Observations from my ferry trip this morning

[jennh]

Not sure if this has already been addressed before, but...

I was on the Queen of Cowichan for the 8:30am out of Horseshoe Bay. Anyone else seen the model of the new "c" class ferry by the steward's office?

Also, as I was waiting to walk off the ferry, I looked up at the bridge and it really inspired confidence in me to see a paper "N" up in the window (re: graduated licensing program)...

[Low Light Mike]

I think that I've seen a picture of the "N", somewhere on this forum, recently.

Someone will likely post a link here, within 12 hours.....

Re the "N".....at least it wasn't an "L".

But I suppose that there are quite frequently "new crew" on our ships from time to time. When I was on Tenaka this July, the helmswoman was on her "first day on the job".

[Koastal Karl]

Graham took a photo of a N and L up in the bridge on the North Island Princess, remember Flugel?? I dont know if you saw it! It's just probably a joke type thing. I have seen the model the last time on the Cowichan and I saw a photo of it on the Saanich and the Oak Bay.

[bcfcbccsscollector]

One summer a couple years back, while commuting to Nanaimo, there was a Drive Safe "N" stuck between the windows on the no. 1 end of the Quinsam. It was gone by the next day. Might have been due to a new skipper, not familiar with "Z" drives, who at one point took 19 minutes to get from Gallows Point to the dock in Nanaimo. Ouch!

[Scott]

Anyone know how many models there are of the superC class?

[Political Incorrectness]

There is one on the Queen of Oak Bay but I am not sure about the Coquitlam, there are none at HSB and I am not sure about rte 1 vessels.

[Ferryman]

There are apparently 7 models that are circulating around Route 1 and 2, as those are the routes the Super C's will be operating on. There have been reports of the model being on the Queens of Saanich, Oak Bay, and Cowichan, plus a model is at the Tsawwassen Quay. So there's 3 others floating around. I'm not sure if the model that went to Germany for the steel cutting ceremony was counted as one of the seven, or if it's an eighth.

[Koastal Karl]

I think there might be one on the SOBC. The SOVI dosent have one, well at least when I was on her they dident.

[Curtis]

The 6 probably on the SoBC, SoVI, and the Queens of Vancouver, Saanich, Cowichan, and Oak Bay, and the 7th in Tsawwassen Quay.
The model in Germany from the First Steel Cut Pictures is probably an 8th since it has Coastal Rennaisance on the ends

[Retrovision]

flugelhorn said:

I think that I've seen a picture of the "N", somewhere on this forum, recently.

Someone will likely post a link here, within 12 hours.....

Re the "N".....at least it wasn't an "L".

One 'N' and one 'L' and two crew members on the bridge of the North Island Princess.

But on a serious note, this would be an appropriate time to mention that both the bridge crew of the Queen of Burnaby and the North Island Princess were welcoming, witty, and yet outwardly and constantly engaged with their responsibility for navigating the vessels.

[Barnacle]

Can those of us with alien status on this board have a brief explanation of the N and L inside jokes, please? *begging posture*

[Ferryman]

Well, it all has to do with BC's driving laws. A New driver between the ages of 16 and 25, who takes the 50 multiple choice exam, and passes, recieves an "L", or a Learners License to drive. At this first stage, the new driver must display the "L" at the back of the vehicle they're driving, to let other drivers know that they are still learning to drive. They also must drive with a supervisor who is 25+, and has a valid Class 5 license, or regular license. This lasts for a minimum of 12 months, or you can cheat and take the Young Drivers of Canada Course, and move on to the next stage after 9 months. This also permits you not to drive between Midnight and 5:00am (what's the point of that?), and you can only drive with one extra passenger, with the exception of the supervisor.
The Next stage is the "N", or Novice stage. To get to this step, the new driver must take a road test with a staff member from ICBC. Once recieved, the driver only needs a supervisor if there is any more than one passenger, who isn't an immediate family member in the vehicle. This lasts for 24 months, or 18 months if you did the Young Drivers of Canada Course. After that, you take another Road test, and you recieve a Class 5, or regular license to drive.

Anyways, this leads to why we thought it was funny to see an "L" and an "N" posted in the bridge of the North Island Princess, as it was like saying the officer driving the ship was still learning, even though all of the crew members up there looked like they had at least 20 years of service under their belts.

[Low Light Mike]

barnacle said:

Can those of us with alien status on this board have a brief explanation of the N and L inside jokes, please? *begging posture*

These are symbols for the motor vehicle graduated-licencing program, where new drivers have to display an "L" or "N" sticker in their car window. See the following link, and click under "new rules, safer drivers" in the middle/centre of the page:

www.icbc.com/licensing/lic_getlic_undglpe.asp

[Barnacle]

Thank you kindly! I'd seen the 'N' out on the road before, and once or twice driving onto my boat. I'll... er... take appropriate action next time I see 'em.

[Balfour]

barnacle said:

Thank you kindly! I'd seen the 'N' out on the road before, and once or twice driving onto my boat. I'll... er... take appropriate action next time I see 'em.

In 2 weeks there will be 1 less person driving with an N. I'll be getting my Class 5 license really soon.! ;D

[Doug]

Congrats Jordan. Still a few months until I can even get my L.