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Post by Curtis on Dec 22, 2006 8:29:18 GMT -8
Excellent photos, Grahamade She,ll look great when she,s done.
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Post by Guest on Dec 22, 2006 13:26:47 GMT -8
That is one butt ugly ship.
On the bright side visibility from the bridge should be excellent, at least from a standing position.
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Post by Retrovision on Dec 22, 2006 13:30:38 GMT -8
Excellent photos, Grahamade She,ll look great when she,s done. Thanks. - Grahamade
Now With Half the Sugar-Coating of Kool-aid!...Sorry, I had to  |
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Post by Curtis on Dec 22, 2006 16:17:59 GMT -8
Whoops I guess this stupid Wii Opera Browser is having glitches
(For those who don't know Wii is the name of Nintendo's new home console. recently a new online feature developed with the internet service, Opera was made to access the internet from the Wii)
I just began using it today so If you see another typo like that, it's because im using the browser
and yes I did mean to say Graham. but now it looks like I gave him a nickname
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Neil
Voyager 
Posts: 7,307
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Post by Neil on Dec 22, 2006 23:10:40 GMT -8
Graham-ade..... the exciting new beverage from the makers of KOOL-AID[/i]
Richly hued, likely to leave a photographic impression... intriguing, if slightly perplexing introduction to the palate; full bodied without being over powering.... and a not unpleasantly tart finish.... best taken with clam chowder and fries on the Queen of Vancouver.
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Post by markkarj on Dec 23, 2006 9:50:11 GMT -8
Neat pictures. She's certainly not the most beautiful of the BC Ferries, but even the new paint job make her look much better than she did in her previous life.
One question: how will they turn around large tractor trailers on board that ship? From the A-channel piece, it doesn't look like there's an awful lot of room on the car deck. Maybe that's just where the camera guy was standing though.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Dec 23, 2006 10:16:28 GMT -8
I think a large tractor-trailer would either back on or back off.
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Post by Hardy on Dec 23, 2006 16:31:33 GMT -8
Having had to back a 76' moving van onto a Tsa-SGI vessel (I beleive it was the Nanaimo, but my memory fails me) for a trip to North Pender DURING the essential sevice precluding the infamous STRIKE, I can vouch that having to back tractor trailer units onto ANY ferry really really really sucks. While a brightly lit car deck is fine for passenger vehicle operations, it can be QUITE the impediment to truck maneuvering. Add to that the fact that a moving van, unlike a cargo/freight trailer has a lower undercarriage (due to belly boxes) as well as fixed rear trailer wheels, the turning radius and articulation point do make backing onto a ferry A VERY TRICKY task. Luckily for me, I had a swamper with me, and between him and TWO BCFS employees I was able to get my unit safely on board the ferry, but it still took a good 15 mins to do. I would have much preferred taking a 35' straight truck, but I am a company driver and have to take whatever equipment they assign me.
I have no idea what the car/truck deck layout of the new N.A. is, but I sure hope that SOMEONE from BCFS "dry fits" a semi trailer unit onto this thing in reverse to make sure that it works! And if you DO need to back semi units on, you may as well forget about any kind of B-train units ever making the trip ......
Just my two cents worth .....
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Post by Ian on Dec 24, 2006 0:49:09 GMT -8
I have a feeling that this ferry may be a short term ferry and could be gone in several yeras because it is the only ferry in bcfc history to not have a bow door aside from the Queen of the North when they welded hers shut. Sidenote: The reason you had to back your truck onto the ferry was because the SGI runs have to unload cars at 4 stops so the can't roll on and off. Plus they need to balance the ferry.
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Post by Retrovision on Dec 24, 2006 8:05:57 GMT -8
Tractor-trailers backing on or off ferries - reminds me of the original configuration of the Island Princess, now North Island Princess  So, I was browsing through the Saltspring and Galiano online archives today, and I came across these beauties. These. Are. Phenominal. Notice the Queen of Sidney or Tsawassen in the backround?    - I have a feeling that this ferry may be a short term ferry and could be gone in several yeras because it is the only ferry in bcfc history to not have a bow door aside from the Queen of the North when they welded hers shut. There is a case in the history of ferries around our southern coast of a vessel actually not only having its bow door cut and built where there wasn't one before, but quite soon-after also having it replaced, ending-up looking similar to before - or atleast that's as far as I've read - the venerable, and now in Chinese waters last we checked, Princess of Vancouver / Vancouver Island Princess. - Keep in mind that the Northern Adventure is due to be the Queen Charlotte Islands / Haida Gwaii vessel. |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Dec 24, 2006 8:13:54 GMT -8
Chinook-II to Sechelt-Queen is another example of a ship being circumcised when it converted to BC Ferries fleet.
It really changed the look of ex Chinook-II.
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Post by Lee on Dec 24, 2006 22:31:01 GMT -8
When I saw the recent pics here of the Sonia my reaction is this is the ugliest ship Ive ever seen. Those front portholes are hideous, as huge round phony "port holes" mixed in with rectangular always are. The wheelhouse looks like was just like plopped on top as an afterthought, with no architectural symmetry at all. As a 66 yo lifelong admirer of all the CPR and BCFS and WSF vsls (whose career was also in the intl shipping biz), this has to be the worst aesthetic design ever on the coast. That's sad indeed.
There seems to be very little outside deck area, only the B deck up on top and the stern areas, but no forward facing observation deck area at all. I'm doubtful this is going to be a very popular ship with the passengers who want to see the inside passage.
To be paying $50M and then sinking upwards of $100M total into this strikes me as a very poor investment.
Lee, Orcas Island WA
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Post by WettCoast on Dec 24, 2006 22:47:33 GMT -8
Lee, some of us were having these same thoughts six months ago.
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Post by hergfest on Dec 25, 2006 1:14:14 GMT -8
I always thought the new Northern Vessel was going to be a stern only loader too. Seems to me that shipyards have gone away from bow visors after the high profile accidents involving them. Plus judging from the last few ROROs Flensburger has made, just by looking at their website, they look to be stern load/unloaders to me.
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Doug
Voyager
Lurking within...the car deck.
Posts: 2,213
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Post by Doug on Dec 25, 2006 1:34:14 GMT -8
Actually most vessels nowadays use a system like this:  |
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Post by Curtis on Dec 25, 2006 11:49:37 GMT -8
You'd think that's what BCFS would do but they don't.
Nice Ferry in the Picture though
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Kam
Voyager
Posts: 926
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Post by Kam on Dec 27, 2006 11:50:47 GMT -8
It will be very interesting in how they teach people on the Coast to load onto this vessel (Sonia) Loading times will be longer - until people get use to the way it loads. I guess the saving grace for NA is loading and turn around time on the routes she will be working are not critical. Don’t have to worry about fast turn arounds like on route 1 or 2. I wonder though, if she could be modified for a bow door? The anchor gear would have to be moved, but I wonder what else it would involve…? This is a picture of her forward car deck and what looks to be a turn around ramp. (put together from 2 captured TV frames)  |
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Post by Curtis on Dec 27, 2006 14:02:26 GMT -8
I could easily see a bow door being put in. It looks like a hole could easily be cut to install one.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Dec 28, 2006 18:27:14 GMT -8
That wrap-around platform-deck (in Kam's post above) is pretty neat looking. Unique to what we normally have seen on a west-coast ferry.
(ps: are any of you going to make a bid to buy one of those blue lounge chairs....it makes a great Valentine's Day gift)
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Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
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Post by Koastal Karl on Dec 28, 2006 20:53:41 GMT -8
You gonna buy a lounge chair Flugel??? I know you want to! lol!
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Post by Dane on Dec 28, 2006 21:47:39 GMT -8
Guess who touched the Northern Adventure today? His name starts with D ane ends with ane. ;D
Nothing exciting to say though, a lot of the stuff is being handed to charity groups as per usual is what I heard... I actually did ask aboiut a chair.
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Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
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Post by Koastal Karl on Dec 28, 2006 22:08:19 GMT -8
Why the heck dident you invite me Dane seeing I live in Victoria, lol!!
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Post by yvr on Dec 28, 2006 23:20:20 GMT -8
Lee - (Guest from Orcas Island)
Your posting re the Sonia / Northern Adventure is 100% true. In previous posts by Cascade we found that the Sonia was actually the #2 choice. A ferry named the Nisos Mykonos was first, but was only available on charter. Regrettably the taxpayers of B.C. are on the hook for the Sonia boon doggle.
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Post by yvr on Dec 29, 2006 11:31:28 GMT -8
Sonia Car Deck
On page 3 Kam posted a photo of the car deck.
What is that loop turn around supposed to do for us here in Canada. It looks like part of a go cart track. Certainly if your vehicle is larger than a Smart Car you can't use it. In fact, if your driving skills are not up to par you might accidentally drive off it. But remember folks - this is the best your ferry corporation could come up with, and it only cost you $106 million!!!
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Post by Northern Exploration on Dec 29, 2006 11:53:48 GMT -8
I am sure they have thought of what will fit on the turn around ramp. I can see some rental SUV getting stuck halfway around otherwise . |
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