that is messed or our stupid ass computers. Cause I know other people can get the updated tracking. I still cant. I cant find the tracker page on the website either. I just use Scott's link to it which still is stuck on the 22nd for me.
Thanks for the photos, it's pretty cool to see the Sonia enroute on her journey up to BC
I don't know what's wrong with your computers folks. Works fine for me, but only as-of this morning.
I'm typing in the URL from the link provided from FerryNutSeattle and I'm getting a 404. Alert the Geek Squad (I'll watch out my window for Dan and Flugel to pull up [just kidding ])
These are final pics of the MV SONIA for the day. By the looks of things, she has sailed for her next port of call at 1530PST. Here are the pics:
The last image taken was when the camera was being rotated (that's the reason for the blurry image). It takes about four or five minutes for this cam to return in the cycle. By then, the SONIA would have made a quick exit from Spain. I will look at the webcam site Sunday to confirm all of this.
We'll look for updated info from BCF on Monday, when they'll resume their tracker.
Smooth seas, MV SONIA!
PRINCESS MARGUERITE, OLYMPICS, PUGET SOUND, EARLY 1970S
Like FugelHorn, I couldn't find any link to the Sonia Tracker either. It was Scott that posted the link and if I remember correctly, he's got members of the family working for BC Ferries so maybe it was made for BC Ferries employees primarily?