April vessel re-assignments

[tyty]

On Monday, April 3, the 115-vehicle Queen of Chilliwack is expected to return to Saltery Bay to resume service on the Jervis Inlet route.

The 138-vehicle Queen of Tsawwassen has been serving as the replacement vessel since February 27. She will be re-assigned to Earls Cove-Saltery Bay during the summer season, as the Queen of Chilliwack is scheduled to work on the Discovery Coast service (this, of course, pending yet-to-be decided arrangements for the Inside Passage).

---

A modified schedule will be in place on the Duke Point–Tsawwassen route from April 18 through May 10, while the Queen of Alberni is redeployed to the Departure Bay–Horseshoe Bay route.

As mentioned in another thread, the temporary vessel redeployment is necessary so the Queen of Oak Bay can go through its annual refit.

For this three week period, the Queen of Esquimalt will be the temporary replacement vessel for the Queen of Alberni. The slower operating speed of the Esquimalt means a modified schedule will be in effect; see the BC Ferries website for full details.

[Curtis]

It's not stated yet but the Burnaby is going for refit probabley sometime in the next 2 weeks. They really have been working the Tsawwassen hard lately. And think they'll soon need another enclosed 140 car ferry so the Nanny and Burn can go for refit. and the replacement ship can run in stormy weather without damage to the cars onboard

[Koastal Karl]

If it wasent for the Burnaby going in for refit they should just keep the Tsawwassen on the Earls Cove run now for the spring summer and get the Chilliwack back up north to help the Rupert out.

[tyty]

Well, remember that the QPR is supposed to be the only vessel up north until June, that's how the original schedule was. Once she returns from refit things should be back to normal (won't need the Nimpkish, either).

It's summertime when the QON usually does non-stop day cruises through the Inside Passage, when the QPR provides dedicated service for the Queen Charlottes, and when the Queen of Chilliwack is doing the Discovery Coast -- that's when they're going to need help and bad.

[Mike C]

NIP refit is over, so the regular vessels will return to their usual winter routes. The Tachek returns to Denman-Hornby. I personally think that the Tachek should do Central Coast with the Nimpkish now that the North is now gone... however we would have to put a ramp on her rear.

[Curtis]

Okay it's official. here's the Notices combined

"Starting Monday, April 3rd, the 115-vehicle Queen of Chilliwack becomes the temporary replacement vessel on the Saltery Bay / Earls Cove route, effective with the 5:40 am sailing from Saltery Bay.
The 126-vehicle Queen of Tsawwassen becomes the temporary replacement vessel on the Comox/Powell River route, effective with the 6:30 am sailing from Little River on Monday, April 3.
The 192-vehicle Queen of Burnaby will go to annual refit, and is expected to return to the route by mid-May.
Due to a smaller vehicle capacity vessel on the route, customers are reminded to arrive at the terminal at least 30 minutes prior to scheduled sailing time. This will assist our staff in processing traffic efficiently, and help on-time departures.
The Queen of Tsawwassen will return to the Saltery Bay / Earls Cove route upon completion of the refit, expected to be mid-May."

[Scott (Former Account)]

Well, the Queen of Burnaby is now at Vancouver Shipyards...

www.pbase.com/kstapleton/queen_of_burnaby