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Post by bpawlett on Dec 22, 2007 10:33:09 GMT -8
It seems since shes returned from her MLU last spring she's had
a few mechanical issues, clutch problems now engine trouble
i guess old age and wear and tear are catching up to her or
her MLU caused these problems, still my fav ship, the odd duck
of the fleet.
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Post by Scott on Dec 22, 2007 11:11:28 GMT -8
For those of you with access to SiiTech, you can see the Queen of Alberni is at Tsawwassen in Berth 2 (I think... unless I'm counting in the wrong direction). Anyone know why she's not at Deas? There are only 3 ships there right now. You might tell from my following question how little mechanical aptitude I have, but I'll ask it anyways at the risk of embarrassing myself;) The problem with the Alberni is an engine failure. Now we know the Alberni is a double ender... why couldn't they run her as a single ender for a week until the holiday rush is over? Or does she use the same engines going either way? |
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Kam
Voyager 
Posts: 926
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Post by Kam on Dec 22, 2007 12:42:31 GMT -8
For those of you with access to SiiTech, you can see the Queen of Alberni is at Tsawwassen in Berth 2 (I think... unless I'm counting in the wrong direction). Anyone know why she's not at Deas? There are only 3 ships there right now. You might tell from my following question how little mechanical aptitude I have, but I'll ask it anyways at the risk of embarrassing myself;) The problem with the Alberni is an engine failure. Now we know the Alberni is a double ender... why couldn't they run her as a single ender for a week until the holiday rush is over? Or does she use the same engines going either way? As I understand it, the engine system on the C's work like this: The two engines are clutched in to a common gearbox; this gearbox has two output shafts to each end of the boat that can be clutched in our out. In this configuration a single engine can drive either shaft or both at once. They actually use the props at both ends during docking so they have enough thrust against the rudders at the slow speed to manoeuvre. (Almost like having a bow thruster, with continuous thrust they can steer with the rudder at the bow and stern of the ship). I suppose they could run her on a single engine, but safety could be an issue I would think. As far as Deas goes, perhaps they didn’t feel comfortable running her up the river on a single engine? Unless this is a gearbox or clutch problem again, then all bets are off. A good description of how the propulsion system works is in the TSB report on the Oak Bay at: www.tsb.gc.ca/en/reports/marine/2005/m05w0111/m05w0111.pdf |
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Nick
Voyager
Chief Engineer - Queen of Richmond
Posts: 2,080 
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Post by Nick on Dec 22, 2007 13:39:30 GMT -8
I have a feeling, just because BCF news releases sometimes aren't the most accurate sources of information for mechanical info, that this is actually a gearbox problem, or a fuel system problem. This would make the issue common to both engines, rendering the ship completely useless. Even if they can have power delivered to one propeller, it wouldn't be safe to operate into berths like BCF has. It is not maneuverable enough without a bow thruster of some kind.
That is why all of the single ended ship have twin shafts, even though operating on one shaft is more efficient. Even the double shafted ships have bow thrusters because it still isn't maneuverable enough with two screws.
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Post by Hardy on Dec 22, 2007 20:15:39 GMT -8
WRT the description of the propulsion system, I too recommend looking at the Oakie TSB report -- I found it to be really simple to understand and should explain the workings of how the engines, clutches and props work. Skip to page 8 for a diagram of this, and page 10 for an explanation of how the propulsion system works - it is easy enough for a novice to understand.
Quick answer, they could run her on one engine, but at greatly reduced speed (2/3 or so) and reduced maneuverability. There would also be no "fallback" or "failsafe" if the remaining engine were to pack it in.
Unless, as stated, it is a clutch/gearbox or fueling problem, in which case running on one engine is not an option regardless.
Hope this helped some.
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Post by Ferryman on Dec 22, 2007 20:29:40 GMT -8
I remember back in 1998, listening to the VHF scanner I had, while I was living over on the Island. The crew on the Alberni were reporting problems with the engines just minutes before departure. I was only 10 years of age at the time, so I don't remember the exact details. But I seem to recall them actually starting to depart Duke Point, and then "BANG". One of the engines was down. So they just reversed back to the dock, and made everyone drive backwards off the ship. She then limped down to the Esquimalt dockyard (or was she towed?), and then sat for a few weeks waiting for parts. I guess they had to get some sort of custom parts shipped in from Europe or something. But then they realized it was going to be a month or two before they'd recieve the parts, and she was still needed. The engineers were able to get her back up and running, but acting as a single ender. The #2 end (Tsawwassen end) was the bow for the next few weeks. I can remember sailing on the Alberni a few times that summer, and she would have to do the 180 degree turn out of the berth at Tsawwassen, and the 180 degree V-Class powerslide into Duke Point.
I can recall this being a similar situation on the Cowichan 2 years later in the year 2000, with the #2 end being buggered for a few weeks. This was right at about the same time that the Pacificats were being deemed useless. So we did the 180 degree turn into Berth 2 at Departure Bay, while the Pacificat Explorer sat in berth 3, bobbing up and down in our wake.
The C-Class operating as single enders temporarily seems to be a thing of the past now. I guess there must have been some serious liability problems that were addressed.
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Post by Scott on Dec 26, 2007 23:39:04 GMT -8
Anyone know the status of the Alberni? Will she be ready for this weekend or not?
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Post by Scott on Dec 28, 2007 1:10:12 GMT -8
Just checked SiiTech and the Queen of Alberni is leaving Tsawwassen. I'm assuming she's heading to Duke Point to take over her regular duties. I'm pleasantly surprised they actually got her fixed in a week at this time of year.
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Kam
Voyager
Posts: 926
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Post by Kam on Dec 28, 2007 10:43:39 GMT -8
Hmm... I've been watching her this morning and I've noticed something a little un-usual... On her last round trip she used the passage between Gabriola and Entrance island. All the rte 30 trips I've ever been on (and thats a lot of them now) have always gone around the outside of entrance island.
I wonder if this is a change to try and shorten the route a bit?
I've always wondered why they didn't go between Gabriola and Entrance..
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Post by NMcKay on Dec 28, 2007 10:50:42 GMT -8
maybe its the risk of running agound?
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Kam
Voyager
Posts: 926
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Post by Kam on Dec 28, 2007 11:05:21 GMT -8
maybe its the risk of running agound? Hmm.. Just had a look at the chart.. lots of watter under her. |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Dec 28, 2007 17:45:40 GMT -8
Hmm... I've been watching her this morning and I've noticed something a little un-usual... On her last round trip she used the passage between Gabriola and Entrance island. All the rte 30 trips I've ever been on (and thats a lot of them now) have always gone around the outside of entrance island. I wonder if this is a change to try and shorten the route a bit? I've always wondered why they didn't go between Gabriola and Entrance.. Thanks for the observation, Kam. That's an interesting happening. I've never known them to go inside-of-entrance before. Kyle or "no longer" might know the answer to that mystery. |
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Post by Taxman on Dec 30, 2007 17:53:58 GMT -8
I was on the Alberni when it did this once. One crewmember said there is only one captain who opts to traverse the island on this side. The rest of the captains sail on the more conventional side.
Edited for ease of read.
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Post by Hardy on Dec 30, 2007 19:45:45 GMT -8
So the early un-official consensus appears to be that it is up to the discretion of the Captain as to which route to take?
I find that to be a rather interesting notion, that the final routing of the trip is the Captain's perogative ....
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Nick
Voyager
Chief Engineer - Queen of Richmond
Posts: 2,080
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Post by Nick on Dec 31, 2007 12:21:28 GMT -8
It is actually fairly common that the Captain of the ship chooses the eventual route for the ship. There is one captain on the SOVI who always goes on the other side of Piers island when he departs SWB.
The captains have to keep to their schedule, and ensure the passengers are safe. Other than that, it is up to them to decide what route to take.
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Post by Dane on Dec 31, 2007 16:46:07 GMT -8
I find that to be a rather interesting notion, that the final routing of the trip is the Captain's perogative .... Who else would it be up too? Or are you saying this on the notion that the standard route plan is/should be the defacto standard? Cheers |
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Post by Hardy on Dec 31, 2007 20:16:31 GMT -8
Other marine traffic notwithstanding, I would have expected that there would be "prescribed" and even "preferred" routes that would be default.
I know it's not SKYTRAIN and it doesn't run on tracks, and that there are always small deviations from "standard" course, but until it was brought up here, I had no idea that there was such a variation in the actual courses plotted by the captain.
While I agree that final say on which route/path/course to take should always rest with the captain of the ship, I was under the impression that there were designated LANES that other marine traffic had to more or less keep clear of - that being the case, wouldn't the ferry then traverse the "clear" route free of other traffic?
Maybe I am over-simplifying, but I would have thought that if there was a BCFS-only routing, that it would be preferred to others.
Sorry if I have made this out to be more than it is.
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