|
|
Post by queenofalberni1976 on Mar 1, 2006 14:44:44 GMT -8
According to a service notice for the Inside Passage Mid Coast run the mv Nimpkish will be put into service on the midcoast runs to Help the Queen of The North as that ship is too big to fit into some ports.
The Nimkish and Queen of The North will replace the Prince Rupert untill June 5. \
|
|
|
|
Post by queenofalberni1976 on Mar 1, 2006 14:46:40 GMT -8
Oops, sorry folks I did not relize someone else posted this already.
|
|
|
|
Post by tyty on Mar 2, 2006 0:06:04 GMT -8
Yes, it is the docks at Shearwater and Klemtu that pose problems for the Queen of the North. Its size and the tight confines in which the vessel must turn for a safe landing preclude the vessel from serving these two ports.
In the past, BCF has contracted a self-propelled barge (for hostled vehicles only) and some other ferry for foot passengers (I can't remember the name), to provide connections to the
Queen of the North at Bella Bella for sailings northbound on Sundays and southbound on Wednesdays.
Now they have a much different arrangement; as mentioned, the MV Nimpkish will provide feeder service between Bella Bella and ALL the other mid-coast ports - Shearwater, Klemtu, Ocean Falls.
The MV Nimpkish will provide passenger and vehicle service on a scheduled basis between Bella Bella, Shearwater and Klemtu.
Request stop service will be in effect for Ocean Falls. Reservations are required and must be made 24 hours in advance of the scheduled sailing to ensure that the ship stops at Ocean Falls.
Reservations for passengers and vehicles are required for all of these sailings.
|
|
|
|
Post by Low Light Mike on Mar 2, 2006 7:43:30 GMT -8
a bit of Queen of the North trivia:
On deck-5 on port-side used to be a passenger door that was known as the "Bella Bella Door". This allowed passenger entry-exit when the Q-North docked at the old side-dock at Bella Bella.
The doors were located just aft of the pursar's office. Karl, you'll likely be able to locate them.
Now of course, she uses the regular dock at McLoughlin Bay.
|
|
|
|
Post by Curtis on Mar 2, 2006 15:57:28 GMT -8
I've always wondered what that door was for.
|
|
Koastal Karl
Voyager 
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
|
Post by Koastal Karl on Mar 2, 2006 16:00:10 GMT -8
What door?? I have no idea where this door is??
|
|
|
|
Post by Shane on Mar 2, 2006 17:19:31 GMT -8
The small door on her her port side on Deck 5.
|
|
|
|
Post by Shane on Mar 2, 2006 17:23:20 GMT -8
I was just on the Current Conditions page and it said there is no food service on the Nimpkish.
Man, that must be so boring riding on a tiny ferry like that for hours, does she even have a vending machine?
|
|
|
|
Post by Curtis on Mar 2, 2006 19:02:56 GMT -8
I didn't see one when I was on her a few years ago I do know her evacuation station isn't good for safety theres no fence against the side making people able to fall off
|
|
|
|
Post by guest on Mar 2, 2006 21:28:55 GMT -8
The Nimpkish has been up north before... I presume for the same reason.
|
|
|
|
Post by Curtis on Mar 2, 2006 22:42:38 GMT -8
It's Possible. If they do it now they might have done it before
|
|
|
|
Post by queenofalberni1976 on Mar 3, 2006 15:24:01 GMT -8
As stated on the Yahoo site, I spent much of today at the beach watching the Queen of the North and mv Nimpkish pass.
The Queen of the North was at Ballenas ISland at 11:57am and sailing via Sabine Channle and was at Cape Lazo at 1:56pm. She entered Sabine Channle aproxmatly 12:20pm.
The mv Nimpkish was at Ballenas Island (Ballenas Channle0 at 2:20pm. She is making a brief stop at Hornby island Before heading up to Klemtu, As she was passing Parksville I could see that she has a Loading Ramp on her stern. So she must have to back in to unload her vehicles at some docks.
|
|
|
|
Post by Low Light Mike on Mar 3, 2006 19:07:19 GMT -8
Awesome report JCA, thanks !
|
|
|
|
Post by jcachristian on Mar 3, 2006 19:16:20 GMT -8
Update: The Nimpkish departed Hornby Island about 1/2hour ago (it is now 7:11pm) and has a eta for Cape Lazo for 7:40pm.
I have not heard from the Queen of the North since she was at Cape Lazo, but judging from traffic reports she has past Seymour Narrows.
Last nite while monitoring Comox Traffic I hear the Alaska State Ferry Matanuska as it was sailing southbound. She will be Northbound tonite from Bellingham. The Matanuska just took over from the Columbia this past week. The Columbia will return to service after her annual refitt.
|
|
|
|
Post by jcachristian on Mar 4, 2006 11:28:53 GMT -8
Kevin has posted some spectatcular photos of the Queen of The North last nite as the vessle sailed past Cape Mudge and through the Narrows, Take a peek, It is located at the "waiting for a spot" album at PB Base.  |
|
|
|
Post by Shane on Mar 4, 2006 11:32:01 GMT -8
Thanks for the info!
Those pics look pretty nice.
|
|
Ultrawalker offline
Guest
|
Post by Ultrawalker offline on Mar 4, 2006 11:49:50 GMT -8
Kevin has posted some spectatcular photos of the Queen of The North last nite as the vessle sailed past Cape Mudge and through the Narrows, Take a peek, It is located at the "waiting for a spot" album at PB Base. ok, I've spent 5 frustrating minutes trying to find these "spectacular photos", and I'm now asking you to be a bit more specific on where I can find them. I've looked thru Kevin STAPLETON's folder at PBASE.COM, and I cant' find the new pics. I've done some searches too, and still no luck. Please don't be a tease, give me the goods !!!!! |
|
|
|
Post by Low Light Mike on Mar 4, 2006 11:52:35 GMT -8
|
|
|
|
Post by jcachristian on Mar 4, 2006 12:00:25 GMT -8
Look at the Picture titled Queen of the North Passing Seymour Narrows and take a good look at the ship, especially near the water line, you can see the ship is making her turn and is leaning over on her Starboard side. When I took this cruise in the 1990's the only time after leaving Tsawwasen I heard the ship's horn was making this turn.  |
|
|
|
Post by Low Light Mike on Mar 4, 2006 12:20:34 GMT -8
Yeah, I like the photo of her making the turn at Seymour-Narrows too. She looks so clean and white with that fresh paintjob.....but I guess looks are deceiving because she's an old ship.
So what's the story with Kevin. Is he sort of the unofficial-photographer for BCFMU ?
He's got a great website for photos.
|
|
|
|
Post by Scott on Mar 4, 2006 23:48:02 GMT -8
Kevin has awesome photos! I get an e-mail from him every now and then with some tips. I think he works for BC Ferries judging from his photos. He's also aware of this forum and has a link to it on his site, although I don't know if he's a member or not. I'm sure we'd all have a lot of questions for him!  Beautiful photos of the Queen of the North. I've been to that location once to watch the cruise ships coming through in the summer. In the same gallery, he's got a photo of a toy ferry they're selling on the ferries now. I think it costs about 20 bucks. I remember having something like that when I was a kid. It had batteries and wheels on the bottom and would drive around... until I put it in the bathtub:) The one on the ferries now has two or three die-cast cars painted in BC Ferries colors. Kinda neat. Also, that ramp at the stern of the Nimpkish is new. I wonder if it's for loading/unloading in places where there aren't conventional docks. Unfortunately, I don't see a recent photo of the Nimpkish on Kevin's site. |
|
|
|
Post by kylefossett on Mar 5, 2006 11:21:47 GMT -8
Kevin is an employee of bcfc and i believe an executive member of the union
|
|
|
|
Post by jcachristian on Mar 5, 2006 15:01:23 GMT -8
In regards of the QPR, I could not go down to the beach this morning as it was raining. I also was monitoring ch 11 as the Quinsam and Bowen Queen switched last nite. The Quinsam is heading for Esquimalt.
|
|
|
|
Post by cleohornby on Mar 5, 2006 16:50:36 GMT -8
This Nimpkish thing has to be the strangest thing BC Ferries has ever done. The Nimpkish has absolutely no passenger comforts; not even vending machines, and I don't even remember a water fountain, although there must at least be that, somewhere. A tiny passenger cabin, with hard plastic benches. Absolutely insane putting a boat like that on such a route. You could almost make an argument for racism- maybe David Hahn thinks its good enough service for all the natives on the central coast. Amazing that its even within maritime law to operate a boat like that on such a lengthy route, with so few facilities.
|
|
|
|
Post by Shane on Mar 5, 2006 17:39:56 GMT -8
Yeah I thought it was pretty strange putting the Nimpkish on that run.
Isn't there any ferries available that are more apropriate for sailing on that route?
|
|
