Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
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Post by Koastal Karl on Sept 29, 2003 20:08:11 GMT -8
Hey guys, I had a question, about the Alberni, does anyone know why when they built the Alberni they dident make her like the other C Class ferries, with a larger passenger area? Like the Cowichan. I know she was designed to carry the maximum amount of overheight vehicles. Like the new west is different from the rest of the V class, and it seems like the new west's upper vehicle deck is higher than regular V class, I guess cause she is designed for the maximum amount of overheights. I have never been on her so I dont know what her passenger area is like, hopefully one day I will get on her
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Post by John Hammersmark on Sept 29, 2003 21:19:57 GMT -8
When the Alberni was built, she only had the one car deck, so the need for extra passenger space wasn't there. She was lifted in the late 80's, but her passenger area was only expanded a bit (outside portions on the side of the main passenger deck were enclosed). I think the Cowichan was build just like the Queen of Oak Bay, Surrey, and Coquitlam, and not like the Alberni.
As for the Queen of New Westminster, aside from a few minor differences, her passenger amenities are the same as the other V-class and Burnaby-class vessels. The capacity on the New West is a bit smaller, but still fairly close to the other V-class vessels. Up until the early 90's, she was just like the Nanaimo and Burnaby.
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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 Sept 29, 2003 21:33:16 GMT -8
Yeah, I knew the Queen of Alberni was originally built with only one car deck. If she was lifted and vehicle capacity was increased, wouldent she need to have a larger passenger area? I dont really know that much about her cause I have never been on her before. I know she has a Cafeteria, and probably a gift shop too, is there a snack bar on the Alberni?
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Post by John Hammersmark on Sept 30, 2003 8:10:20 GMT -8
Good question! However, her passenger-vehicle capacity ratio was fairly similar to the other C-class vessels until recently.
The Queen of Alberni doesn't have the double car decks on each side of the main car deck, so her car capacity is about 70 less than the other C-class. Her passenger capacity used to be about 300 less than the other ones. Now it's down to 700 less than the other C-class vessels. I'm not sure when this changed and whether it just changed because of a smaller crew or because of Transport Canada rules. Does anyone know? If the latter is the case, then maybe it would be good to expand the passenger area a bit during her mid-life refit. But that might be too costly for the new company.
As for the snackbar, I can't quite remember. I've been on her once or twice, but it's been a while. There is a cafeteria and a little tiny gift shop:)
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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 Sept 30, 2003 8:49:34 GMT -8
ok, yeah I think I know what you mean. Those lanes on each side of the lower car deck that sort of go off to the side? I think some Washington State Ferries have those too. The lower passenger capacity was cause of Transport Canada and something to do with the life saving equipment. Hopefully they will do something about it and get her back to her normal capacity, cause I imagine some of those sailing get pretty busy. It says on the BC Ferries fleet page that it does have a snack bar, but I also heard somewhere that it dident. I think it probably just has a Cafeteria and Gift Shop.
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Post by Scott on Sept 30, 2003 18:34:10 GMT -8
The Queen of Alberni does have a Snack Bar aboard her.. However, it is very rarely open on its sailings...
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Post by marsbar1973yahooca on Sept 30, 2003 22:00:25 GMT -8
When the Queen of Alberni was in her original configuration her passenger deck was some what smaller than what is there today. She had no Newstand and video game room. This area was once open deck where you could go out side and walk, Siminlar to the Passenger deck of the V Class but without the Sundeck overhead. This open promenade was on both sides (Port and Starboard) of the passenger deck. With stairs at each end for easy access to the top deck. The Tourist infomation racks that is present today are in the originall spot, However without the washrooms and the chief stewards office that are there now. Instead There were windows and doors to the outside. There was no snack Bar and the washrooms in the centre part of the ship are original. The doors which lead out to the Smokers area on the Passenger deck are original as with the Cafeteria. There was only one Pay Phone in a little cubby hole that remainded untill well after the ship was lifted. The passenger interior areas of the ship was extended forwards and enclosed the open pomenade of the passenger deck to what you see today. ( This was done over a period of 2 refitts from 1984 to 1986.) Compare what you see in the ships of BC to what you see today. Originally she had the same seats as the Coquitlam and Cowichan but were replaced after lifting. She had 1 maybe 2 video games on her. What I missed dearly was standing in the forward lounge and looking down onto the only car deck. You could see 1 rescue boat (not zodiac) at each end of the car deck Forward and aft. Next time you ride on the Capilano or Cumberland look out the forward window and you will have a siminlar experiance. Up on the Sundeck, the coverd solarium extended right from the Port to Starboard side. There was a door way which you could go up front below the wheel house windows at each end of the ship. (Only a small piece remains today between the wheelhouse and Midship part). Again remember the sun deck was quite a bit smaller and you had about the same amount of room between the wheelhouse and the fence as you do on the Cowichan etc. You could walk down stairs at the side of the sundeck to the outside pomenade on the Passenger deck. You may notice that the Wheelhouse on the Alberni is slightly higher than her sisters. This is a result of her original config. If the Ferry Dudes knew "Then" that the ship would have to be lifted I would guess today you would see the same thing as the Coquitlam and Cowichan, without the Gallery (side) Car decks. I am sure her passenger deck would be identicall to the Coq and Cow. One more thing I can remember, the Alberni used Berth 5 at Tsawwassen as it was only a single deck loading ramp at the time.
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Post by marsbar on Sept 30, 2003 22:18:24 GMT -8
Today You will find the following on the Queen of ALberni: -Snack Bar -Cafeteria< -Newstand -Arcade (located in a corner beside the newstand0 -2 of each washrooms. (men and women) -Elevator< -escalators< -stairs< -payphones locate in snackbar lounge (Nanaimo end) <indicates original. When the ship was put back into service after been lifted the Car deck did not have any doors. IT was possible to walk up to the stern of the cardeck and watch the water churn as been chewed by the props. It was a few years sometime after the Mid Island Express opend that they installed the cardeck doors, which Are unique to the fleet. Instead of opening inwards as per most major ships the doors on the Alberni open Sideways. Once the doors open deck personal have to place inserts in the deck (where the doors close) to prevent tires and people having a accident. (I believe the Spirit ship doors open outwards and slide along the hull). Most ferries in the old days left thier stern doors open while underway, which was changed after the Europeen Ferry disasters.
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Post by billlmf on Oct 1, 2003 8:38:22 GMT -8
I want to know what's the first deployment of Queen of Alberni when it was launched?? Thanks
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Post by ferrryfreak on Oct 28, 2003 8:40:00 GMT -8
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Post by Jeff Roe on Dec 30, 2003 22:48:22 GMT -8
I think the Alberni should go in for refit after the Cowichan and I think they should place her permanentley on the Horseshoe Bay-Langdale run as with the only 50 minute crossing time their is not really a huge need for a Full Cafeteria at all times, and with her carrying the same vehicle capacity pretty much as the Current C Class it should not have a major impact. And then just add a V Class to the Mid Island run and have 2 V class as they are more suited for that run, and maybe make the 2nd V Class the same as the New West?
I think in the future they are going to need to do this in order to maintain Schedules year round and have hourly service on the Horseshoe Bay-Departure Bay run.
Was the Alberni not on the Langdale run after she was lifted??
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Post by Me on Jan 13, 2004 23:29:00 GMT -8
There is no way that the Sunshine Coast Residents want the Queen of ALberni on the Langdale Run. As stated in Gary Bannermans book, The SHips of BC, SHe is too Small, In both her passenger area and the amount of Vehicles she carries. The Queen of ALberni is best suited for where she is now, on the Duke Point to Tsawwassen. She carries a lot more overhight traffic as opposed to her sisters as she has no Gallery deck. If you have sailed on the Queen of ALberni you know how small her passenger cabin is. She should remain where she is.
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Post by Someone on Jan 23, 2004 19:37:30 GMT -8
For some reason, the Queen of Alberni looks wider than the other C-Class ferries. Is it really wider?
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Post by Doug on Jan 24, 2004 12:11:30 GMT -8
The Sunshine Coast run is not for the Queen of Alberni. One time I arrived at Horseshoe Bay to head up the Sunshine Coast, through 4 ferries, even with the Queen of Oak Bay (The Queen of Surrey was broken down at the time) it was a 4 hour wait! Queen of Alberni holds less cars, passengers, and is slower, si if it was there, it would probably be more about a 6-7 hour wait.
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Post by Doug on Jan 25, 2004 1:00:42 GMT -8
Queen of Alberni doesn't have room for all the passengers its able to carry, so I heard.
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Post by Doug on Feb 13, 2004 23:11:21 GMT -8
Transport Canada does not allow more than 800 passengers aboard the Queen of Alberni, because her safety equipment can not hold as many. It is probably because of such the short passenger deck she has, they can't even fit it all on there!
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Post by kevin on Feb 14, 2004 14:31:05 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 Feb 14, 2004 22:35:01 GMT -8
I definately think the Alberni should have a larger passenger area, like the Cowichan and Coquitlam. My first time on her about a week or so ago, she was pretty busy, the vehicle decks werent full up, but still her passenger area was crowded. She is the same length as the other C Class ships. But carries less vehicles and passengers. The Queen of New West upper vehicle deck has a higher clearance than the other V Class ships. I think when the Alberni goes for her mid life refit, they should enlarge the passenger deck so it is like the Cowichan and Coquitlam. Then there would be room for more safety equipment she needs. Do you know by the stats on their websites, comparing WSF Evergreen State and the Queen of Cumberland that the Cumberland is larger than the Evergreen State. 310' Evergreen and 314' Cumberland. Although the Evergeens passenger deck is larger than the Cumberland though.
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Post by Political Incorrectness on Mar 26, 2004 21:32:10 GMT -8
I think they should make the Queen of Alberni look like the Coquitlam and Cowichan and have her snack bar made into passenger space
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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 Mar 26, 2004 23:23:15 GMT -8
I also think they should make the Alberni look like the Coquitlam and Cowichan. They should do it when she goes for her mid life refit. I cant really see them making the Alberni look like the Coquitlam and Cowichan with their fancy interior with the smaller passenger area on the Alberni. If they do that they should make her passenger area larger, expand the gift shop and so on. Although that is what makes the Alberni different from the other C Class, I think if all the ferries were the same they wouldent be as interesting.
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Post by Dougnot logged on on Mar 28, 2004 18:18:14 GMT -8
I don't expect them to make the Queen of Alberni's passenger deck longer...you can imagine all the work they'd be doing for nothing, but just to improve passenger experience. Instead of taking a 6 month refurbishment, she'd be in there for a 1.5 year rebuild. They'd have to move the bridges forth, which would require alot of work. One thing you have to remember is that they are going to put the same type of evacuation stations on her as they did the Coquitlam, and doing the Cowichan. That could increase the capacity because of the room the new evacuation stations take up is not near what is on there now...the old davit stations. It would require alot of money also...maybe $40, $50 million.
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Post by Matthew on May 13, 2004 22:37:05 GMT -8
The Queen of Alberni was running on a reduced safety liscense for the longest time because Transport Canada found problems with one of the davits. The problem was fixed in the last refit and the Alberni is now at 1200 passengers again.
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