Koastal Karl
Voyager 
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
|
Post by Koastal Karl on Jul 28, 2007 16:47:49 GMT -8
The incident at Tsawwassen as mentioned from the Ferries Busy thread I was told was a bomb threat on one of the ferries out of TSA. Either the 3pm to Swartz or 3:15pm to Duke. Not sure which one it was but they said all passengers were moved to the Cafeteria as it was the farthest away from the threat.
I just got off the 2pm Queen of Saanich from TSA which left at 2:40pm and the 3pm which I heard all ferries dident leave TSA arrived at Swartz Bay around 4:35pm cause the SOBC was 15 mins behind us as we were 45mins late! This was due to the over capacity issue that was mentioned this morning which made her late all day. I dident find out about the bomb threat till I got home a few mins ago.
|
|
|
|
Post by WettCoast on Jul 28, 2007 17:00:03 GMT -8
Unclaimed backpack?
|
|
Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
|
Post by Koastal Karl on Jul 28, 2007 17:02:22 GMT -8
Currently the SOVI is off TSA and the Vancouver and New West are in the terminal. The Saanich is underway to TSA following her is the SOBC. Gonna have lots of ferries sitting off TSA.
|
|
|
|
Post by Low Light Mike on Jul 28, 2007 17:02:48 GMT -8
This is from the CTV news report:
There was a backpack on the car deck of the Queen of New Westminister on the 3:15 sailing from Tsa to Duke Point.
Part way through the trip, this backpack "became relevant", and that's what started the happenings.
There is a "lockdown" on all sailings out of Tsawwassen.
|
|
|
|
Post by Low Light Mike on Jul 28, 2007 17:03:30 GMT -8
. Gonna have lots of ferries sitting off TSA. Sounds like a great photo opportunity. Get into your plane, Karl !! |
|
|
|
Post by Low Light Mike on Jul 28, 2007 17:06:36 GMT -8
By the way, this incident happened sometime after 3:15pm today, and as of 6:05pm there is still NO service-notice posted on the BCFS website.
Ouch !
However, the story was the lead "breaking news" on the local newscasts at 6:00pm.
And there's no indications anywhere on the BCFS current conditions page that any sailings have been cancelled.
|
|
|
|
Post by WettCoast on Jul 28, 2007 17:09:03 GMT -8
BCF looks to be caught by suprise, or maybe this is an exercise. Watch out Karl if flying in the vicinity of Tsw Terminal - they might want to shoot you down!
|
|
|
|
Post by Political Incorrectness on Jul 28, 2007 17:12:08 GMT -8
No one is allowed to be using cell phones right now according to CKWX 1130
|
|
|
|
Post by Low Light Mike on Jul 28, 2007 17:12:25 GMT -8
Oh, and the BCFS website still lists the Queen of New Westminster's 3:15pm sailing (the bomb threat sailing) as being "On Time".
And there's no indication that the New West's 5:45pm sailing from Duke Point will be late or cancelled.
This is at 6:15pm......2.5 hours or so after the incident.
So the website says it's business as usual...unless you dig deeper and wonder "why", like our member Dan did.
|
|
Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
|
Post by Koastal Karl on Jul 28, 2007 17:12:41 GMT -8
Traffic was crazy at TSA earlier and will be crazy tonight. Currently outside it is really backed up. I planned to catch the 1pm sailing from TSA today arrived at 12:20pm and it was full. The 12:45 to Duke I asked about and it was full too! Send all the ferries to Horseshoe Bay! lol!
|
|
|
|
Post by Political Incorrectness on Jul 28, 2007 17:17:35 GMT -8
Ok the Spirit of Vancouver Island and Queen of Alberni have been permited for departure and making their way to other destinations though I think the SOVI has not been loaded up.
|
|
|
|
Post by FerryRider2007 on Jul 28, 2007 17:23:49 GMT -8
According to Mr Hahn himself on BCTV news, Tsw terminal is under lockdown. All 1100 vehicles will be searched by bomb dog and redirected to Horseshoe bay for travel to the island. No more sailings to or from Tsw, Schwartz Bay, and Duke Point for the night. 3 ferries currently in transit will also be fully searched by bomb dog. Only 1 dog to do all the work. BC ferries is posting a $50000 reward for info that leads to a charge.
|
|
|
|
Post by Political Incorrectness on Jul 28, 2007 17:27:00 GMT -8
You got to be kidding. 1,100 vehicles plus 6 vessels and only one dog, I have suspicions.
|
|
|
|
Post by Retrovision on Jul 28, 2007 17:32:31 GMT -8
SoVI has left the terminal and the only Route 1 vessel left sitting is the Queen of Vancouver. It's interesting to see all 4 Route 1 vessels in the Strait of Georgia on the vessel tracking...  And here's the line outside of the terminal at about 20 minutes after 6...  I find it interesting how trivial local news media treats our individual ferries; this time CTV was talking about the Queen of New Westminster while displaying a photo of a Spirit Class vessel. They'd never make such a mistake when reporting on one of the area's bridges, so why is it so different when the bridge is a ferry?
|
|
|
|
Post by Political Incorrectness on Jul 28, 2007 17:34:52 GMT -8
Finally a BCFS service notice, how convenient.
|
|
|
|
Post by ferryrider42 on Jul 28, 2007 17:38:15 GMT -8
At 6:30pm News 1130 had a sound bit from Hahn. The following is a paraphrase.
In effect Route 1 and 30 are closedf, only those who are currently in the compound will be allowed to sail today. However, they must have their car searched before hand. Those outside the compound are to turn around.
$50000 will be offered for the arrest and conviction of those responsible.
|
|
|
|
Post by Political Incorrectness on Jul 28, 2007 17:38:38 GMT -8
Welll, now 3 V's are at TSA right now, I wonder what will happen with the Saanich? Will the Coquitlam get knocked into service to help with the traffic?
|
|
|
|
Post by Hardy on Jul 28, 2007 17:48:25 GMT -8
What a mess. As far as I can ascertain, the Current Conditions page is NOT being updated at this point as all available people currently working at HQ are answering phones or assisting in the investigation.
I have been trying to get thru to BCFS for over 2 hours and whenever you hit "Terminal Conditions" on the phone lines I get "We are sorry, but due to extremely high call volumes, we are unable to answer your call."
This is also true on the Super Secret ShortCut to the commercial vehicles reservation phone service!!
A "quasi-contact" of mine says that everyone at the main office is staffing the phones, or aiding vis-a-vis ships schematics and assisting in communications with ERT members on the ground in Tsawwassen.
The NewsHour (Global) reported as their lead story that once the 1100 or so cars in the terminal compond at Tsawwassen are procesed, they will be sent, but the terminal is closed to any other outgoing traffic. Hahn quoted via a phone interview that "We will sail thru the night on Route 2 if we have to to get everyone where they are going."
I imagine that this will mean respositioning some ships with Tsa closed.
Apparently both the New West and the SOBC are fully loaded, although they will need to be searched before departing Tsa.
This is a huge mess.
The call, apparently to 9-1-1, came from a "Middle Eastern male, from the Coquitlam Centre shopping mall on a pay phone" according to Global's interview with Hahn.
I would post more, but my computer is so slow right now and I need to reboot this f-ing windows POS.
|
|
|
|
Post by Retrovision on Jul 28, 2007 17:52:08 GMT -8
At 6:30pm News 1130 had a sound bit from Hanh. The following is a paraphrase.
In effect Route 1 and 30 are closed, only those who are currently in the compound will be allowed to sail today. However, they must have their car searched before hand. Those outside the compound are to turn around.
$50000 will be offered for the arrest and conviction of those responsible.
Responsible for what? I've yet to hear confirmation that this was anything more than a drill, or an attempt to set a precedent at Tsawwassen (and other major terminals and vessels) to ramp up security to the extreme in one swoop. Reward for getting the person that left a backpack with what? Or reward for calling in something? Rewards help best when they have details attached by company officials themselves. Welll, now 3 V's are at TSA right now, I wonder what will happen with the Saanich? 3 Vs? I thought the Queen of Esquimalt was in Howe Sound?  |
|
|
|
Post by Political Incorrectness on Jul 28, 2007 17:54:52 GMT -8
Queen of Vancouver, Queen of New Westminster and Queen of Saanich, unless, the Queen of Richmond is the Queen of Saanich Or unless you do not consider the New Westminster a V. |
|
Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
|
Post by Koastal Karl on Jul 28, 2007 17:58:11 GMT -8
A car full of 3 middle eastern or east indian people were two lanes across from me when I arrived at 12:20pm. They left and pulled out of line before 2pm. hmm! I wonder if they were up to something.
|
|
|
|
Post by Retrovision on Jul 28, 2007 17:59:24 GMT -8
Queen of Vancouver, Queen of New Westminster and Queen of Saanich, unless, the Queen of Richmond is the Queen of Saanich Or unless you do not consider the New Westminster a V. When has the New West ever been considered a V? She's a B by my standards, as per what she was lifted from, being a sister to the Burnaby and Nanaimo.  |
|
|
|
Post by Low Light Mike on Jul 28, 2007 18:02:42 GMT -8
A car full of 3 middle eastern or east indian people were two lanes across from me when I arrived at 12:20pm. They left and pulled out of line before 2pm. hmm! I wonder if they were up to something. Thanks for the example of racial profiling, Karl. Here's an essay to read about it.... www.scu.edu/ethics/publications/ethicalperspectives/profiling.html |
|
|
|
Post by ferryrider42 on Jul 28, 2007 18:09:13 GMT -8
7:00pm CKNW
I’m paraphrasing a live interview with Hahn:
New West brought back in the terminal and the passengers have been taken off, Queen of Vancouver passengers will unload in Tsawwassen as well. Both the New West and Queen of Vancouver will head back to their home ports empty. No more passengers will sail from Tsawwassen tonight.
There are now 3 sniffing dogs in the terminal.
Now we had things a bit mixed up earlier. The 900 to 1000 vehicles in the compound right now will not be allowed to sail from Tsawwassen . They still have to have their cars searched by a bomb sniffing dog, and only after that may they leave the compound. They will not be sailing from Tsawwassen
Route 2 will continue to move traffic, apparently for as long as it takes?
|
|
|
|
Post by WettCoast on Jul 28, 2007 18:10:35 GMT -8
Graham, the B's are V's. Thje distinction between them is a bit silly.
|
|
