News and Discussion on world ferries

[Low Light Mike]

Here is an article describing someone's journey on a Bangladesh river-ferry:
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www.smh.com.au:80/news/opinion/afloat-on-a-river-of-life-and-death/2008/10/03/1223013786194.html

Afloat on a river of life and death
Email Printer friendly version Normal font Large font Matt Wade
October 4, 2008

Dhaka's Sadarghat wharf was pumping when I arrived to catch the overnight ferry to Bhola, an island on the Bay of Bengal in southern Bangladesh.

Every day about 30,000 passengers jostle with porters, hawkers and beggars on the terminal's floating platform, making it one of the world's busiest river ports.

At 7pm Sadarghat was crammed with ferries to take passengers from the Bangladeshi capital to other riverside towns.

The lowest deck of my triple-level ferry was crowded by the time I arrived and passengers were preparing for a long night on the steel floor. I had a cabin reserved on an upper deck and after haggling with a cabin master I was shown to a tiny room with just enough space for a bed, a fan and a TV. Before I had put down my bags several maimed beggars began tapping on my window.

"Lock yourself in your room because there are plenty of people around here who can cause trouble," one well-wisher said.

The atmosphere instantly relaxed when the ferry pulled out towards the mighty Meghna River, which widens to more than 25 kilometres before it reaches the Bay of Bengal.

Rivers slice Bangladesh from north to south and make road transport difficult, so ferries are crucial to the economy and the society. About 20,000 of them ply 8000 kilometres of navigable rivers. The famous Rocket - a name given to ferries that work the most popular route, between Dhaka and the southern city of Khulna - carries more than 20 million passengers a year.

Sitting on the ferry deck sipping tea and watching the lights of passing fishing boats, it was easy to forget that ferry travel here has a bad reputation. Hundreds die in accidents each year, most in long distance trips at night.

In April 2003 the Government tried to ban ferry travel at hazardous times of the day, during the most dangerous months, but this was overturned after a vigorous protest by operators. Later that year a ferry plying my route capsized and sank, killing about 400.

The Australian Government's travel advice warns that ferries may be overloaded and lack necessary life-saving equipment. "Hundreds of lives can be lost in major accidents," it says. The US State Department is more alarmist. "Typically overloaded and top-heavy, ferries do capsize, particularly during the monsoon season from May to October or during unexpected thunderstorms or windstorms. Every year there are dozens of fatalities resulting from ferry accidents."

In 2006 an industry group, Interferry, and the United Nations International Maritime Organisation began a program to improve the safety record of ferries in poor countries such as Bangladesh. It aims to reduce the worldwide number of accident fatalities by 90 per cent in 10 years but progress is slow. More than 50 people were reported missing and several injured when two passenger ferries collided in southern Bangladesh on Tuesday.

But for many this form of travel is the only way to pursue work and social links.

This was borne out by the passengers on my ferry. Those crammed on the lower deck had to make space for an array of produce that passengers were taking to market. There were huge baskets of dried fish, bananas and cages of poultry. A noisy goose complained throughout the journey.

Many of those travelling were relatively poor workers from Dhaka on their way to celebrate the holy month of Ramadan with their families.

Ferry travel might be hazardous, but it allows Bangladeshis to stay connected.
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[D'Elete BC in NJ]

As a follow up to Flug post in the World Ferry Photos thread:
www.austal.com/index.cfm?objectid=B0D00508-65BF-EBC1-2B3A8595BEFE1C4C

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Austal USA Launch 113 Metre Advanced High Speed Catamaran

Association with MTU 8000 Series Engines Continues

Rollout of the second Hawaii Superferry commences at Austal USA, with the 127m LCS 2 in the background.
The second of two high speed vehicle-passenger catamarans for Hawaii Superferry has been launched at Austal USA – further strengthening the shipyard’s experience in advanced aluminium vessels over 100 metres in length.

The achievement comes just months after Austal USA successfully launched its revolutionary 127 metre Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) “Independence” – a state-of-the-art near-shore combat ship built for the US Navy.

With a service speed of 40 knots and the capacity to transport 866 passengers and 282 cars, the high speed catamaran joins sister vessel “Alakai” - which was delivered to Hawaii Superferry last year - as the largest aluminium catamaran ever built in the US.

While sharing a similar specification to its sister vessel, the 113 metre high speed ferry is fitted with a 20 metre stern quarter, bi-fold ramp, for use in austere ports without shore-side loading facilities. The hydraulically operated aluminium ramp has a clear width of 4.5 metres and is designed for 42 metric ton trucks.

Powered by four MTU 20V 8000 M70s, the vessel continues Austal’s strong association with MTU 8000 Series engines, which are widely considered the industry benchmark for high speed diesel engines in terms of power, reliable performance and fuel economy.

The MTU 8000 Series diesel engines offer the world’s highest power-to-weight ratio in their power range and are established as the low risk propulsion engine option for many of the world’s leading navies and high-speed ferry operators, with more than 160,000 combined operating hours worldwide.

Delivering up to 12,200 bhp (9100 kW) of continuous power, MTU’s Series 8000 has consistently set the performance benchmarks for fuel efficiency, less than 190g/kWh, while achieving IMO MARPOL NOx emission certification.

Upon completion of the latest Hawaii Superferry, Austal will have installed a total of 24 MTU 8000 Series diesel engines, proven in operation on six Austal vessels over the past four years. Austal USA has also installed two 20V 8000 Series MTU diesel engines in its 127 metre Littoral Combat Ship (LCS 2) “Independence”, which is being certified in accordance with the ABS Naval Vessel Rules.

The launch is another demonstration of Austal USA’s unrivalled capabilities for designing and constructing advanced aluminium commercial and defense platforms over 100 metres in length. The shipyard’s 1100-strong trained workforce have now successfully built and launched two catamarans greater than 100 metres in length, while concurrently building and launching the 127 metre trimaran Littoral Combat Ship.

Austal USA’s purpose-built production facilities in Mobile, Alabama are supported by Austal’s experienced in-house design team - comprising many of the world’s leading naval architects - and covering all facets of design including structural analysis, mechanical and engineering systems, electrical power distribution, electronic monitoring and control and outfit design.

This team already has experience designing six Austal vessels over 100 metres in length, including the 101 metre catamarans “Euroferrys Pacifica” and “WestPac Express”, and the 127 metre commercial trimaran ferry “Benchijigua Express”.

Sea trials of the second Hawaii Superferry will be completed in November and December, however the contractual delivery date is not until March of 2009.

[Northern Exploration]

These ferries are clearly under the Jones Act. How does the CAT in Maine qualify though since it is from INCAT Tasmania?

[D'Elete BC in NJ]

workboat.yellowbrix.com/pages/workboat/Story.nsp?story_id=121888329&category=empty%3Ainland+waterways&ID=workboat

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Ferry Boat Captain Died at Wheel With No Backup

Oct. 3--North Carolina's ferry boat crews have been reminded of the importance of adequate staffing after an incident two weeks ago in which a ferry captain died at the wheel of his vessel and his backup wasn't on the boat.

Jack Cahoon, director of the ferry division of the N.C. Department of Transportation, said that none of the passengers aboard the ferry Cape Point at the time was in any danger.

Cahoon said the ferry had left the dock at Ocracoke Island headed north for Hatteras Island when Capt. Lowell "Lou" Schroder collapsed from an apparent heart attack. A crewman in the cabin put out a call for help, and a registered nurse, a paramedic and a professional tugboat captain -- all passengers -- responded, along with the ferry's engineer and another crew member who was out patrolling the deck.

Normally, Cahoon said, the ferry would have had a second captain aboard, but Schroder had let that worker get off the boat at Ocracoke.

The tugboat captain took the wheel first, and the engineer, who is trained to handle the vessel in an emergency, said he would take over. But the tug captain assured that he could operate the boat so the engineer could help tend to the captain.

Within about six minutes, Cahoon said, the south-bound ferry pulled alongside the Cape Point, and one of its captains stepped aboard, went up and took control of the boat. The Coast Guard arrived a few minutes later and sent aboard an emergency medical technician and another crewman, who stayed on board until the ferry reached the dock, where an ambulance was waiting.

"At no time was anyone's life at risk," Cahoon said.

Chief Boatswain's Mate Arnold Head of the Coast Guard's Hatteras Station, who responded to the incident, said the boat was running in 8 to 10 feet of water. Both Head and Cahoon said that if the boat had run aground, it would easily have been backed off the shoals.

Schroder of New Bern was 64 and was a temporary employee hired for the summer, Cahoon said.

[D'Elete BC in NJ]

Oct 7, 2008 9:02:55 GMT -8 Northern Exploration said:

These ferries are clearly under the Jones Act. How does the CAT in Maine qualify though since it is from INCAT Tasmania?

Don't want to bury your question . Could it be because the service is between Nova Scotia and Maine and not intra-US?

[Northern Exploration]

One of our WSF experts will have to weigh in on it because they know more about it than certainly I do. I thought it was "operated" in US waters by a US company. I guess the parallel would be can a non-US manufactured ship used in place of the Victoria to Port Angeles or Sidney to San Juans route by a US company. Somehow that doesn't make sense though. Maybe I am mixing up regs in my head .

* bury my *** I see the shovel in your hand.

[D'Elete BC in NJ]

Oct 7, 2008 9:42:01 GMT -8 Northern Exploration said:

One of our WSF experts will have to weigh in on it because they know more about it than certainly I do. I thought it was "operated" in US waters by a US company. I guess the parallel would be can a non-US manufactured ship used in place of the Victoria to Port Angeles or Sidney to San Juans route by a US company. Somehow that doesn't make sense though. Maybe I am mixing up regs in my head .

* bury my *** I see the shovel in your hand.

haha, was that regs or reds...the letters are close on the keyboard, and with all those issues you are having with the editor...

Back on topic...I would be curious to know what the regs say about the Coho, too.

[Nick]

I believe that the Jones Act applies to vessels plying between two US ports. For example, the Cruise ships that operate on the Alaska trade stop in Vancouver, rather than Seattle, because they are not US flagged vessels.

As another example, In 1923 (the Jones Act was passed in 1920) Canadian Pacific built the Motor Princess to run between Sidney, BC and Bellingham, WA. There was also the example of the Maggie, owned by CP first and then the BC Government, running between Seattle and Victoria.

[D'Elete BC in NJ]

Alright, this story is a stretch to say it's ferry related, but this area does have a number of routes that may be affected as is noted at the very end :

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www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081009/NEWS/810090333

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CG funds turbine impact on radar study

The Coast Guard revealed this week that it has contracted for a study of the effects on marine radar from the wind farm proposed for Nantucket Sound.

At the end of a radar and navigation forum Tuesday in North Falmouth, Raymond Perry, captain of the port for Sector Southeastern New England, announced the study, Coast Guard Senior Chief Richard Uronis said yesterday.

The $100,000 study should be completed by December, Uronis said. It will be performed by Maryland-based Technology Service Corp.

A second forum on radar and navigation issues is being planned after the study is complete, he said.

Cape Wind Associates wants to build 130 wind turbines on 25 square miles in the middle of Nantucket Sound. Advocates say it would provide clean energy with minimal impact on the local environment and maritime safety.

Opponents have decried the plan, citing concerns ranging from the impact on endangered birds to navigational and safety issues discussed at Tuesday's forum.

As part of a draft environmental impact statement released in January by U.S. Minerals Management Service — the lead agency reviewing Cape Wind — the Coast Guard placed a list of conditions on its approval of the project. The conditions required the Minerals Management Service and Coast Guard to determine whether "identified impacts, if any, allow for an acceptable risk to navigation safety."

The Minerals Management Service expects to issue a final report on Cape Wind by the end of the year. Agency officials did not return messages yesterday seeking comment on whether the Coast Guard radar study would influence their review of Cape Wind.

At Tuesday's forum, dueling radar analyses were presented to Perry that drew different conclusions on the impact of the proposed wind turbines.

According to Raytheon principal engineering fellow Eli Brookner, there are three potential problems Nantucket Sound wind turbines could pose for radar.

"If you had a small vessel located in what we call the side lobes you wouldn't see it, and so it could be a hazard not seeing that target," Brookner said in a telephone interview yesterday.

Side lobes are radar beams that spill over from the main beam and can cause "clutter," Brookner said.

Additionally, so-called "shadowing" can occur when turbines or ships behind the closest turbines may be obscured on radar screens, he said.

Finally, radar systems that automatically track targets may "swap" a moving target such as a ship with a stationary turbine, Brookner said.

Brookner said he studied maritime radar issues at the request of a friend whom he did not identify and was not paid for his work.

Glenn Wattley, the president and CEO of the region's main anti-Cape Wind group, the Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound, said his organization asked Brookner to look at the radar issue but did not pay him.

Capt. Dennis Barber, a British ship captain who has worked as a consultant for Cape Wind, presented an opposing view of the impact of the proposed turbines Tuesday, saying that mariners could easily determine the location of nearby boats near the proposed wind farm, according to attendees of the forum. Barber could not be reached for comment yesterday.

About 20 panelists debated other navigational issues Tuesday, including whether there should be a wider buffer zone between the wind turbines and ferry routes, Uronis said.

"We need a proper spacing between the ferry route and the wind towers," Edmund Welch, a spokesman for the Passenger Vessel Association, a trade group that represents the Woods Hole, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority and the Hy-Line ferry lines, said in a telephone interview yesterday.

A Cape Wind spokesman did not return a telephone call last night seeking comment.

[D'Elete BC in NJ]

www.professionalmariner.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=news&mod=News&mid=9A02E3B96F2A415ABC72CB5F516B4C10&tier=3&nid=DB83E873A07F4B6385E428DE45D58AA1

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Rhode Island ferry gets tangled in anchor line, strikes sailboats

Both moored sailboats in Newport Harbor were empty
(9/23/2008)

The following is the text of a press release issued by the U.S. Coast Guard:

(BOSTON) -- Coast Guard crews responded to a report that a Newport, R.I., -based ferry had struck two empty sailboats in Newport Harbor at 3:48 p.m., today.

No injuries or pollution were reported. All vessels involved sustained minor scratches.
The crew of the 65-foot ferry Adirondack II reported the boat had become caught on an anchor line as they were leaving Newport. When they stopped the boat to free it from the line, it drifted into the sailboats which were tied to nearby mooring balls in the harbor.

Once the boat was free of the entanglement, the Adirondack II returned to the pier to offload the 17 passengers aboard.

Coast Guard Station Castle Hill launched a 41-foot boat crew who met the ferry at the pier at 3:58 p.m., and confirmed no one was injured and that all vessels involved were safely moored and had sustained only minor damage.

An Coast Guard investigator from Sector Southeastern New England is on scene to gather statements and help determine the cause for the incident.

“Our primary concern in a case like this is the safety of everyone aboard,” said Petty Officer 3rd Class Trevor Shiel, the officer of the day at Coast Guard Station Castle Hill. “The captain did the right thing by returning to the pier and waiting for us to get there to assess the situation.”

[D'Elete BC in NJ]

www.marinelog.com/DOCS/NEWSMMVII/2008oct00143.html

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Much prettier than some of our proposed commuter ferries ;D
www.marinelog.com/IMAGESMMVII/dubaiferry520.jpg

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Damen design chosen for Ferry Dubai project

The Marine Agency of Dubai's Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) has chosen a Damen Shipyards, Holland, design for the $50 million Ferry Dubai project initially planned to carry three million passengers a year from Dubai Creek to the city's offshore islands such as Nakheel's The World and the Palm Trilogy.

"Ferry Dubai has a spectacular design, a dual base (Catamaran Low Wash), an air-conditioned interior, and comfortable seating for 100 passengers (84 seats as economy class, 14 seats as business class and 2 seats for people with special needs)," said Mattar Al-Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the RTA, at a press conference. "Ferry Dubai will be fitted with three LCD and DVD monitors, three toilets (for men, women and special need persons), and a kiosk for selling gift items and snacks. Ferry Dubai extends 32 meters in length and 7.2 meters in width, and has a designed speed of up to 24 knots per hour. Each boat weighs around 20 tons and is fitted with twin diesel engines of 450 hp."

In the first phase RTA will operate 10 ferries covering four key stations which include Gold Souk Station, Union Square Station, City Center Station and Al-Ghubaiba Station. Phase II will cover Dubai Creek extensions, following completion of the new bridges. In subsequent phases there will be plans to extend the service to link with Dubai Maritime City, the emirate of Sharjah, The Palm islands, The World and The Waterfront."

According to a Dubai press report, Damen "has commissioned a Chinese shipyard near Hong Kong to build the ships."

Technical specifications of the ferries are:

Hull type Catamaran
Hull material Aluminum
Length 32.0 m
Width 7.6 m
Height 8.37 m
Cruising speed 20 knots
Max speed 24 Knots
Propulsion Diesel engine
Type of engine Caterpillar C 18 ACERT
Power 1,400 HP @ MCR
No of passengers 100

[Low Light Mike]

NOTE re Scotland's experiment with Road Equivalent Tariff fares:

I've set up a new thread in the "impact of ferries" sub-board, off of the general discussion page. This is so that we can discuss the ongoing Scotland experience with RET in it's own thread. The Scotland impacts are similar to what some are wanting for BC's island communities.

Here is that new thread:
ferriesbc.proboards20.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=coasters&thread=4282&page=1

[D'Elete BC in NJ]

Two stories from San Fran
www4.marinelink.com/Story/ShowStory.aspx?StoryID=213190

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CG, Golden Gate Ferry – Emergency Exercise

Residents of Corte Madera located on the northeast side of the Tiburon Peninsula, saw an increased emergency response activity as area responders participate in an industry-led exercise on Wednesday, October 22, 2008.

The interagency exercise, sponsored by Golden Gate Ferry in coordination with Coast Guard Sector San Francisco, took place at Anchorage 4 which is located off the Tiburon Peninsula. The exercise was designed to test the Bay Area Vessel Mutual Assistance Plan including agency emergency evacuation capabilities, and mass rescue operations, as well as the ferry system transportation infrastructure.

The Golden Gate Ferry exercise allowed all participants the opportunity to test interagency coordination, communications, and planning effectiveness, and strengthened agency partnerships invaluable in maintaining a highly effective safety and security posture within the San Francisco Bay Area.

The Coast Guard participated by enforcing a safety zone around the two ferries and several response vessels participating in the exercise, as well as provided boats for exercise play. Over 150 California Maritime Academy students played the role of passengers as emergency responders simulated response efforts.

Exercise participants also included Marin County Sherriff's Department, the National Park Service, and Marine units from Alameda, Contra Costa, and Marin counties. The fire departments from Larkspur, Tiburon, Novato, Ross Valley and Southern Marin also participated.

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www4.marinelink.com/Story/ShowStory.aspx?StoryID=213175

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San Francisco – Ferry Service Funds

U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters announced a final decision to provide San Francisco with $87 million to launch an innovative parking plan that will bring next-generation technology and rush hour pricing to last-century parking meters, support ferry service and rehabilitate the city’s Doyle Drive.

The Secretary said $13 million will be made available to support ferry service in the Bay Area.

The funding for San Francisco’s parking initiative and ferry service is provided through the Department’s Urban Partnership Program, aimed at finding new, innovative ways to fight congestion on America’s roads.

[Northern Exploration]

I actually forgot about the Bay Area ferries being part of the emergency system and if bridges get blocked for whatever reason being a good backup. Even moving emergencies vehicles around if not the general public. And considering the location that is important.

The metered parking is interesting as well. I suppose similar could be done for the Seabus and other transit in Vancouver if it isn't already.

*sidetrack alert!!

We now have very few actual coin meters left. There is a terminal every half block or so here where you can pay by coin but the majority are paying by credit card. Parking varies by location and I suppose partially driven by what they think they can charge for it. You print off the receipt and put it in the window of the car like pay parking lots. Rates are significantly higher during the day with the maximum time reduced. Some are ten minutes for loading and others are 1 to 2 hours etc. After 6pm the rates drop and apply for 3 hours until 9pm when parking is free. Some streets also only have overnight parking if you have a resident permit for that street. All you have to do is change the readout on the terminal and do the electronic change to raise rates.

Montreal does one better. Each spot is numbered and you register your car at the machine for that spot. You take the slip that is spit out with you. You can then either call in a credit card and using an automated system add money on your "meter" or you can go online and pay that way. The city than has remote terminals that the parking enforcement use. It alerts them when the meter is up for a given spot and they can ticket you both physically and on your account. I am not sure whether a parking ticket is automatically taken off your credit card as well but that would be the next step. Fight for a refund if you feel it is unfair etc. I know our parking courts are jam packed.

In both cities spots do not stay empty for long and there is strong demand for the spots. In Toronto at least it is not hard to ring up a big bill for parking. The city lots/parkades vary according to district and for 9 to 5 it ranges from a low of $17 (under city hall was one of the worlds largest parking structures until recently) to around $21. Evenings tend to be a set amount from $5 to $10. Around the sports venues that evening price easily jumps to $20 and is called "Event Parking".

The large towers downtown charge more and you hit the minimum charge quickly. Ironically the hospitals are among the most expensive as the income is part of their fundraising. The most I have ever paid for parking was a rented Expedition in the Marriott Grand Marquis in NYC. It was $80 for late afternoon to breakfast the next morning. The second highest was in a high rise "parking lot". You get out of your vehicle, they drive it on an elevator and up it goes. For that same SUV on the Upper West Side it was $60 because it had to be parked on the main floor because the few overheight floors were full.

We have a new tax that goes on with your license that is sort of a congestion tax if you live within Toronto proper. Beyond that they are talking about adding a congestion charge similar to what has been added in London. I don't see that happening when a tax can so easily be added on top of parking bills and street metering.

[D'Elete BC in NJ]

I happened across this story today:
www.professionalmariner.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=news&mod=News&mid=9A02E3B96F2A415ABC72CB5F516B4C10&tier=3&nid=A123DC18FC944FB5B27371D37706EFBC

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Wärtsilä secures first ferry reference for its Low Loss Concept - saves fuel and costs

Wärtsilä's Low Loss Concept system has been ordered by Canadian shipowner Transport Desgagnés for installation in a 95m passenger/vehicle/container vessel, to be built at Croatia's Kraljevica Shipyard. It will be the first ever application of the Low Loss Concept (LLC) in a passenger vessel.

The Low Loss Concept was developed by Wärtsilä to save both fuel and installation costs, as well as reducing emissions and the amount of space required for component installation. This innovation also delivers greater redundancy in the electrical propulsion system, and makes commissioning work easier. It has already established considerable support from owners in the offshore vessel segment.

"In a conventional diesel-electric propulsion arrangement, you need many large distribution transformers. But we have developed a system that obviates the need for transformers in the propulsion line, so we can eliminate these huge, heavy components, and their associated equipment and utilities. This reduces investment costs, operational costs, and the space required for the equipment onboard," says Piotr Kabacinski, Project Manager, Wärtsilä Ship Power.

Fuel savings, less pollution

"LLC can reduce electrical losses by 3%, and this means good fuel savings and less pollution. The system also provides improved health, safety and environmental (HSE) performance through fewer components, lower pollution and higher system redundancy," adds Mr Kabacinski.

The decision by Transport Desgagnés to opt for the LLC arrangement was reinforced by consultant Deltamarin Ltd, who found that the LLC was favourable over conventional power distribution solutions due to the high level of energy efficiency and redundancy it affords. The main electrical equipment components are divided into two separate compartments, a requirement deemed imperative to the shipowner's environmental considerations, and one that also increases redundancy.

Additionally, the total installed equipment weight and required space of the LLC package was found to be significantly less than that offered by competitors.

These were very important factors in the equipment selection, as the 381-passenger, 125TEU-carrying vessel will operate along the ecologically sensitive St Lawrence River, with a weekly itinerary that takes in 22 ports-of-call with short ship stays of no more than five hours.

"LLC combined with the smokeless operation of common-rail engines offers significant benefits to any shipowner operating in environmentally sensitive areas," says Kabacinski.

In addition to the state-of-the-art LLC system, Wärtsilä's scope of supply to the Desgagnés-designed vessel includes a complete diesel-electric propulsion package based on four, nine-cylinder versions, of the established Wärtsilä 20CR (common-rail) medium speed generating sets. All 600V main distribution switchboards, the electric propulsion motors, and the frequency converters also form part of the supply agreement.

Wärtsilä will deliver the equipment to the Kraljevica Shipyard throughout January 2010.

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Definition of RO-LO and ConRO for inquiring minds

[D'Elete BC in NJ]

www.fairplay.co.uk/login.aspx?reason=denied_empty&script_name=/secure/display.aspx&articlename=dn0020081030000027

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A less than Fantastic docking

STORMY conditions in Genoa port almost capsized a passenger ferry travelling from Barcelona. The Fantastic apparently lost control when a stabiliser fin broke in high seas and strong winds and was at risk of capsizing, according to owner GNV Grandi Navi Veloci. Just after crossing the mouth of the port the Fantastic was hit by three powerful waves, forcing it to list about 30 degrees. “The hull was so inclined that you could clearly see the anti-fouling paint," stated one of the first rescuers. The master threw down the anchor to prevent Fantastic hitting the breakwater jetty, hoping that it would give more stability, but failed. It was only thanks to the help of one tug and coastguard boats that Fantastic managed to moor at the closest berth, though it did strike the quay. After the accident, access to the port was closed as a precautionary measure.

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Okay, I was thinking that this was a smaller passenger only ferry until I looked the ship up:
www3.gnv.it/en/gnv-fantastic/gnv-genconttab/0/accessser/1/155/356/fantastic.html

[D'Elete BC in NJ]

www.marinelog.com/DOCS/NEWSMMVII/2008apr00295.html

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Pretty much the same story from a while, but there is a rendering of the proposed ship on this link and a few of the details are fleshed out.

[D'Elete BC in NJ]

And yet again we see a devastating life ending incident for the passengers of a Philippine ferry. The last line of the report says it all in an unbelievably tragic understatement.

www.cbc.ca/world/story/2008/11/04/philippine-ferry.html

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40 die after Philippine ferry overturns

At least 40 people have died after an inter-island commuter ferry overturned while being buffeted by sudden monsoon winds and waves southeast of Manila, Philippine officials said on Tuesday.

About 76 people were rescued after the M/L Don Dexter was battered by the storm shortly after leaving port in central Masbate island, said army Maj.-Gen. Jeffrey Sodusta.

When the boat left port, the weather was clear, said local police officer Roy Almine.

"There was no rain. It's like a whirlwind and the boat overturned," Almine said.

Of the 40 bodies that have been recovered, 11 are children, Sodusta said.

The ship's manifest listed 119 people on board along with six crew members.

The bodies were lined up at a local plaza so mourners could search for their loved ones.

Officials are still searching for the nine people who are unaccounted for.

Ferries are a cheap and popular mode of transport in the Philippines but they are often overcrowded and accidents are common.

[Mill Bay]

Here's an idea we might want to try for ourselves... I can just see imax screens being installed on the cardecks of the Coastals: the ones that can automatically roll up into the ceiling when it's time to let the cars off.

Ferry hosts drive-in cinema

Film festival organisers have claimed to have created the world's smallest drive-in cinema - on board a ferry.

Just two cars will be able to fit on board the Cromarty Rose (UK) for the screening later this month.

Cult 1950s film The Maggie will be shown on the ferry during its crossing of the Cromarty Firth, near Inverness.

The screening will be used to launch the second Cromarty Film Festival.

There will be space for two cars on board, and a further 10 foot passengers, who will be provided with a sofa and soup.

Film director Don Coutts, who helps run the festival, said he would be "very surprised" if there was a smaller drive-in cinema anywhere in the world.

He said: "We tried to register it with the Guinness Book Of Records as the smallest, but unfortunately because it's not permanent that wasn't possible.

"Hopefully, it won't be too windy and we'll try to make people as comfortable as we can. We'll squeeze on a settee and might even throw in a standard lamp as well.

"We wanted a sea-themed film, but we didn't want to frighten the audience so we decided against Jaws or Titanic in the end."

The film will be shown on November 18 at Cromarty's harbour and then during the 15-minute crossing between Cromarty and Nigg. A digital projector will beam the film on to a 20ft by 50ft screen, which will be tied to the vessel's bulkhead.

[Northern Exploration]

What a great idea. With carhops serving White Spot like the old days. I suppose no one but me remembers the long skinny trays with that were only wide enough for the melamine (when it was a plate not the popular food additive from China ) plates that were just big enough for one Triple O. It stretched inside the car from the drivers window to the passenger window. If you got Chicken Pickins the chicken and fries all came on separate plates so they could fit on the tray.

As a concession to White Spot naysayers there always is A&W. Their whole marketing is nostalgia based.

The Rennie when she is sitting idle at DPB could be a floating drive in. Have the proceeds after expenses go to the Maritime Museum in Vancouver and Victoria. A very unique fundraiser out of a wacky idea .

[D'Elete BC in NJ]

Nov 8, 2008 9:49:51 GMT -8 Northern Exploration said:

What a great idea. With carhops serving White Spot like the old days. I suppose no one but me remembers the long skinny trays with that were only wide enough for the melamine (when it was a plate not the popular food additive from China ) plates that were just big enough for one Triple O. It stretched inside the car from the drivers window to the passenger window. If you got Chicken Pickins the chicken and fries all came on separate plates so they could fit on the tray.

As a concession to White Spot naysayers there always is A&W. Their whole marketing is nostalgia based.

The Rennie when she is sitting idle at DPB could be a floating drive in. Have the proceeds after expenses go to the Maritime Museum in Vancouver and Victoria. A very unique fundraiser out of a wacky idea .

lol...trying to steal all the thunder of having a memory that long?
With the resurgence of drive-in movie theatres in the US in the last five years, I could see something like that actually taking flight!

[Northern Exploration]

Nov 9, 2008 4:24:37 GMT -8 D'Elete BC in NJ said:

Nov 8, 2008 9:49:51 GMT -8 Northern Exploration said:

As a concession to White Spot naysayers there always is A&W. Their whole marketing is nostalgia based.

lol...trying to steal all the thunder of having a memory that long?
With the resurgence of drive-in movie theatres in the US in the last five years, I could see something like that actually taking flight!

Here we have an example of a backhanded compliment - basically he is calling me old .

Nostalgia marketing is working very well for some. I have been waiting for A&W to retest drive in's in markets where they have been long gone. Hits both the notalgia for boomers and is a novelty for those younger. The Canadian winter messes with it though and it becomes a seasonal offering.

I don't know what it would cost to charter a BC Ferry. Do the high schools in Comox still have their grad cruise on the Burnaby?

[D'Elete BC in NJ]

A follow up story on the Princess of Stars.

www.gmanews.tv/story/132521/Recovered-bodies-from-%E2%80%98Princess%E2%80%99-now-at-199

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Recovered bodies from ‘Princess’ now at 199

The number of bodies recovered from MV Princess of the Stars, which capsized off Romblon province last June, has climbed to 199, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Monday.

Maritime authorities estimated that at least 500 passengers had been trapped inside the ship.

Coast Guard commandant Vice-Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo said they will try to recover all the bodies before they proceed to phase 3 of their operations, which is the removal of the ship’s wreck from Romblon waters.

The retrieval operation for the victim's remains is being done jointly by the coast guard with Harbor Star, a local private firm that was contracted by Sulpicio Lines Inc.

"The Task Force Princess of the Stars will have a meeting to see if the retrieval operation for the remains had been completed before we could proceed with phase 3," Tamayo said.

MV Princess of the Stars, owned and operated by Sulpicio Lines Inc., capsized off the waters of Sibuyan Island in Romblon at the height of typhoon “Frank” last June 21.

The 24,000-ton passenger vessel was carrying more than 800 passengers and crewmembers at the time of the incident.

[D'Elete BC in NJ]

news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/highlands_and_islands/7721684.stm

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Summer ferry sailings cancelled

Summer ferry links between Caithness, the Scandinavian mainland, Iceland and the Faroes have been axed by a ferry operator as part of savings.

Smyril Line has had to receive major funding from the Faroese government to help it tackle financial problems.

Its Scrabster and Norway sailings have been dropped.

Scrabster Harbour Trust manager Sandy MacKie said the service had been a success over the past two years and said its cancellation would be a blow.

Last month, the trust was welcoming plans to extend the summer service by two weeks.

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www.shetlandmarine.com/2008/05%20Oil%20&%20Shipping/smyril_puts_out_the_begging_bowl.htm

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Smyril puts out the begging bowl

FAROESE ferry operators Smyril Line have informally approached Shetland Development Trust for more money to help keep the troubled company afloat.

The Norrona at Lerwick Harbour during her last, unscheduled, visit to the isles in November 2007.The trust has told Smyril’s directors that their request will only be considered if Lerwick is put back on the schedule of their one vessel, the Norröna.

The move comes after the Faroese shipping company was rescued from bankruptcy with a last minute package by the Faroese government agreed in the early hours of Saturday.

The government will pump a further 30 million Danish kroner (£3.1 million) into the business while shareholder Framtaksgrunnurin increases its share by £1 million. Smyril will also get a further £2.8 million in loans, all to ensure that the company can pay the next instalment on its £60 million ferry.

The financial crisis has forced the Smyril to cut the ports of Scrabster and Bergen off the Norröna’s schedule.

The ship will now only keep the year round lifeline service to Denmark, and make calls at the Icelandic harbour of Seydisfjörd between spring and autumn.

The company has struggled to keep up its loan repayments ever since the Norröna was first launched in 2003. Critics say the vessel is far too big and too expensive.

Shetland Islands Council’s interim head of community economic development, Neil Grant, confirmed that he had been contacted by Smyril's new chief executive Peter Holm.

However when told that any approach for new money had to be linked to a better deal for Shetland, Smyril decided not to pursue this option any further.

"It was left with Smyril Line to approach Shetland with a proposal, which they haven't done. If they had done that, I would have taken that to the development committee, but they haven't approached us," Mr Grant said.

Shetland Development Trust has a 16 per cent stake worth £4.6 million in the company. Last year Smyril dropped Lerwick from its schedule, replacing it with Scrabster.

In April this year Shetland also lost its direct influence on the company when the two largest Faroese shareholders dumped Bobby Hunter as Shetland's director from the board.

Mr Grant said the Faroese government's investment would reduce Shetland's share in the company to between 12 and 13 percent.

"I am sure the Faroese government is looking into the future and seeing a day when that debt is cleared and there is no need any more for the annual re-capitalisation of the business which we have been seeing since the new ship has come along," he said

He confirmed that SDT has never received any direct dividend on their investment, adding that there had been direct and indirect benefits for the isles when the Norröna called at Lerwick.

[D'Elete BC in NJ]

www.shippingtimes.co.uk/item_10109.html

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Calling all seafarers - Calmac needs you!
Scottish ferry operator seeks 150 staff for 2009 summer season...

Caledonian MacBrayne Crewing (Guernsey) Limited, which supplies crew for the Caledonian MacBrayne fleet operated by CalMac Ferries Limited around the West Coast of Scotland, is seeking around 120 staff for the 2009 summer season.

Human Resources Director Alan Moffat said: “The jobs on offer include opportunities for deck and engineering officers, as well as deck and catering ratings, working on the full range of vessel types and sizes.

“While the posts being advertised are seasonal (March to October), ideally we would like to identify people during this process that could either stay with us more permanently, or be identified as suitable candidates for permanent posts immediately, as they become available,“ he said.

Successful applicants are expected to have high standards of personal presentation and must be able to adapt to the wide range of tasks undertaken within the various departments. They must also be customer focused and have a proactive approach to customer care.

A shift pattern basis will apply and these will normally consist of two weeks on, two weeks off, or one week on, one week off.

The positions being advertised cover vessels operating throughout the CalMac fleet, primarily from March to October 2009, but shorter duration positions are also available.

Candidates should ideally be qualified to STCW 95 certification and be in possession of a valid ENG1 medical certificate. Training may be available to applicants that do not hold all of the relevant certification but can demonstrate knowledge of relevant skills.

Further information about the job opportunities and how to apply for them, is available at www.calmac.co.uk