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Post by EGfleet on May 23, 2006 15:22:52 GMT -8
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Post by Shane on May 23, 2006 15:51:02 GMT -8
Yeah, it will be pretty sad to see her go.
Atleast she lived a good long life...
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Post by northwesterner on May 23, 2006 17:32:33 GMT -8
Capt Shellman reports the USCG has determined that there will be no new COI (Certificate of Inspection) issued for this vessel in its present condition. Inspector John Winters has reported that vessel is not in compliance with the standards of the sub-chapter W code, does not have AIS, and cannot receive a written certificate. Chief Engineer subsequently reported that the vessel passed its inspection satisfactorily and a new COI would be provided when the above corrections are made, if the vessel is ever needed for service. Port Engineer notified.This is the offical end of the Nisqually. The state has no intention of adding the slides to the ferry. With no COI she'll be officially stricken from the roster. Sad - but inevitable. My best memories of the steel electrics were aboard that ship. |
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Post by Political Incorrectness on May 23, 2006 17:39:39 GMT -8
Then better get some last shots cause she will probably be scrapped.
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Post by SS San Mateo on May 23, 2006 19:11:35 GMT -8
What is the sub-chapter W code and what does AIS stand for?
On the subject of the slides, does the Coast Guard require them to be on the car deck or does WSF find it easier to have them there?
-- LB
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Post by Political Incorrectness on May 23, 2006 19:26:04 GMT -8
AIS is a vessel tracking service. Why should they have slides on the car deck? Why not at passenger deck level to avoid crushes to the car deck?
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Post by In Washington on May 24, 2006 6:09:17 GMT -8
I would advise being very careful using excerpts like the one that started this Post.  |
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Neil
Voyager 
Posts: 7,196
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Post by Neil on May 24, 2006 8:15:44 GMT -8
Or else?....
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Post by In Washington on May 24, 2006 9:07:08 GMT -8
Sorry. I should have figured out how to get that only to evergreenfleet.
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Post by Retrovision on May 24, 2006 9:39:25 GMT -8
Thank's for the implication of the nature of the source of this info, 'In Washington'. ...She will be missed |
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Post by EGfleet on May 24, 2006 15:35:52 GMT -8
I would advise being very careful using excerpts like the one that started this Post. Point taken, though CG Inspection are not only a matter of public record, but posted on their website. I've replaced the quote with the link that shows the information on exactly why the Nisqually has no COI. Oh, and to get to the info, you'll need to click on the "Summary of Coast Guard Contacts" at the bottom. |
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Post by old_wsf_fan on May 24, 2006 22:07:58 GMT -8
I have a few questions about the Nisqually....Why was she mothballed in the firstplace? Did she suffer an serious breakdown and they deemed it too expensive to repair? Did they need her for parts to keep the other steel-electrics in operation?Or was her condition more worn and it was decided that she was the odd boat out as it were? It seems to me that as long as they are going to use that class of vessel, it just makes sense to have all of the vessels available if needed. Looking back on what happened last year when they had to pull the Illahee down from the San Juan Islands, it might have been alot easier to have the Nisqually in standby for just such an occasion....
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Post by northwesterner on May 24, 2006 23:10:52 GMT -8
I have a few questions about the Nisqually....Why was she mothballed in the firstplace? Did she suffer an serious breakdown and they deemed it too expensive to repair? Did they need her for parts to keep the other steel-electrics in operation?Or was her condition more worn and it was decided that she was the odd boat out as it were? It seems to me that as long as they are going to use that class of vessel, it just makes sense to have all of the vessels available if needed. Looking back on what happened last year when they had to pull the Illahee down from the San Juan Islands, it might have been alot easier to have the Nisqually in standby for just such an occasion.... I'm also curious as to why Nisqually was pulled. She was the last one rebuilt, and spent most of her rebuilt life in the serene San Juans as the Summer Inter-island boat and the winter Anacortes-Fri Harbor direct vessel. Contrast that with Quinault, who hauled commuters back and forth on a busy route, and the Illahee, who traveled the perils of Admiralty Inlet in the summer, and subbed system wide in the winter... Of course, my choice for a vessel to get pulled would be the Klickitat - possible the least pleasant to ride in the whole system. Too bad her additional overheight clearance keeps her going because she is awful to ride. |
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Post by EGfleet on May 25, 2006 15:50:23 GMT -8
For whatever reason, the Nisqually seems to have just been in worse shape then the other three. I've heard a few things said that her engines and propulsion were becoming increasinly twitchy. She seems to have had more steel wastage on her hull--none of the Steel Electrics hulls were extensively replaced when they were rebuilt, and they are riveted hulls instead of welded. Here's a few things from PI Archives...
FERRY NISQUALLY TAKES ON WATER AFTER DRY-DOCK JOB
P-I Staff and News Services
Thursday, November 28, 1996
Section: News, Page: C2
The state ferry Nisqually began taking water as it was lowered from a dry dock in Tacoma this week.
``We believe it was a valve," said Susan Harris-Huether, ferry spokeswoman. ``We won't have an assessment as to what happened or damages until next week."
The vessel, which was out of service, was scheduled to go to a Lake Union shipyard Dec. 9.
The ferry was in the Giannoti Corp.'s AK-WA Shipyard when the incident occurred Monday, the ferry spokeswoman said.
STATE FERRY PLOWS INTO A DOCK IN SAN JUANS
INJURIES REPORTED; LOSS OF POWER LED TO CRASH
By TINA KELLEY P-I Reporter
Wednesday, May 24, 1995
Section: News, Page: B1
The Washington state ferry Nisqually crashed into the dock at Lopez Island in the San Juan Islands after losing power last night, injuring several passengers and seriously damaging the dock.
The Nisqually is one of the state ferries equipped with troubled Ross Hill propulsion control systems, although ferry officials haven't established that control-system problems were to blame for the Lopez crash.
Last July, the Nisqually drifted without power in the San Juan Islands for a few minutes after the failure of the vessel's control system.
In yesterday's incident, several passengers reported minor injuries such as neck problems and hand sprains, said Susan Harris-Heuther, spokeswoman for Washington State Ferries.
The ferry, carrying 79 cars and about 300 passengers, crashed into the dock at about 6:45 p.m. and caused serious damage to the bridge, tower and west wing wall of the dock.
The ferry's car deck and the bow above the waterline were damaged, and ferry officials were still assessing the extent of that damage last night.
Lopez Island will be served temporarily today by the Elwha, which usually runs from Anacortes to Sidney, B.C. That international run will be canceled.
Harris-Heuther could not predict when normal service would be restored, or how the accident would affect Memorial Day travel.
The Nisqually lost power just before the scheduled Lopez stop, as engines were put into reverse to slow the vessel. The crew restored power in about an hour.
After the collision, the ferry was returned to Anacortes with its passengers still aboard. Service to Lopez was canceled last night.
Ferries tomorrow will be guided in to the Lopez dock by spring lines which will cause delays, Harris-Heuther said.
The ferry's propulsion control system, an older model installed by Ross Hill Controls of Houston, was scheduled to be replaced or modified because of reliability problems.
State ferry officials said in February they had lost confidence in Ross Hill's engine controls after 150 malfunctions in seven years.
They announced plans to spend $2 million to modify Ross Hill propulsion systems on the Nisqually and other vessels.
Problems linked to the Ross Hill control system included the grounding of the ferry Quinault and the ferry Elwha's collision with the Anacortes ferry dock, which caused $500,000 damage.
In the past 18 months the Nisqually has had other problems that sent it out of service, including generator and engine problems. The vessel was refurbished in 1987.
Harris-Heuther said it was not yet clear if last night's crash was caused by problems with Ross Hill equipment.
``We need to determine the safety and reliability of that vessel, and if it's not safe, we won't use it," she said.
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Post by SS Shasta on May 26, 2006 7:51:20 GMT -8
According to information released by WSF in late March 2003, MV Nisqually needed a new $3 million drive motor system. WSF would not spend that amount into a ferry as old as MV Nisqually.  |
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Post by In Washington on May 26, 2006 8:05:31 GMT -8
The Steel Electrics are all on borrowed time. They will soon not meet USCG requirements for routes crossing shipping lanes. One of the many requirements they do not meet has to do with water tight compartments (See Queen of the North). Built in 1927 it would be costly to try and retrofit them and WSF is looking at future new vessels to replace them.
The Steel Electrics could probably still be used at Point Defiance/Tahlequah as replacements for the Rhododendron and San Juan Inter Island.
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Post by SS Shasta on May 26, 2006 12:35:53 GMT -8
...She will be missed Yes she certainly will be missed. At the risk of being too nostalgic, I do not believe that any of these beautiful Steel Electric vessels should be assigned to the graveyard. In rememberance of the revered MV Nisqually, we can take a look at her during her final days of active service 20 and 21 July 2003 on the Vashon/Southworth run:   Just one more look at this great vessel:  |
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Post by Political Incorrectness on May 26, 2006 14:25:37 GMT -8
And I still have one of those webcam pics on my computer of her. She will be forever missed and not forgotten.
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Post by SS San Mateo on May 26, 2006 14:44:13 GMT -8
I remember her on her brief stint on the Vashon route in 2003 (IIRC, this was when the Yakima was out of service d/t a thrown propeller blade and WSF had to shift several vessels around). Didn't get a chance to ride her then or get pics  -- LB |
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