The E.L. Bartlett or another replacement vessel

[Scott]

Someone on this forum mentioned that this vessel was sitting somewhere in or near Seattle. Does anyone know very much about this vessel?

Here's what I found:

Vehicle Capacity: 26-30
Passenger Capacity: 236

It's a very small ferry compared even to the Queen of Prince Rupert. Perhaps someone here would know whether she's in good or bad shape. Could BC Ferries use her??? She was sold on eBay about 2 years ago by Alaska State Ferries for over $300,000 US.

Assuming it was still in operating condition and available, do you guys think that it could perhaps be used for 2-3 years while newer and larger vessels were built? I'm sure she's got the same safety problems as the QPR and Chilliwack, but she can't be much worse.

I'm just wondering what BC Ferries can do in the short term. Maybe there are better vessels available somewhere in North America, maybe even on the East Coast. Marine Atlantic has some "northern" type ships, but I don't know if any of them are available.

[Koastal Karl]

Well I am sure she would be better than nothing until some of the newer ships are built.

[Political Incorrectness]

30 cars would be enough, just a matter of refitting and as long as she can fit fine into berths it would work for the next few years.

[hergfest]

She is sitting just west of the Ballard Bridge in Seattle, looked like she had been sitting there awhile. Saw her on Tuesday when I was in Ballard. Still in her Alaska State Ferry colors.

[Guest]

www.ferryforsale.ca
www.maritimesales.com/WL10.htm

Could either of these become The Queen of Hartley Bay?

[Dane]

The problem - will Transport Canada stil be willing to give an exemption to have subpar BC Ferries running, even as an emergency replacement?

[Retrovision]

Well, considering that they (TC) were requiring the 3 major northern-route vessels of BCFerries to be axed from their runs by 2009 for the very same reason that the 'North' was doomed from the start of Wednesday's incident (her single-compartment design, that is), I don't think they will allow any similar ship as replacement.

Heck, I wouldn't be totally surprised if we end up seeing, soon enough, the QPR pulled by TC off all northern runs as an emergency-measure triggered by the sinking of the QotNorth...

...where would we be then??


(After all, even the QotNorth had emergency adjustments made, half-way around the world, after the Estonia <spelling?> disaster)