mv Nimpkish to serve Mid Coast stops

[Low Light Mike]

;DThe Nimpkish is actually going to provide service to Klemtu !! ;D ;D ;D I find it a bit unbelievable that BCF is planning to have her sail across Millbank Sound.....that's open west-coast water !

This sounds like some silly dream that some of our fantasy members here would dream up.

And we're not talking a short trip, or even a 2 hour journey. Bella Bella to Klemtu takes the Chillywack almost 4 hours. Klemtu to Ocean Falls is 7 hours on the Chillywack. It probably takes longer on the Nimpkish.

Sounds like insanity to me......

Other ships: The QQ2 would be better, but of course she's needed on the Port McNeil runs. Why don't we get them to move the Mill Bay up there.....that would take care of a few problems

[Doug]

Because there is a hazard of the Mill Bay.... Freightors might not see it and accidentally crush it like broccoli.

[Low Light Mike]

Awesome. Chopping broccoli, chopping broccolay.......

Send her there asap !

[Doug]

How would you like the Mill Bay on your plate Harry...?

[Balfour]

ok lets be nice to each other. including the funny british kid

[jcachristian]

Come to think of it, BC Ferries should have put The Chilliwack on the run from Port Hardy to the Mid Coast run and have Prince Rupert bound passengers and vehicles transfer to the Q of the North at Mclouglan Bay.(Forgive my spelling).

Or have the Chilliwack due the whole run from Port Hardy to Prince Rupert and have the Queen of the North just do the Queen Charrlotes run.

I would suggest have the Chilliwack do the whole Northern service but I am unaware if she could cross the Hectate straight in a storm.

Either way seems more approperate than having the Nimpkish up there.

[tyty]

The Chilliwack doesn't have any state rooms, though. There's no chance it would ever go up as far as Prince Rupert, just for this reason alone. I'm sure there are other problems with the idea, too.

The way they have it now -- a smaller ferry feeding the QON at McLoughlin Bay -- is the best feasible plan, no question. Of course, yes, there may have been a better choice of minor vessel to use than the MV Nimpkish, but I'm sure BCF has some sort of rationale for this decision.

The only other reasonable plan would be to run the Chilliwack between Port Hardy and the mid-coast stops and run the QON straight through the Inside Passage. This would closely resemble the summertime arrangement, without service by the Chilliwack to Bella Coola.

The thing with this idea is the cost. I strongly doubt there's enough ridership at this time of year to justify using BOTH ships just to fill in for the QPR's refit.

And, no, I highly doubt the Chilliwack is suited for rough open waters... :-)

[Shane]

flugelhorn said:

And we're not talking a short trip, or even a 2 hour journey. Bella Bella to Klemtu takes the Chillywack almost 4 hours. Klemtu to Ocean Falls is 7 hours on the Chillywack. It probably takes longer on the Nimpkish.

It takes 40-45 minutes for the Nimpkish to sail from Powell River to Texada and the usual time it takes for the North Island Princess to sail that route is about 25 minutes.
It would take the Nimpkish about 6 Hours from Bella Bella to Klemtu and about 9-10 possibly 11 hours(depending on weather conditions) from Klemtu to Ocean Falls.

[tyty]

Interesting... I just noticed the MV Nimpkish is scheduled to overnight Mondays and Wednesdays in Bella Coola. First time they've had BC Ferry service this early in the year, I would presume...

[Koastal Karl]

yeah those are awesome photos of the North going through Seymour Narrows. That would of been neat trip going north too. I heard a few people say on the Rupert that they came up on the North and were going back then on Rupert. I was quite surprised to hear that a few people did both trips. Although we passed through Ripple Rock and Campbell River around 5am Sunday morning so it was still dark. Different going through there at night!

[Neil]

A slightly more sensible scenario would have had the Nimpkish go to Cortes Island, with the Tenaka taking the mid-coast route. When the Tenaka was launched as the Comox Queen back around '64, it did have a snack bar service, I believe, as it was on the Comox- Powell River route. I don't suppose they have any of that equipment left on board now, but even if not, the Tenaka has considerably more passenger lounge space than the Nimpkish and would be more comfortable on a long crossing. But perhaps its in for refit, or not available for some other reason. In any event, the use of the Nimpkish on that route is a mind boggler.

[Koastal Karl]

I thought they used the Nicola before. Isent the Nicola the same as the Nimpkish??? Use the Chilliwack if it wasent needed down here or in refit.

[Neil]

Don't believe the Nicola ever saw service on the central coast during its time with Dept of Highways, and later, BC Ferries. It was a twin (triplet, actually) of the Nimpkish. I guess what BC Ferries needs is a modern version of the old Queen of The Islands; a relatively small ship, 40-50 cars, but with decent passenger accomodation, to serve the central coast, where a bigger boat like the Chilliwack can't always be justified. Maybe something more like Alaska State Ferries' Aurora or Le Conte.

[Ferryman]

Don't forget about the Garibaldi II . Maybe they'll do something with the Garibaldi II up there, it can be easily modified to accomadate passengers better, as it has more passenger space. But it either has a bit more passenger space, or a bit less than the Tenaka.

[Shane]

hornbyguy said:

I guess what BC Ferries needs is a modern version of the old Queen of The Islands; a relatively small ship, 40-50 cars, but with decent passenger accomodation, to serve the central coast, where a bigger boat like the Chilliwack can't always be justified. Maybe something more like Alaska State Ferries' Aurora or Le Conte.

Thats a perfect idea!
I've always thought BCF should have a small 50 car ferry that can carry about 200-300 passengers, a few staterooms, a small snack bar/cafeteria, and bow doors like the QotN and QoPR.
Something like those strange looking Norwiegen ferries.

[Shane]

I just thought of something.
Remember this ferry.
www.harlowmarine.com/index.php?action=view_piece&id=329&trail=1
This would of been perfect for the midcoast run.
Bcf could of used her for providing service to the midcoast towns like Klemtu, Shearwater, ect and have the Chilliwack on the run in the summer.
Too bad the Bartlett was sold.
She would of been great for the run.

[Scott]

I don't think it's all that strange putting the Nimpkish on the route. The capacity is probably more than is even needed at this time of year. You have to remember that it's probably as much a working ship as it is a ferry up there.

It's cost effective... the crew is small, and it needs to be because they're not making much money up there running two ships on one route.

The Nimpkish is small, but designed to handle rougher seas than most of the minor vessels. It could probably handle rougher waters than the Capilano or Mayne Queen.

What other ship could BC Ferries afford to attatch a ramp at the stern?

Anyone who will use the Nimpkish will know there is no food on the ferry and will bring their own. That's not a big deal.

The main problem is it's smallness and lack of passenger space. I have to agree that it would be very uncomfortable for 7+ hours. But I don't think there's much choice. Ships need refit, and anything bigger would probably be uneconomical.

[Scott]

Canada's ship registry says the Nimpkish can do 16 knots. But I think they just list what the ships are capable of, not their service speed. She'd probably burn a lot more diesel going 16 knots.