all time leader?

[Neil]

A remark by Dane about the Coho's 'mileage' got me wondering- which BC Ferry would be the all time leader in terms of service?

You might think of two categories- one, the total amount of time in operation, including time in dock, and second, the actual time spent under way. You might also consider the actual miles travelled, which might bring the Queen of Prince Rupert into the picture.

Two boats come to mind- the Powell River Queen, and Queen of New Westminster. The PRQ has operated continuously since 1965, doing long days in Jervis Inlet, and for many years now, equally long days on the Quadra run. The New Westminster was the regular boat on route 2 from '65 until the C's took over, and has, since a year or two after the start of route 30, actually sailed 16 hours a day, year round. None of the V's, though older, have been in regular year round service for many years now; and the PRQ's sister Mayne Queen has always had a mid day layover on the Gulf Islands run, so she wouldn't count.

So, my guess might be the PRQ for actual hours in service, and the New West for hours sailed. Am I missing something?

[Low Light Mike]

MV Mill Bay?

Schedule is currently at close to 12 hours of service per day, 7 days a week, since the 1950's.

There are gaps in year for refit and other minor stoppages, but not much.

[Scott]

I'd throw in the North Island Princess for consideration, although I don't think she would match any of the ferries mentioned so far. But she has a long history on various routes, including long routes up north.

The Queen of Nanaimo also often has long days.

[NMcKay]

i dunno, the 2 k class have been operating at albion almost continually since late 70 running from 4 in the morning till 1 in the morning, an almost 24 Hour service.

[Curtis]

I have to agree with Flugel
Nothing seems to stop the Mill Bay from running.

[Retrovision]

From "British Columbia Ferry Services Inc. - Annual Report to the British Columbia Ferry Commissioner - Year Ended March 31, 2006"

Route 12 ~ Mill Bay - Brentwood Bay
# of Actual RT (Round Trips)
3,093.0

[Neil]

The Mill Bay does have nine years on the PRQ and the New West', but it's never done more than 12 hours a day, while the New West' did 16 on route 2, and nearly 20 a day now on route 30. The North Island Princess was on the Kelsey Bay- Beaver Cove route, with generally shorter days, until the mid '70s, and back in the early '60s it was on a shorter Gulf Islands route for Coast Ferries. The Albion ferries are probably up there, though neither of them were on that route for their entire careers, and the mileage, despite the long days, is not much on that five minute run. Good suggestions; there certainly are some old workhorses in the fleet, but I still think I'd go with the New West' for miles and operating hours, with the PRQ close behind on hours.

[Retrovision]

hornbyguy said:

The Mill Bay does have nine years on the PRQ and the New West', but it's never done more than 12 hours a day, while the New West' did 16 on route 2, and nearly 20 a day now on route 30. The North Island Princess was on the Kelsey Bay- Beaver Cove route, with generally shorter days, until the mid '70s, and back in the early '60s it was on a shorter Gulf Islands route for Coast Ferries. The Albion ferries are probably up there, though neither of them were on that route for their entire careers, and the mileage, despite the long days, is not much on that five minute run. Good suggestions; there certainly are some old workhorses in the fleet, but I still think I'd go with the New West' for miles and operating hours, with the PRQ close behind on hours.

From "British Columbia Ferry Services Inc. - Annual Report to the British Columbia Ferry Commissioner - Year Ended March 31, 2006"

Route 30 ~ Duke Point - Tsawwassen
# of Actual RT (Round Trips)
2,804.0

I guess that you can divide that in half and get relatively close to the Queen of New Westminster's RTs, not counting refit time of course.

[NMcKay]

the klatawa and the kulleet spend approx half thier time in ttransit, with 15 minutes for loading/unloading and 15 mins spend traveling. anyway you slice that, thats alot of runs.

[Barnacle]

Well, yes, but I think the point being made here is that a 'run' is not a standard unit of measure. Of course the Mill Bay is going to make more trips than the Oak Bay, but the actual mileage is the question.

[oceaneer77]

Cascade is right guys ship life time is measured in hours..
this is the only fair measurement due to different speeds of the ships..
the poor old mill bay can hardly get out of her own way, never mind catching the QTN or QPR .

I am sure bc ferries has all of this recorded as would lloyds / TC or my buddies at ABS.
would make a great news story... also would show off the safety record.
Oceaneer77

[Retrovision]

barnacle said:

Well, yes, but I think the point being made here is that a 'run' is not a standard unit of measure. Of course the Mill Bay is going to make more trips than the Oak Bay, but the actual mileage is the question.

I thought that was implied

[Barnacle]

tsawwassenterminal said:

barnacle said:

Well, yes, but I think the point being made here is that a 'run' is not a standard unit of measure. Of course the Mill Bay is going to make more trips than the Oak Bay, but the actual mileage is the question.

I thought that was implied

Nothing is obvious to the uninformed.

[NMcKay]

then would not vessels which have run constantly for the past 30 years be the ones with the most "Engine Life"?

[D'Elete BC in NJ]

Yes, but then one comes to the question, do you count hours? As total running time or hours in transit? A ship on a long run has more in-transit hours than a ship on a short run, given the same number of engine hours, does it not?

A twist on the "mileage" issue, too. How does one account for the hours hove-to in the lee of an island waiting for the weather to clear? Obviously the ship is in-transit and racking up hours, but not mileage.

[Retrovision]

bcinnj said:

A twist on the "mileage" issue, too. How does one account for the hours hove-to in the lee of an island waiting for the weather to clear? Obviously the ship is in-transit and racking up hours, but not mileage.

That's an especially pertinent question when it comes to the Queen of Prince Rupert when you think of how many times she's had to hold en-route due to adverse weather conditions.

[Barnacle]

And then there's the question of re-engining boats... ;D

[Scott (Former Account)]

In terms of engine hours, the 'all time leader' would be have to be either the QPR or Tsawwassen as they still have their original Mirrlees diesels...

[NMcKay]

and what about the Sidney?

[Scott (Former Account)]

harbourlynxkid said:

and what about the Sidney?

I originally had her mentioned in my post, however I figured that with her inactivity for the last five or so years, the Tsawwassen would have already surpassed her in terms of hours ran...

[Neil]

Would the 'Tsawwassen have more hours than the Mill Bay (also original engine, right?), given that the 'Tsawwassen has not been a full time, year round vessel on any route since about 1964? I know she's done a lot of re-fit fill in, seasonal, and part time work, but I think she's had down time every year for over forty years.

The aspect of hours on an original engine is an important one, but I guess when I posed the question I was thinking about the service of the overall vessel. After all, no one would date the ancient WSF steel-electrics from the installation of their latest power plant. The PRQ and the 'New West have been on long days on regular routes for so long, that the venerable 'Tsawwassen might not be able to match their service, unless you take into account the original engine.

[Scott (Former Account)]

hornbyguy said:

Mill Bay (also original engine, right?)

I believe she is now on her third as of her last upgrade a few years back...

[Neil]

Well. I thought part of the notoriety of the Mill Bay was that she was still on her original engine. Sorry if I got that wrong.

[hergfest]

My vote is for the QPR, she runs almost 24 hours in the winter.

[NMcKay]

so that rules out things like the QNW and the other slice and diced.