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Post by ray on Sept 21, 2003 20:30:53 GMT -8
Having lived on Texada Island on and off from 1971 to 1998 I know a lot about the “North Island Princess”. The “NIP”, (As her crew and the locals like to call her.) is scheduled for retirement in the spring of 2006. By then a new 120 car/600 passenger “Super Century” class vessel will replace the “Skeena Queen” on the Swartz Bay-Forford route, freeing her up for the Campbell River-Quadra Island run. Then the “Powell River Queen” will enter a shipyard to have a “false bow” installed, thus making her suitable to handle the heavy winter storms on the Malaspina Strait and could likely replace the “NIP” in June of the fore-mention year. After that is anyone guess. The fact is the ship in old and has been out of service twice this year with engine troubles, so her sales value in other three years will be next too nothing. Is anyone here interested in making a very nice artificial reef out of her?  Ray |
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Post by John H on Sept 21, 2003 21:49:21 GMT -8
Hey, I'd love to!  But, alas, I've got no money:( The NIP has quite a history and I was glad I got a chance to take a ride on her this summer. It would be a shame for it to be scrapped, however that's the way most ferries have gone, unfortunately. John |
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Post by ray on Sept 22, 2003 0:35:58 GMT -8
At this time the "NIP" is off the Powell River-Texada Island route, but should return to service sometime by the middle the week. At first the "Nimpkish" tried to do the run herself but was just to small. The “Tachek” who was also tied up at Blubber Bay could not enter service because one of her generators needed a new fule pump. Luckly on that Thursday the “Bowen Queen” became available and she been there ever since. So of the four ferries parked at Blubber Bay each night, two are out of service, two are serviceable, but is just too small to make much impact on the route's traffic. Ray |
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Post by Scott on Sept 22, 2003 22:40:07 GMT -8
That's funny that they'd only use the Nimpkish to replace the NIP, although I guess they didn't have much choice if the Tachek was unserviceable. Which vessel are they using now? You said the Bowen Queen, but for the past few days she's been on the Bowen Island run (I was on her on Saturday and got some photos of her then and also today). Maybe they have the Tachek running now.
The North Island Princess is down at Deas Island Maintenance terminal right now I believe. She'll probably return with a bright coat of paint in the new colors!
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Post by ray on Sept 23, 2003 19:14:48 GMT -8
You are right. The Tachek took over the Texada Island-Powell River as off the 18:15 run from Blubber Bay on Friday the 19th. Freeing the Bowen Queen to replace the Queen of Capilano on the Bowen Island run.
The Tachek will remain at Texada at least untill October 10th, (knowing the NIP it probably be longer.).
BC Ferries also said if necessary they could put the Nimpkish on line within an hour to handle any overloads.
Ray
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Post by ray on Oct 2, 2003 19:42:51 GMT -8
A update on the “North Island Princess”. She will be out of service until October 30th. Mainly because the work being done on her is taken longer then first planed. Until then the “Tachek” will be serving the Powell River-Taxada Island. The “Nimpkish” remain on one hour stand-be, however so far has not been put service. This could change after October 26th. when “Doe” hunting season opens on Texada, luckily by the start of the first big weekend the “NIP” will be likely back in service. Ray |
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Post by ferryfreak on Oct 28, 2003 7:42:47 GMT -8
i live in powell river and go on the ferries all the time
mostly the texada ferry. i hope the make the right choice when they retire the NIP
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Post by clay on Jan 11, 2005 1:39:24 GMT -8
The sooner the NIP is retired, the better. She's old, underpowered, and has poor maneuverability due to her catamaran hulls. The inside of each hull is dead flat, so when she's being rotated to back into her berth, what you have is a giant slab of flat steel being pushed through the water sideways on both sides. Very frustrating in high winds and/or when the tide is running.
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Post by Ian on Jan 11, 2005 19:39:10 GMT -8
She is even more ugly than the alberni. She has been cut and sliced more too.
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Post by Balfour on Jan 11, 2005 19:54:16 GMT -8
I don't think so, but I have never been on her before, or seen her original form.
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Post by Ian on Jan 11, 2005 21:09:38 GMT -8
Your not missing anything great or extraordinary.
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Post by clay on Jan 12, 2005 2:28:26 GMT -8
Yes, it's true, the NIP was both stretched and widened. That's why she's a catamaran. When she was widened they simply welded flat steel panels onto the inside hull area where she was sliced lengthwise. And no, don't worry. You ain't missin' a thang by not sailing on her. Put it this way; sailing on the NIP is like sailing on a motorized seaspan barge with a superstructure. I used to go on her quite a bit when she was on the Campbell River-Quadra Island run back in 1987-1988. She does handle rough seas fairly well, though.
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Post by Curtis on Jan 12, 2005 8:40:51 GMT -8
Pics of her original form are are found on the British Columbia Ferry Corporation Archives on the first page of Queen of Alberni what to do about it
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But, alas, I've got no money:( The NIP has quite a history and I was glad I got a chance to take a ride on her this summer. It would be a shame for it to be scrapped, however that's the way most ferries have gone, unfortunately. 
