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Post by WettCoast on Apr 25, 2022 16:23:19 GMT -8
Question: It's been long-said, that Phil Spaulding had to cut a lot of features out of Columbia, for cost and political/timeline reasons. What exactly did Phil have to delete from the design? What features left-off, could have made her a better ship? I have no answers for you but maybe one of our Alaska-based members ( Name Omitted , ancflyer) knows something? Or perhaps EGfleet ? |
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Post by ancflyer on May 7, 2022 4:53:20 GMT -8
I really can't answer that question. I recall the reason for her existence - replace the Wickersham - but as for the politics and budgeting involved in her procurement I have no clue. I was fifteen years old when she was launched and didn't have much interest in state budget or politics then. I have sailed on her many times, and my only real criticism is purely sentimental (it isn't the Matanuska). Much more attractive than Kennicott, still a Spaulding, but not a Malaspina class. Those are the ferries I grew up with.
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Post by Name Omitted on May 9, 2022 16:29:20 GMT -8
I really can't answer that question. I recall the reason for her existence - replace the Wickersham - but as for the politics and budgeting involved in her procurement I have no clue. I was fifteen years old when she was launched and didn't have much interest in state budget or politics then. I have sailed on her many times, and my only real criticism is purely sentimental (it isn't the Matanuska). Much more attractive than Kennicott, still a Spaulding, but not a Malaspina class. Those are the ferries I grew up with. She was built before I was born. That being said, I could hazard a few guesses from what I do know. The Wickersham was a modern ferry-liner. She offered an experience halfway between a cruise and a ferry. There may be some clues as to what we asked for with the design of Columbia in her having a sit-down restaurant as well as a cafeteria. She has notes of a liner that the rest of the fleet lack, it's possible that there was more of a pull in that direction then the budget would warrant. |
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Post by articulated on Nov 21, 2022 19:08:54 GMT -8
I made a 5-week road trip to and through Alaska back in the summer, which of course included some ferry action. Here is Columbia, spending some time in the Vigor Shipyard drydock getting some maintenance done. This view is from the deck of the ferry to Ketchikan Airport. You can tell that the times are still not "normal" when Columbia is able to spend the entirety of the peak season laid up in drydock.  AMHS Columbia by Andrew Crawford, on Flickr |
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Jan 14, 2023 22:55:37 GMT -8
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Post by yak on Feb 24, 2023 18:23:46 GMT -8
Ran into her (well, not literally) a few nights ago in Discovery Passage. Whenever we get visitors like this I am pretty sure the bridge crew smile and nod out of politeness as the Captain rambles on about Spaulding heritage in our own fleet... |
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Neil
Voyager 
Posts: 7,309
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Post by Neil on Feb 24, 2023 22:17:44 GMT -8
Ran into her (well, not literally) a few nights ago in Discovery Passage. Whenever we get visitors like this I am pretty sure the bridge crew smile and nod out of politeness as the Captain rambles on about Spaulding heritage in our own fleet... So... Alaska is actually going to invest money into patching a worn out 60 year old Matanuska? I guess the hard core ferry fans will rejoice. People who want a sustainable marine transportation network on either side of our border might have some qualms. At least Columbia, the nicest looking ferry on the west coast of North America will be back in service. |
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Post by paulvanb on Mar 15, 2023 21:09:12 GMT -8
When Ferries meet in Bellingham. Columbia in her berth and The Evergreen State looking so forlorn.  |
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Post by Ollie on Oct 4, 2023 20:53:13 GMT -8
The Alaska ferry Columbia at Bellingham, USA, October 3 2023.
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grk2
Chief Steward
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Post by grk2 on Oct 15, 2023 19:12:37 GMT -8
A great view of a very West Coast design. A true classic in our waters thanks for posting
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Post by SS San Mateo on Jul 25, 2024 19:09:03 GMT -8
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Sept 19, 2024 16:15:41 GMT -8
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,309
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Post by Neil on Sept 19, 2024 17:31:33 GMT -8
trial, not trail... Thanks for that interesting link, BBF. Hawaii did eventually get a ferry... briefly. I think it was called the Hawaii Superferry or something, running from Oahu to Maui. I'm not sure if it was financial or environmental concerns that shut it down. Fascinating to think the Columbia was considered, and I'd love to see the Spaulding design that was proposed. Looks like AMHS runs that facebook page. Have to give them credit for bravery; it looks like a place for Alaskans to unload- understandably- about the severely diminished stature of their ferry system. |
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Post by Kahloke on Sept 19, 2024 18:47:42 GMT -8
Thanks for that interesting link, BBF. Hawaii did eventually get a ferry... briefly. I think it was called the Hawaii Superferry or something, running from Oahu to Maui. I'm not sure if it was financial or environmental concerns that shut it down. One of Hawaii's "fast cats", the Alakai, found new life with Bay Ferries Limited running between Yarmouth, NS and Bar Harbor, ME, essentially taking over for Nova Star which is now operating for POLFerries in the Baltic Sea, running between Gdansk, Poland, and a port in Sweden which I don't recall the name of. After Bay Ferries took over Nova Star's operations, they moved the Maine terminal from Portland back to Bar Harbor, where the first "CAT" used to operate from, prior to its demise and Nova Star. |
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