Black Boxes on Ferries

[nolonger]

I am unaware of any of our vessels so equipped. I have heard rumblings that they may be coming down the road to major vessels.

[Retrovision]

I heard, during the immediate aftermath of the incident, mainstream media (not that they were the most reliable at the time, as we all know) reporting that indeed there was not a 'black box' on the Queen of the North (or on any other of their other vessels).

[nolonger]

Cacscade,
Here is a link to the news story. It says computer hard drives. I can tell you no more as I am unfamiliar with any of the equipment on the bridge of the "North"
And yes I would have to wonder what shape anything would be in after being in salt water for a month.
www.cbc.ca/bc/story/bc_ferry-dive20060421.html

[BrianWilliams]

From the CBC report linked above:

"Now, the TSB wants to retrieve the electronic chart display, which could give investigators information about the course and speed of the vessel when it hit the rocks. "

Umm, that sounds like a 'black box' to me, at least in function. We can only hope that the data is in a sealed unit which will survive a few weeks' immersion at that depth.

[Doug]

I don't know about any "black boxes" on bridges, but there are certainly "white boxes" plowing European waters.

[fivetwo]

So, based on all this, there are no "black boxes" on any BCF, and they are going to send another expensive sub down to try to remove a wet, pressurized computer hard drive, and after this much time? Doesn't make a lot of sense. There must be more to this. Is it common for Transport Canada to not believe the crew ? Surely, the question "what happened ?" was asked. Or is it standard operating procedure to use whatever they can get their hands on , because of the fatalities? If so, why would they not have gone for the electronic data on the initial dive? Just sounds like a waste of money.

[Dane]

Actually they tried to retrieve it the first time and failed. It has nothing to do with believing the crew....

[Alex]

Oops, nevermind...

[Retrovision]

We do have to remember how recently the QotNorth had a 'major' refit; 2001 was it? I'm not up to date on northern route, so I can't say if this was anything but a passenger-facilities upgrade. Can someone clarify? Could they have also upgraded navigational equipment at the time?

[BrianWilliams]

Cascade:

Are you familiar with ECPINS? I'm not, except for our company's contract to supply packaging to a North Vancouver ECPINS agent. I designed a presentation kit for them in 2003 ... and learned a bit about the product.

www.osl.com/index.html

BCF doesn't use ECPINS, but must have a similar electronic chart system. Whatever the BCF system may be, like ECPINS, it would include read-only data that drives the nav systems, corrected by GPS en route. A data recorder stores expected course, actual course and all manual interventions. The recorder may be a simple unprotected hard drive, from which the data is dumped to a portable computer at the end of a voyage; to be carried ashore and filed with the head office.

Some military and commercial users employ a satellite uplink to send the data home while at sea. BCF does not, it is now obvious, or we wouldn't be diving on the wreck to get the info.

I do hope the BCF recorder is worth retrieving.

[Retrovision]

BrianWilliams:
You don't happen to work for the Great Little Box Company, per chance, do you?

[BrianWilliams]

Arrgh!

No, not GLB!

We are the longest-running, most capable and inventive corrugated box plant in western Canada.

It's BC Shipper Supplies, founded in 1948. I've been an inmate since 1971, when BC Shippers had just 18 workers.

Today, BCS has 80 folks producing litho-laminated displays, waxed boxes for BC produce and fish, and millions of shipping boxes every month. Many of 'em are graced by my simple graphics. I am the Art Department.

BC Shippers' customers range from Newfoundland to Alaska to Hawaii.

We have tradition, talent and courage. We are the humbly-named BC Shippers, but we are No 1 in quality, service -- and market share.

[Neil]

There's one thing that this board has needed for a long time: an Official Box Company.... I think we've found our man.

[nolonger]

well ya. I've always said " there's nothing like a good box."

[Retrovision]

brianwilliams said:

Arrgh!

No, not GLB!

Watch yourself there, my friend. GLB has a great staff, and quite a boss to boot (two to be specific).


thank you for going into detail about you 'living', though. I've always been intrigued by the nature of the variety of backgrounds of the members who make up the backbone of this forum.

Cheers,
Graham,
Student ( )

[Retrovision]

notmuchlonger said:

well ya. I've always said " there's nothing like a good box."

>holdsbackaSnicker<

I honestly hope that you know what the modern slang word 'box' means.

[BrianWilliams]

Ha, Graham, in the spirit of the box industry:

24 years ago, GLB appeared as the most competitive entrant in the Vancouver market. Whoa!

GLB changed the face of corrugated mfg here. The big boys (MacBlo; Crown and Domtar) were rocked outta their corporate socks. Competition on price, service and quality had finally arrived.

My sleepy employer woke up too -- and responded well in later years. GLB and Domtar-spinoff Boxmaster led the market thru the 1980's, until venerable BCS caught its breath and came charging back with innovation. GLB led the charge and prospers today.

The real winners are BC manufacturers, and British Columbia's worldwide customers. Better packaging may seem a mundane part of our province's industrial strategy.

In truth, the local corrugated-box revolution started by GLB has helped make BC industry a 21st century star.

Say "hi" to Bob from Brian...