|
Post by Quinsam on Mar 22, 2006 7:37:52 GMT -8
i wonder, anyone know how deep the water is where she sank?? Just what my dad was wondering, I woke up at 6:45 today to hear that the QOTN has sunk, I was alarmed and flabbergasted!
|
|
|
Post by Fenklebaum on Mar 22, 2006 7:41:08 GMT -8
It's been quite some time since I've been jolted from my bed by a radio report... My history prof. will no doubt be writing BC Ferries a thank you note for my abnormal punctuality this morning.
Is it just me, or does this remind anyone else of the sinking of the Princess Kathleen in 1952?
|
|
|
Post by Ferryman on Mar 22, 2006 7:42:54 GMT -8
Hahn mentioned that they'll be looking at purchasing a ferry thats suitable to replace the North. I can't see that happen as they want to build 3 new ferries for up there by 2010. Also they said they're going to take the Prince Rupert out of the drydock, and send it back up there. I guess everyone will have to put up with the Nimpkish for a little while!
Karl can be happy, I just saw his picture of the North at Tsawwassen posted on BCTV! LOL
|
|
|
Post by Ferryman on Mar 22, 2006 7:50:07 GMT -8
Apparently there were 75 km/h winds, and the wind also switched direction really fast, pushing it into the rocks. It then began to take on water, and it listed to one side, and sank. Most of the crew were sleeping also, it was 1am. Everyone abandoned ship half an hour after it happened, then everyone was rescued by a Coast Guard Vessel.
|
|
|
Post by ferrytraveller on Mar 22, 2006 7:50:28 GMT -8
really? did hahn say they were going to look at purchasing a vessel to replace the north??
|
|
|
Post by Ferryman on Mar 22, 2006 7:51:37 GMT -8
They gotta assess the damage on the North first before doing anything, but yes he mentioned they might look into purchasing a used ferry suitable for the route.
|
|
|
Post by ferrytraveller on Mar 22, 2006 7:52:53 GMT -8
interesting, i wonder if they will raise her or not, i guess it depends how deep she sunk
|
|
|
Post by Curtis on Mar 22, 2006 7:52:58 GMT -8
R.I.P. Queen of the North 1969-2006 This is the worst of anything happening with BC Ferries! In it's 46 Year History no ship has ever sunk in service. This is worst than losing the Sidney. This had better get the attention to start building Northern Ferries Now there's only 2 and they're both in refit
|
|
|
Post by ferrytraveller on Mar 22, 2006 7:55:57 GMT -8
leaving the little nimpkish to fend for itself, lol
|
|
|
Post by Shane on Mar 22, 2006 8:02:45 GMT -8
Is it just me, or does this remind anyone else of the sinking of the Princess Kathleen in 1952? I was just thinking about that a little while ago.
|
|
|
Post by lest69 on Mar 22, 2006 8:05:58 GMT -8
The QoPR is in at the farthest end of the drydock here in Esquimalt. To get her out, they would also have to remove the Quinsam. Victoria Shipyards has shown in the past they can get a ship out very quickly when necessary. Several years ago, a cruise ship desperately needed to get in, but HMCS Protecteur was getting a major refit and had tons of holes cut in her hull. They were able to patch the holes and get her out within days. The QoPR and Quinsam just went in, so it shouldn't be too much to get them out.
|
|
|
Post by Scott on Mar 22, 2006 8:17:28 GMT -8
Sounds like the Government might help out in getting the new northern ferries quicker or a replacement. BTW, my website will probably be exceeding its transfer limit all day. Here's my "new" page on the Queen of the North on my "new" website that isn't ready yet, but I'd done the Queen of the North page already. It won't go down like the other site: www.westcoastferries.ca/ferries/queenofthenorth.html
|
|
|
Post by lest69 on Mar 22, 2006 8:28:49 GMT -8
For anyone wondering where exactly this took place, here's a Google Earth placemark for Hartley Bay. members.shaw.ca/a-lester/hartleybay.kmzIf you turn on "North American Car Ferries" under "Roads", it shows the ferry route just south of Hartley Bay. There's a product called Purplefinder that can be used for fleet tracking. They have a demo on their website ( www.purplefinder.com/templates/purplefinder/parents/fullsize.jsp) that has very detailed charts that you can zoom right into. Looking around the area, I don't see any rocks near the channel, just right by the shoreline. Go to 53 degrees, 20' N, 129 degrees, 15' W. You can zoom in VERY close and still get chart details.
|
|
|
Post by ed on Mar 22, 2006 8:40:53 GMT -8
|
|
|
Post by Quinsam on Mar 22, 2006 8:44:35 GMT -8
Very small town, not my type of place.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2006 8:54:45 GMT -8
This is a very sad day. I loved riding the Queen of the North on her positional cruises. My first positional cruise was in 1999 and I have done every one each year since. She was a beautiful ship and looked very nice espically at night with the way her lights were arranged. I will always remember riding on her now that she is only a memory. I am wondering what BCF will do this summer. Will the Nimpkish remain on the Discovery Coast route? Maybe the Chilly will go run over to SKidegate? Should make for an interesting summer. Something always seem to happen right before the season starts but this is the worst!
|
|
Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
|
Post by Koastal Karl on Mar 22, 2006 9:39:41 GMT -8
Yes this is a very sad day. I just cant believe this has happened, and she is gone now. I only got to ride her once last year on the Positioning Cruise and was really hoping to take her again this summer up the Inside Passage. I guess I wont be doing that unless it's on the Rupert. The Rupert is in Esquimalt now and she couldent be farther away if they need to press her into service. I think with only two ships now, if they dont get a replacement by this summer they will have to cancel the Discovery Coast route and use the Chilliwack with the Rupert on both the Inside Passage or Queen Charlottes. They need a ferry to the charlottes. They could probably do without the Inside Passage service but people on the Queen Charlottes need a way to get on and off.
|
|
Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
|
Post by Koastal Karl on Mar 22, 2006 9:43:33 GMT -8
|
|
|
Post by jcachristian on Mar 22, 2006 10:48:28 GMT -8
If my memory serves me correct the mv Bartlett a formal Alaska state ferry is up for sale. If it is the case she could be purchased and put into service up north. They would have to modify the Bow to make it happen. And yes I know she is a smaller vessle than the Queen of The North, but one would have to keep the Bartlett on the Queen Charrlottes run in the Summer and put the Q prince Rupert on the Inside passage run. I am very sadden at the loss of the best looking ferry every built anywear in the world. However I still think it is a better way to go than the way of the Queen of Victoria.
|
|
|
Post by tyty on Mar 22, 2006 10:50:03 GMT -8
My turn to weigh in. This is truely the saddest day in the history of BC Ferries. How can it not be? This is the first time a ferry has sunk in service. And this wasn't just any old ferry, this was the flagship of the fleet. A remarkable boat. I am glad I had to opportunity to sail on the vessel up and down the Inside Passage in the 1990s.
Here's the latest information from BC Ferries and other news sources:
- The vessel had departed Prince Rupert at 8:00 p.m. Tuesday bound for Port Hardy.
- At approximately 12:43 a.m. this morning, the Queen of the North hit a rock off Gil Island in Wright Sound. Many passengers were asleep when the incident occurred.
- A distress call was sent out almost right away. Fishing boats from nearby communities, a helicopter and several coast guard vessels responded to the call.
- It took about an hour for the ferry to sink, giving passengers time to scramble into lifeboats in the rough waters. BC Ferries Emergency Operations confirms that all 101 passengers and crew were safely evacuated.
- Canadian Coast Guard vessel Sir Wilfred Laurier was on the scene by 2:15 a.m.
Some of the passengers and crew have been taken to Hartley Bay; others are on the Canadian Coast Guard vessel Sir Wilfred Laurier. Passengers and crew were to be transported back to Prince Rupert by the Coast Guard vessel (I'm not sure when that will happen or if it is already, etc.)
BC Ferries president and CEO David Hahn is giving credit to the ferry's crew for following their emergency training. B.C. Ferry and Marine Workers Union President Jackie Miller echoed Hahn's sentiment, saying it's likely due to the superb crew of the Queen of the North that there was no loss of life today.
The company has suspended service on the route and Hahn and B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell will meet with survivors later today.
An eight-person team from the Transportation Safety Board is on its way to the scene. The investigation will go on for some time, I'm sure.
Steve Smith, manager of the Crest Hotel in Prince Rupert, has made every room in his hotel available for the rescuees.
|
|
Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,177
|
Post by Neil on Mar 22, 2006 11:08:15 GMT -8
A relative of mine was a crew member on the northern routes twenty years ago, and even then crew and other marine experts had concerns about Queen of The North and Queen of Prince Rupert operating in open waters, and how they would fare in accidents. Thankfully no one has been killed, and although everyone has to be very much saddened at the loss of such a fine looking ship, at least now the move to more sea worthy vessels is going to be very much accelerated. I imagine that some maritime traders must be salivating at the prospect of BC Ferries desperate to buy a replacement ship, as quickly as possible.
|
|
|
Post by Jca Christian on Mar 22, 2006 11:12:27 GMT -8
The Queen of Chilliwack is currently in refitt, and needs to return to Jervis Inlet to replace the Queen of Tsawwassen before Summer.
I have just rememberd that the Queen of Burnaby has not had her annual refitt yet this year, so the Queen of Tsawwassen will be needed on the Comox-Powell River run as her replacement. Therefore the Chilliwack is needed on the Jervis Inlet run.
The only short term option left is to return the Queen of Prince Rupert to service ASAP.
|
|
|
Post by EGfleet on Mar 22, 2006 11:20:51 GMT -8
The Queen of Chilliwack is currently in refitt, and needs to return to Jervis Inlet to replace the Queen of Tsawwassen before Summer. I have just rememberd that the Queen of Burnaby has not had her annual refitt yet this year, so the Queen of Tsawwassen will be needed on the Comox-Powell River run as her replacement. Therefore the Chilliwack is needed on the Jervis Inlet run. The only short term option left is to return the Queen of Prince Rupert to service ASAP. Short of contracting out one of the Alaska Ferries that might be available for such a purpose. Still in a state of disbelief that the Queen of the North is gone. She's always been one of my favorite B.C. boats...thankfully no one was seriously hurt or killed. I haven't seen any footage of the wreck site yet, has any surfaced?
|
|
|
Post by jcachristian200 on Mar 22, 2006 11:27:42 GMT -8
|
|
|
Post by picky on Mar 22, 2006 11:32:13 GMT -8
This is rather unbelievable
|
|