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Post by Scott on Nov 15, 2006 19:15:15 GMT -8
Here's an idea I was thinking of at work today. I know, it's probably a crazy idea, but our forum is full of them:)
When the Queen of Prince Rupert is replaced in a couple years, she should be used as a relief vessel between Vancouver and Vancouver Island - if regulations will allow her to operate in sheltered waters even though she can't operate up north anymore. I don't mean that she should be put on a regular run, but in the fall and winter months, she can be used during storms when the other ferries have to be tied up. That way, the Island will never totally lose contact with the rest of the world.
Okay, go ahead and dump on the idea:)
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Post by WettCoast on Nov 15, 2006 19:43:56 GMT -8
I do not think that that is such a far fetched idea. Georgia St. at its worst would be more gentle than Hecate during a run-of-the-mill winter gale.
She could also replace the Chilliwack for summer service on the Discovery Coast for a few years anyways.
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Post by sgrant on Nov 15, 2006 20:13:05 GMT -8
Certainly an interesting idea. But isn't the rough-weather issue related to docking, as opposed to capabilities in open water? If anything, I suspect the Queen of Prince Rupert would be less well set up for controlled docking than the ships already on the Vancouver Island runs.
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Post by hergfest on Nov 15, 2006 20:43:00 GMT -8
Why keep a ferry around to only do a couple of runs a year only in bad weather?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 15, 2006 21:17:15 GMT -8
I always thought that the rough weather caused docking problems at Tsawwassen, only because of the openness of the area. Swartz Bay is more sheltered and there is an island near by that breaks the wind. In the 1960's and 1970's, I heard of Ferries leaving Swartz Bay only to return with their load of passengers because they could not dock at Tsawwassen. I remember having to wait for about 4 hours to catch a ferry---the 7pm sailing left Swartz Bay about 10:30pm on a Monday night, of a long weekend. Traffic into Vancouver was quite slow as well(The Highways Dept.---decided to do some maintenance on the Deas Tunnel and closed one lane down.) I did have an 8:30Am class the next day. I have had many a rough ride on the V-Class boats, in the winter months. Traveling from Victoria bus-depot to Vancouver bus depot, only cost about 6-7 dollars then. The city buses cost only a quarter.
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Post by Curtis on Nov 15, 2006 22:28:48 GMT -8
They could easily do that. But why not just retire her and make her into a museum, or a northern route training vessel or something.
Whatever happens in the end she should be saved since she's the original Inside Passage ship and the pioneer of the BC Ferries northern service.
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Post by Political Incorrectness on Nov 15, 2006 22:34:37 GMT -8
That would be good to use for her for the last ten years of the useful life. She would be a perfect training vessel due to her specification for the northern routes. I do however not see her on jervis inlet ever, but it would be a pleasant surprise.
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Post by WettCoast on Nov 15, 2006 23:13:32 GMT -8
Regarding docking in Tsawwassen in rough weather...
My understanding is that the Sidney class and V class as originally built had less trouble docking then all the big ferries do today and that is because they presented far less 'sail' to the wind. The side of an S class ship is one big wall compared to the side of the Sidney. It is not surprising that strong winds push them around. Same goes for C class and V class that have been stretched and lifted.
The QPR could probably dock at TSA in almost any weather providing it was a bow first docking.
BTW, most of you probably have read the story in the Bannerman books The Ships of British Columbia about the choice of TSA as a terminal and how many at the time (late 1950's) said it was folly. It has turned out that on a handful of days each year TSA is indeed a poor spot for docking ferries.
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Post by jjr on Nov 16, 2006 7:00:01 GMT -8
I've been on the QPR when she couldn't dock at Skidegate because of the weather - we circled around in the inlet for 5 hours and tried 3 times to dock. Skidegate is a fairly sheltered bow first dock - so there are times when even the QPR couldn't dock.
Perhaps she could be turned into a floating museum for BC Ferries ....
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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 Nov 16, 2006 9:41:07 GMT -8
Maybe she could replace the Coho! lol! Although the Coho is still in pretty good shape. The Coho has only missed one day total due to weather.
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Post by Political Incorrectness on Nov 16, 2006 11:03:09 GMT -8
Could it possibly be a second vessel during summer? The old Victoria Princess days could come back and that I would be thrilled to have.
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Post by hergfest on Nov 16, 2006 19:33:05 GMT -8
Everyone thinks every ferry should be saved, but who is going to come up with the money? Right now the Queen of Tsawwassen is going to be the only boat saved. BC Ferries should be proud to save at least one boat.
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Post by Scott on Nov 17, 2006 0:27:05 GMT -8
Maybe BC Ferries could sail her between Tsawwassen and Port Hardy in the summer, use her for stormy times in the winter, and have her available for charter the rest of the time:) We keep dreaming:) BC Ferries definitely wouldn't be making money by only having the QPR for stormy weather, but maybe it would be in the interest of the government to have her available??  |
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Post by markkarj on Dec 3, 2006 22:42:57 GMT -8
I'm not sure that BCF would keep her. Given her age, I would think there would be two possibilities:
1) Sell her as some kind of fishing lodge like the Queen of the Islands has become;
2) Sell her for scrap.
My understanding is that she only has car space for about 80 vehicles, which would hardly make a dent as a relief vessel between the mainland and Vancouver island (given that other purpose-built ferries for the southern BC runs carry at least three times as many vehicles).
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Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
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Post by Koastal Karl on Dec 3, 2006 22:46:51 GMT -8
Use her on route 9a during the summer instead of the Bowen Queen along with the Queen of Nanaimo!
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Neil
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Post by Neil on Dec 3, 2006 22:58:06 GMT -8
Initiate a day 'cruise ferry' route between Horseshoe Bay or Tsawwassen, and Little River.
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Post by Curtis on Dec 4, 2006 9:34:03 GMT -8
-Tsawwassen/Horshoe Bay-Little River? I think it should be more like Port Hardy. It could go the long way along the Coast going through places like the sunshine coast.
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Post by NMcKay on Dec 4, 2006 19:52:28 GMT -8
what about a new TSA -> SGI ferry? it could handle the load, and it would be alot better than the open deck ferries ther currently have (And the QOT right?)
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Post by kylefossett on Dec 4, 2006 20:18:14 GMT -8
what about a new TSA -> SGI ferry? it could handle the load, and it would be alot better than the open deck ferries ther currently have (And the QOT right?) nope sorry don't want it. as a regular route 9 passenger the only new vessel i would want is one purpose built for this route. easier loading capabilities then what is already on there |
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Post by NMcKay on Dec 4, 2006 20:42:14 GMT -8
if you were to remove th cabins, and increase the pax capabilities and amenities. would it not make for a nice voyage?
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Post by Dane on Dec 4, 2006 20:48:49 GMT -8
... nice, but practical? That's the issue here. The Spirit of British Columbia would also make a nice voyage. It's not like these are great open waters previously uncharter by any BC Ferries route.
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Post by Scott on Dec 4, 2006 21:45:43 GMT -8
Maybe one way between Tsawwassen and Saltspring in the summer? Then you don't have to load for all 4 stops.
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Post by kylefossett on Dec 5, 2006 15:49:07 GMT -8
Maybe one way between Tsawwassen and Saltspring in the summer? Then you don't have to load for all 4 stops. they already do that with the bowen queen four days a week |
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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 5, 2006 16:39:27 GMT -8
So are you saying you would rather be on the crowded Bowen Queen to SSI than the Queen of Prince Rupert??? And we all know how crowded the Bowen gets on that run. The Queen of Prince Rupert would have more room. Not likely to happen but just saying that's all!
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Post by kylefossett on Dec 5, 2006 17:33:38 GMT -8
overkill on size. would rather be on the bowen queen which runs near empty to long harbour on a sunday afternoon in the summer
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