The future of the Queen of Prince Rupert

[markkarj]

Adding to this, my understanding is that QPR has an awful lot of asbestos in it... which is why its replacement was in the capital plan that BC Ferries put in place in 1994 when the decision was made to do the fast ferries.

[Neil]

According to the spokesperson who answered my question on the subject, BC Ferries vessels have only "trace" amounts of asbestos left in them.

[markkarj]

hornbyguy said:

According to the spokesperson who answered my question on the subject, BC Ferries vessels have only "trace" amounts of asbestos left in them.

I'd called BC Ferries (I think in 1994) when I was doing my undergrad in Victoria to ask a pile of questions about the capital plan... the fellow there was very pleasant and spent a great deal of time to answer my questions.

He did mention the amount of asbestos in QPR being a problem. Perhaps they've done some more asbestos removal in the meantime, I don't know.

[WettCoast]

I had understood that BCF had undertaken a major asbestos mitigation program in the late 1980's and early 1990's on all their vessels of a certain vintage (older than 1980, 1975, 1970...). The use of asbestos on ships was common before 1970. By 1980 its use was all but eliminated. The decade of the 1970's was transitional. I understand that the original Spaulding vessels all had exposed ceilings coated with an asbestos fire retardant in public areas of the ships. This was later removed, and the ceilings changed to suspended types.

I know that the QPR was taken out of service around about 1990 for a major high-risk asbestos removal job. The work was done at Tsawwassen terminal. The whole ship was turned into a work zone and a very large negative air unit (perhaps more than one) was used to remove air containing asbestos fibre from within the ship.

It is quite probable that not all asbestos was removed. Asbestos is classified according to its friability where non-friable asbestos presents little if any risk as it will not release fibre into the air unless it is subjected to sawing, grinding, etc. Friable asbestos, by contrast, can release fibre into the air just due to strong air currents. The removal job done on the QPR may have dealt only with high and medium risk asbestos, leaving low risk (non-friable) asbestos in place. They may also have opted to encapsulate some asbestos. Encapsulation involves spraying asbestos with a coating that turns semi-friable asbestos into non-friable.

Asbestos is dangerous to humans only if very tiny fibres (size typically 5 x 1 micrometre) are released into the air. These fibres are small enough that they can be inhaled all the way into the tiny sacs within the lungs where oxygen in the air is exchanged with carbon dioxide in the blood. The fibres will cause scarring of lung tissue and can lead to a disease called asbestosis. Asbestos can also cause lung cancer and another form of cancer called mesothelioma. As with most things your risk for contracting an asbestos related disease is minimal unless you have a lot of exposure. Smokers, with a lot of exposure, are particularly at risk.

In the good old days asbestos had scads of uses. High temperature insulation, linings of automotive brakes, in the family toaster, etc. The filters, on filter tipped cigarettes contained asbestos. When Bing Crosby sang I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas in the 1940's movie, the snow falling in the background was, you guessed it, asbestos. Times have changed.

I expect that 30 years from now they will be up in arms about some product used in construction of the Super C class.

[dunbar]

i have been on the queen of prince rupert and have made lest 3 trips on her . they were the trip from port hardy to twassen twice last time was in oct 1997 then in july 1996 i rode her from prince rupert to queen charlote isalnds that was good trip on her. this topic of her and whats to happen to her she is getting old and she needs to be replaced does any one know that she was built in 1966 in victoria and ran from kelsy bay to prince rupert until they opened the port hardy ternimal in 1979 and added the queen of the north. the queen of prince rupert has good history one the first north coast ferries built her in bc.
robert

[Low Light Mike]

Welcome, Robert:

You'll find lots of pictures of the QPR on this website, along with stories of her, including the early days.

Have fun exploring the various threads on this site......there's a lot of stuff to read & enjoy.

[oceaneer77]

I thought that transport canada was putting pressure on bc ferries to get rid of the QPR as well as most of our old ships?

She will end up in some 3rd world country, and will probalby last forever!

Dylan H
Oceaneer77

[Neil]

Wetcoastkid- Your info on asbestos pretty much agrees with what BC Ferries told me when I asked- that most of the asbestos was removed from all the boats, and the bit that remained was sealed.

Times have indeed changed. I remember when, as a kid in elementary school in the 60s, we modelled with asbestos in art class. And I remember how cool it was to have beads of mercury rolling around in my palm in science.

Looks like BC Ferries have once again confirmed that the 'Rupert is toast once the second northern ferry arrives, so all our possible uses for her are out the window, darn it.

[Skier2]

karl said:

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!

From my experiences on the Bowen Queen, it doesn't get that crowded really. Another reason: The Queen of Prince Rupert burns alot more fuel, and it takes alot more people to make her run=alot of wasted money on BCF's part.