COHO?

[NMcKay]

Anyone feel like trying to arrange a tour like the sidney one. but on the Coho? i think with a few words to the right people. i think it could work. does anyone else feel up to it?

[Koastal Karl]

Yeah, but how would we do that??? The Coho is in service most of the day and she also ties up in Port Angeles at night. It would be neat if we could but might be kind of hard seeing it is an American Ship. Only time I could see doing it is when she only has one trip to Victoria and back and sits in Victoria for most of the day.

[Dane]

We could do it while she's in service, it might mean slightly less access but still an awesome oppurtunity.

[Mac Write]

How about the Tsawwassen while she is still on route 9?

[NMcKay]

Mac i dont think you could make it around the Tsw while shes in route.

[Starbucks Queen]

A letter to either company would solve the problem right ? - You either would get a "no" or with good luck you do get an invitation. I have good experience with writing friendly letters to companies though, well would as well lead to a bit more than just suggesting stuff here on that thread - Just give it a try, it´s worth it.

[Dane]

BC Ferries with my experience is pretty open access. Ive been on about a dozen ships while in service and am yet to sign a waiver or anything like that. On the Spirit of BC I wore a high vis vest while I crawled around below deck.

It's all about knowing some one, and ensuring we all act in a responsible, mature and respectful manner.

[Retrovision]

Unfortunately the Coho is not only a U.S. ferry, but is also opperated on an international run. There probably wouldn't be much of a difference in the U.S. Customs' treatment of our tour being either during a crossing or while she's idle in Victoria because the current state of security at the boarders to the States, combined with the fact that we would be given access to a ship that would soon be sailing in U.S. waters to a U.S. port.

BTW, if touring her while she's idle in Victoria helps our chances at all, there is another time that she's tied up at Victoria for a long while:
During the Summer the Coho ties up at Victoria overnight; mind you, the reason she ties up at Vic seems to be in order to increase the number of sailings, which means that she ties up late at night, and leaved early in the morning.

Leaving
Port Angeles Date Listings Leaving
Victoria
8:20 am
1:45 pm October 11, 2005 – January 4, 2006 10:30 am
4:00 pm
8:20 am January 5, 2006 – January 12, 2006 4:00 pm

8:20 am
1:45 pm Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend
January 13, 2006 – January 16, 2006 10:30 am
4:00 pm
8:20 am
1:45 pm* January 17, 2006 – January 22, 2006

* Operates Friday’s, Saturday’s, Sunday’s Only *10:30 am
4:00 pm
Out of Service January 23, 2006 – February 5, 2006 Out of Service
8:20 am
1:45 pm* February 6, 2006 – February 16, 2006

* Operates Friday’s, Saturday’s, Sunday’s Only *10:30 am
4:00 pm
8:20 am
1:45 pm President's Day Weekend
February 17, 18, 19, 20, 2006 10:30 am
4:00 pm
8:20 am
1:45 pm* February 21, 2006 – March 9, 2006

* Operates Friday’s, Saturday’s, Sunday’s Only *10:30 am
4:00 pm
8:20 am
1:45 pm March 10, 2006 - May 17, 2006 10:30 am
4:00 pm

[Retrovision]

Woops! I accidentally pressed "Post Reply" after I pasted the schedule to see if it turned out... I guess it didn't really.

But check it out for yourselves @:

cohoferry.com/schedules.htm

[Koastal Karl]

But I have always wondered then is the crew Canadian then if she is based in Victoria overnight for the summer?? If not then where do the American crew stay as the Coho is based out of Port Angeles the rest of the year??

[Political Incorrectness]

The Coho is based out of Port Angeles year round.

[Retrovision]

"The Coho is based out of Port Angeles year round."

I don't have it in front of me right now (it's at home), but the schedule for this last summer had the Coho's last trip, at around 9pm, leaving Port Angeles, and the first trip of the morning, at just after 6am, leaving Victoria. So, unless Black Ball feels justified in deadheading both to and from Port Angeles every night during the summer, I'm assuming that means she stays tied up at Victoria overnight.

[Retrovision]

And unfortunately, the official website for the Coho only has upto the spring schedule posted. I'll double check, but I'm 99% sure that the schedule that I mentioned in my last post is accurate; in fact, I can remeber planning on that early morning sailing from Victoria (but didn't end up taking it) when I stayed in Victoria last summer, and being surprised about a U.S. based ferry seemingly being berthed in Victoria overnight.

[Koastal Karl]

I dont think they would go back to Port Angeles every night after the last sailing. She obviously ties up in Victoria overnight during the summer so what do they do with the crews then if they are US crews?? Stay in hotels??

[NMcKay]

if shes like the Sidney, why woudn't they just stay on board?

[Starbucks Queen]

I have been on the Coho, and I was very pleased. The ship is pretty plain, the walls are not covered with any panels or such just the plain metal painted in green, and no carpets and such either. But it was very neat and clean so to say and just right for the trip from Port Angeles to Victoria. The ship it self looked immaculate, also from the exterior, it did oviously not show it´s age.

About getting a tour onboard a ship - I´d now say even more that I´d just write to the company.

I was with someone on the Queen of Vancouver island and he had the idea to ask at the Purser´s office whether we could have a bridge visit. We were advised to wait until they do an announcement. Announcement was done and we were allowed up the bridge - just as we are, not any passport asked for, bags not checked etc. We both were a bit surprised that they weren´t concerned at all. We were up there almost during the entire trip, and it was impressive especially when another ferry came from the opposite direction and some BC-barges as well.

[Political Incorrectness]

I think you meant the Spirit of Vancouver Island. Canadian's are not paranoid about security unlike the country south of them.

[Starbucks Queen]

Ouch - big excuse of course I do mean the SPIRIT of Vancouver island

Well, beeing paranoid about security: I heard that better not taking photos of the WSF ships in Seattle because you might get trouble - at least loose the film you have in the camera etc. I didn´t risk that so no pics of these. I should have written to them & get a permission for sure.

Although I would not call it paranoid about security if they had asked me to leave my bag at the purser´s office and ask our passports before we go to bridge. I mean you can as well not walk up & ask "can we be with you in the cockpit" and get away with a "yes, come on".

[cascade]

Karl,

In the old days - 5 to 10 years ago - there would be major trouble if the vessel didn't have a American or Canadian crew while sailing in either waters. But times have changed and now it is not so important. The Master does need to be either Canadian or American - for the MV Coho to work correctly, but in legal terms - any Master who holds the correct ticket - required by each Countries IMO reg's has the job.

[Koastal Karl]

Yeah the Americans must be paranoid if you cant take photos of WSF. I mean tourists take photos all the time unless u are talking about interior photos of ferry operations.

[cascade]

Karl,

Anyone who takes a photo is a terrorist in the eyes of George Bush, with regards to there transport network. So I guess then Mac Write is a Terrorist.

The world since 9/11 is becoming to PC correct - then we have dear old George going on about wiretapping his own people...well.....

[Political Incorrectness]

In the eyes of George Bush, he thinks he can trust his own politicians when he can not.

[Koastal Karl]

ca.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/karladelman/album?.dir=9ba4&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//ca.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph//my_photos

So I guess then anyone who takes photos whether of ships or interior shots is considered a terrorist. Just like these photos I took this summer. You want interior photos do it whenever you can and no one is looking, lol!

[Political Incorrectness]

Well, staff do not get really suspicious when you are taking pictures of other ferries. There was one link here that had a thing about the rules of photography, in it, it said you can take pictures of transportation objects. Ferries are a mode of tranportation so it is usually not a problem except for the security monkey's in the Whitehouse and Pentagon.

[cascade]

So with Mac Write trying to sell his pictures of Ferries - then why hasn't George Bush locked him up yet?