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Post by Quinsam on Jun 20, 2006 17:43:31 GMT -8
(Quinsam Teen, you never fail to make my day.) LOL I have one word for this so-called "Sonia": Yuck!Why? It is not a box, is slightly similar to the SOVI and SOBC, and is definatly not a bad replacement for the QOTN, I would rather have the QOTN, but the Sonia is better than the Chilliwack or nothing at all. Right?  |
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Post by Mike C on Jun 20, 2006 17:45:12 GMT -8
Or, might I add, the Queen of Prince Rupert?  |
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Post by Queen of Nanaimo Teen on Jun 20, 2006 18:24:50 GMT -8
I dunno about that. I think the Rupert is a pretty good ferry. (although I might start to hate it because of being on it for 24 hours) You are right harry in that we would all rather have the Queen of the North back, but we can't, so we will have to adjust to the new ferry weather it be the sonia or not. However, I think that even if we get a new ferry that we don't like, I think that it will most likely grow on us. For example, the older members (no offence) probably didn't like the idea of having the Queen of Chilliwack joining the fleet. Although I think they don't like it now....but whatever!
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jun 20, 2006 20:50:33 GMT -8
re "YVR's" comment that the Sonia is likely a lemon.
Looking back at BC Ferries' track-record of purchased ships:
- Smokwa - unsuitable
- Jervis Queen (Bainbridge) - outdated and old
- Chilliwack - poor design, should they have known better?
- Suzy-Q - unsuitable for coast re fuel economy.
Good purchases are:
- Howe Sound Queen
- Q-North
- Sechelt Queen
So, looking back, they've made some good buys, and poor buys.......but how many of the "poor buys" are only considered poor in hindsight?
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Doug
Voyager 
Lurking within...the car deck.
Posts: 2,213
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Post by Doug on Jun 20, 2006 21:36:06 GMT -8
Ever heard of something called square windows? Those round windows make it look like something that came from another planet or something...not to mention the "Ikea" look you'd get inside.
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,307
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Post by Neil on Jun 20, 2006 21:40:50 GMT -8
BC Ferries also got pretty good service out of the Langdale Queen, Saltspring Queen, Vesuvius Queen, and so-so with Quillayute, George S. Pearson, and Cy Peck.
The all time champion re-cyclers, though, have to be Washington State ferries. With re-building and tweaking, it's incredible the amount of mileage they got out of the old San Francisco Bay ferries, which still persist (barely) to this day.
To get back on topic, the Sonia apparently also had mechanical problems on it's charter in Trinidad. Let's keep our fingers crossed. (I'm still holding out for a different ship).
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Post by Scott on Jun 20, 2006 22:30:35 GMT -8
The Queen of the North was a "poor buy" for quite a while. She was purchased as an emergency vessel between Vancouver Island and the Mainland. Since she was obviously unsuitable for that run, she sat around doing nothing for years before BC Ferries got the bright idea of putting her up north. In the end she was a good buy, but maybe by accident!  |
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Post by Retrovision on Jun 21, 2006 0:38:51 GMT -8
The Queen of the North was a "poor buy" for quite a while. She was purchased as an emergency vessel between Vancouver Island and the Mainland. Since she was obviously unsuitable for that run, she sat around doing nothing for years before BC Ferries got the bright idea of putting her up north. In the end she was a good buy, but maybe by accident! This certainly gives BCFS the precedent they might be looking for that they may need to pull a similar move, but with a far worse outcome, as atleast I see it. We can do better. |
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Post by Curtis on Jun 21, 2006 7:15:25 GMT -8
The Queen of the North was a "poor buy" for quite a while. She was purchased as an emergency vessel between Vancouver Island and the Mainland. Since she was obviously unsuitable for that run, she sat around doing nothing for years before BC Ferries got the bright idea of putting her up north. In the end she was a good buy, but maybe by accident! The Only Good thing that came out of the NDP for BC Ferries |
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Post by WettCoast on Jun 21, 2006 20:22:30 GMT -8
It was under the NDP that the original C-class were born. They came into service under the the Social Credit [Bennett the younger].
The QotN would also have made a great vessel for the Victoria to Seattle route as was proposed in 1979 as a replacement for the P Marguerite.
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,307
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Post by Neil on Jun 21, 2006 21:45:18 GMT -8
Funny how people forget about the C class when they're going on about the NDP. Anyway, when I'm looking for a political history lesson, for some reason it rarely occurs to me to consult the nearest fourteen year old. The hesitation to find a role for the 'North may have been partly political- a desire by the SoCreds to make the previous government look bad. Surely it should have been obvious it was a natural for the northern run, or, as you suggest, Wetcoastkid, possibly Victoria -Seattle, although, there, even Stena couldn't make a go of it with the Crown Princess Victoria. |
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Post by Scott on Jun 22, 2006 18:26:31 GMT -8
This "breaking news" is getting close to 3 weeks old. Has there been any sign that BC Ferries is going to close the deal for this ship? I haven't heard anything for a couple weeks now... anyone know what's up?
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Post by tyty on Jun 23, 2006 1:14:10 GMT -8
Yeah, sorry, I labelled the thread "BREAKING NEWS" without thinking about what would happen three weeks down the road.
Perhaps a moderator could change the subject line to "BCF finds replacement for QON?" complete with the question mark...
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Post by Scott on Jun 23, 2006 21:05:31 GMT -8
No, I'm not complaining about the title, I'm just pointing out that it's been a long time since this possible purchase was announced and we've heard nothing since.
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Post by kylefossett on Jun 24, 2006 0:24:13 GMT -8
Funny how people forget about the C class when they're going on about the NDP. Anyway, when I'm looking for a political history lesson, for some reason it rarely occurs to me to consult the nearest fourteen year old. The hesitation to find a role for the 'North may have been partly political- a desire by the SoCreds to make the previous government look bad. Surely it should have been obvious it was a natural for the northern run, or, as you suggest, Wetcoastkid, possibly Victoria -Seattle, although, there, even Stena couldn't make a go of it with the Crown Princess Victoria. Political to make another party look bad. reminds me of the liberals selling off the fastcats for next to nothing |
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Post by Retrovision on Jun 24, 2006 2:56:27 GMT -8
The hesitation to find a role for the 'North may have been partly political- a desire by the SoCreds to make the previous government look bad. ...And the Cat goes Meow. |
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Post by yvr on Jun 26, 2006 9:46:47 GMT -8
As Cascade points out. Perhaps ferries other than the 'lemon' Sonia are available. If the owners of Sonia are asking too much for her. BCF may opt for the second choice, and place a bid on that one. After all, one does not put all their eggs in one basket. It's the only way BCF has any bargaining power. Lets hope that those on the acquisition team have the experience, not only to buy the best ferry, but to get it at the best price. However, I'm not to confident!!
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Post by Retrovision on Jun 26, 2006 17:41:53 GMT -8
So, I guess we will probably be expecting to see this on our coast soon... ;D  Hasn't the promise made by the BC SoCred... err umm, "Liberal" Party, for years now, been of 3 identical new-build Northern Vessels? What has changed? Why doesn't anyone else notice this, let alone throw something at the fan? |
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Post by WettCoast on Jun 26, 2006 20:42:09 GMT -8
Does anyone know anything about this ferry [MV Sonia]? Is BCFS looking at this as a possible replacement for QotN? www.balearia.net/admin/mostrafoto2.php3?foto=foto_grande&tabla=noticias_balearia&id=235A friend of a friend of a northern crew member told me that BC Ferries is looking at this vessel. It is brand new, about the right size, and not particularly pretty. It might be the sort of ship that they have in mind for building rather than buying. It seems unlikely that this ship is available as it just entered service a little more than one month ago. It operates in Spanish waters between Barcelona and Ibiza. BCF was apparently informing northern crew members that they were looking at the Sonia back in the middle of May. That is where my information came from in the original posts shown above. Information since then has shown that it is almost new, and has in fact been in charter service over the last two years, first in Trinidad & Tobago, and now in the Spanish Mediterranean. The only thing that I have heard that connects BCFS's to the Sonia somewhat more strongly than the above, is that Jackie Miller, the union president, has mentioned the Sonia by name. I have heard no other ship names mentioned. Also, the following information quoted from the CBC News item of June 9 does fit more or less with the Sonia. Hahn won't name the seller. But he says the ferry is only three or four years old, and has more cabins than the remaining ferry on the northern route, the Queen of Prince Rupert.
"It's got capacity for vehicles, it's got great capacity for passengers, it's got great speed," he said. Apparently northern crew members based in Prince Rupert were being told back in the middle of May that the Sonia was being looked at. As for new construction of 3 identical ships... I have heard that too. However, this does not make a lot of sense to me, due to the much different needs of the various northern routes. Personally I think they need a new ship similar in size to the QPR for the QCI run and Inside Passage in the 'off season'. For the Discovery Coast they need a smaller vessel (80 cars - 300 passengers) capable of getting Into the smaller ports, while also being capable of subbing on the Inside Passage or QCI run if need be. The replacement for the Chilliwack has to be capable of much better speed than 14 knots, and able to do Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound in off-season conditions. The third vessel needs to be relatively large and plush just like the North was. Like others on this forum, I have my doubts about the Sonia. To make it work I think that BCFS will have to spend $10M+ on conversions to it and to berths at Port Hardy, Bella Bella, Prince Rupert and Skidegate, and maybe other mid coast ports as well. |
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Post by NMcKay on Jun 27, 2006 8:06:19 GMT -8
 Theres a ferry for the northern route. |
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Post by Shane on Jun 27, 2006 8:37:01 GMT -8
re "YVR's" comment that the Sonia is likely a lemon. Looking back at BC Ferries' track-record of purchased ships: - Smokwa - unsuitable - Jervis Queen (Bainbridge) - outdated and old - Chilliwack - poor design, should they have known better? - Suzy-Q - unsuitable for coast re fuel economy. Good purchases are: - Howe Sound Queen - Q-North - Sechelt Queen So, looking back, they've made some good buys, and poor buys.......but how many of the "poor buys" are only considered poor in hindsight? You could barely operate the Smokwa....hahaha, she had to be towed around her whole time in BCF. Theres a ferry for the northern route. She would be really good on the route, shes a real nice and comfortable ship, but shes a bit too large... |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jun 27, 2006 17:35:20 GMT -8
Nick, is that the Caribou or the Joey Smallwood, from Marine Atlantic?
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Post by Curtis on Jun 27, 2006 18:56:53 GMT -8
It's the Caribou
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Post by JJ on Jun 28, 2006 1:29:26 GMT -8
but why BC dosen't buy a new Ferry?
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Post by hergfest on Jun 28, 2006 6:59:46 GMT -8
2-3 years until they can get a new boat built, and they need one sooner than that.
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