Bad day for BCFS

[Dane]

coxnnick said:

For those interested, the upper deck 7 on the spirits is also capable of landing a helicopter in an emergency situation

Are you sure? It would have to be a pretty small helicopter.

[Dane]

I had someone at work who actually has access to this kind of thing look that up, and the Canadian Forces can't land a helicopter on any BC Ferry, which means the CH149 Coromorant (Search and Rescue) would be included in that. So perhaps a small civilian one could, but just as I have mentioned in other posts there is a note about stability.

There was at one point hopes that the Spirits could act as a lower level command base in an emergency situation, but their lack of helicopter suitability dashed those plans.

[Mill Bay]

dane said:

Are you sure? It would have to be a pretty small helicopter.

A really small helicopter.
The only likely space is between the bridge superstructure and the funnel housing.

I spent quite a bit of time on the top deck of the SOBC last time I went to Victoria, (I was really tempted to try and sneak into the bridge) and the space is actually pretty small, and it does have a fair amount of fittings and things cluttering it up. I don't think they would be able to land one there safely.

[kylefossett]

if anybody remembers the pictures from the mock scenario in saanich inlet last fall involving different gov't agencies and the queen of nanaimo they would see a picture of how an extracation of patient would happen from a ferry. the picture i am talking about has a cormorant hovering just above the top deck and shows it either raising or lowering a cage to/from the deck. this is the procedure in the majority of cases.

[Hardy]

It was 1700 when I checked, and there is NO MORE commercial space left Duke->Tsa. 3 sailing wait, 100% full all remaining boats. Departure Bay is also showing 1 sailing (1900) wait, and 92% full on the 2100. Bad day to get to the mainland from Nanaimo area!

Perhaps Alberni could be pressed into service to get the overload out .... "Welcome back, Kotter-pin" ..... hehehe

[Retrovision]

dane said:

I had someone at work who actually has access to this kind of thing look that up, and the Canadian Forces can't land a helicopter on any BC Ferry, which means the CH149 Coromorant (Search and Rescue) would be included in that. So perhaps a small civilian one could, but just as I have mentioned in other posts there is a note about stability.

There was at one point hopes that the Spirits could act as a lower level command base in an emergency situation, but their lack of helicopter suitability dashed those plans.

I think that coxnnick might have been referring to what Herr Brinkmann mentioned the Coastal Class being capable of, not actually landing a helicopter but only hovering to pick up a patient in the case of a medical emergency as mentioned here...

kylefossett said:

if anybody remembers the pictures from the mock scenario in saanich inlet last fall involving different gov't agencies and the queen of nanaimo they would see a picture of how an extracation of patient would happen from a ferry. the picture i am talking about has a cormorant hovering just above the top deck and shows it either raising or lowering a cage to/from the deck. this is the procedure in the majority of cases.

[Nick]

Yes, I was referring to the fact that an evacuation is possible by helicopter on the spirits, not fully landing.

Sorry about the confusion.

[Coastal Canuck]

Well when I was down at Horseshoe Bay yesterday I took a look at Berth 1. BC Ferries says it will be ready for Thursday. However I'm no expert but it looks to be like it will be more like next Tuesday at the earliest.

I think there could be dock conflicts at Horseshoe Bay


this is with Berth 1 open

Berth 1 overnight-5:05 Queen of Capilano, 5:55-6:00 Queen of Capilano, 6:50-7:00 Queen of Capilano, 7:50-8:00 Queen of Capilano, 8:50-9:00 Queen of Capilano, 9:50-10:00 Queen of Capilano, 10:50-11:00 Queen of Capilano, 11:50-12:00 Queen of Capilano, 12:50-14:25 Queen of Capilano, 15:20-15:30 Queen of Capilano, 16:20-16:30 Queen of Capilano, 17:20-17:30 Queen of Capilano, 18:20-18:30 Queen of Capilano, 19:20-19:30 Queen of Capilano, 20:20-20:30 Queen of Capilano, 21:20-21:35 Queen of Capilano, 22:20-overnight Queen of Capilano.

Berth 2 overnight-6:20 Queen of Oak Bay, 8:00-8:30 Queen of Cowichan, 9:25-9:55 Queen of Coquitlam, 10:10-10:40 Queen of Oak Bay, 12:20-12:50 Queen of Cowichan, 13:45-14:15 Queen of Coquitlam, 14:30-15:05 Queen of Oak Bay, 16:45-17:10 Queen of Cowichan, 18:10-18:40 Queen of Coquitlam, 18:50-19:20 Queen of Oak Bay, 21:00-21:25 Queen of Cowichan, 23:05-overnight Queen of Oak Bay.

Berth 3 7:00-7:25 Queen of Surrey, 9:10-9:35 Queen of Surrey, 11:20-11:45 Queen of Surrey, 13:30-13:55 Queen of Surrey, 14:20-14:45 Queen of Esquimalt, 15:45-16:10 Queen of Surrey, 17:10-17:35 Queen of Esquimalt, 17:55-18:20 Queen of Surrey, 20:05-20:20 Queen of Surrey.

and without Berth 1

Berth 1 Being Repaired

Berth 2 Overnight-5:05 Queen of Capilano, 5:55-6:00 Queen of Capilano, 6:50-7:00 Queen of Capilano, 7:50-8:00 Queen of Capilano, 8:50-9:00 Queen of Capilano, 9:25-9:55 Queen of Coquitlam, 9:50-10:00 Queen of Capilano, 10:50-11:00 Queen of Capilano, 11:50-12:00 Queen of Capilano, 12:50-14:25 Queen of Capilano, 14:30-15:05 Queen of Oak Bay, 15:20-15:30 Queen of Capilano, 16:20-16:30 Queen of Capilano, 16:45-17:10 Queen of Cowichan, 17:20-17:30 Queen of Capilano, 18:20-18:30 Queen of Capilano, 19:20-19:30 Queen of Capilano, 20:20-20:30 Queen of Capilano, 21:20-21:35 Queen of Capilano, 22:20-overnight Queen of Capilano.

Berth 3 overnight-6:20 Queen of Oak Bay, 7:00-7:25 Queen of Surrey, 8:00-8:30 Queen of Cowichan, 9:10-9:35 Queen of Surrey, 10:10-10:40 Queen of Oak Bay, 11:20-11:45 Queen of Surrey, 12:20-12:50 Queen of Cowichan, 13:30-13:55 Queen of Surrey, 13:45-14:15 Queen of Coquitlam, 14:20-14:45 Queen of Esquimalt, 15:45-16:10 Queen of Surrey, 17:10-17:35 Queen of Esquimalt, 17:55-18:20 Queen of Surrey, 18:10-18:40 Queen of Coquitlam, 18:50-19:20 Queen of Oak Bay, 20:05-20:20 Queen of Surrey, 21:00-21:25 Queen of Cowichan, 23:05-overnight Queen of Oak Bay.

[queenofcowichan]

The Oak Bay does not always use berth 2 for tie up. On August 8, 2005 I was on her last sailing from Departure Bay on my way to Calgary and we docked in berth 3. Strangley enough the Capilano was in Berth 2 and berth 1 was empty.