MV Columbia (AMHS)

[SS Shasta]

BTW: Those photos if MV Columbia in layup at Ketchikan in December 2009 also show a bit of ice in the water. It does get cold in Ketchikan during the winter ;D.

[Low Light Mike]

Columbia on a snowy day:



Or maybe that's just a summer night shot, doctored in Picasa?

- Here's another night-turned-to-day shot. I was happy to at least be able to illuminate the gold-stripe on her hull.


Hmmm, I wonder if Kelsey Bay, on a late-June Saturday morning would be a good location for an early morning photo-op for Columbia? I'll keep that in mind for this coming June.

[plansea]

MV Columbia at Alaska Ship and Drydock, Ketchikan, AK January 28/29 2010

www.pbase.com/portwelland/image/121578338

www.pbase.com/portwelland/image/121578381

www.pbase.com/portwelland/image/121578432

www.pbase.com/portwelland/image/121578411

[SS Shasta]

Looks like the MV Columbia's return to service is being delayed with no clear reason listed. The AMHS flagship has been idle in Ketchikan since last September which makes one wonder why the vessel will not be returning until June rather than May 2010. The MV Malaspina will be substituted for MV Columbia for most of May into early June on the Bellingham/SE Alaska run.

[darkfred]

The root of the reason "why" is and always has been the lack of good management by AMHS engineering shore side support .

Pretty much all of the major problems with vessel machinery, cost overruns, and personnel problems can be laid at the feet of engineering support.
The vessel crews do their best to keep the vessels operational. the Vessel management team (Master and Chief engineer) iare basically cut out of the decision loop here in AMHS. A highly unusual situation compared to the rest of the maritime world.
Take a look at State of alaska financial records (AMHS ) section over the past five plus years. Highly unusual that the years before the current regime came into power the maintenance costs were fairly flat. After that there has been a steady increase every year. Even with taking into account of the age of the fleet the cost increases are unusual.
If you look at how AMHS management has evolved (actually devolved) you will see that all the budget control and planning has been consolidated or deferred to the engineering shoreside support section. The vessels have no control or knowledge of their operational or maintenance budget. Again the vessels management team is basically cut out of the information loop in this case.
I would say it is high time that the people of the state of alaska take back their ferry system from transplanted career bureaucrats.

[alaskanmohican]

My brother and I took a ferry trip on the Columbia to Skagway and back to Juneau yesterday. Here are some photos of the ship.

The Columbia at 3:45 am at Auke Bay.




The Solarium.




The Forward Observation Lounge located on the Cabin Deck.


The following two photos were taken by my brother. Used by permission.
The Upper Car Deck. What looks like two cages are the vehicle elevators to the Main Car Deck.


Another Forward Lounge, this one located on the Boat Deck above the lounge on the Cabin Deck.


Some interior decor.




Looking aft towards the Dining Room on the Boat Deck. The Solarium is above on the Bridge Deck.


Next to the Dining Room, looking aft. The rock in the distance is actually the Eldred Rock Lighthouse in Lynn Canal.


The Dining Room with an area for tents below.


The Purser's Counter.






One final photo of the Columbia in Skagway, courtesy of my brother.

[Mill Bay]

Wow! It's amazing to get a glimpse inside the Columbia. Those vehicle elevators must be quite the operation to oversee when loading vehicles onto the upper car deck.

[lmtengs]

Great photos! When was Columbia built? She looks very similar to the late Queen of the North.

[alaskanmohican]

Regarding the Upper Car Deck, it is used mainly in Bellingham, Haines and Skagway, the "terminuses" of the Bellingham run. Sometimes it is used at other ports as well, it is just a little more difficult to use. It takes longer to load and unload, the elevators take about 1 vehicle at a time, and then you also have to keep an area clear on the main car deck below if you want to use it at a port other than the "end of the line" ports.

The Columbia entered service in 1974. As far as looking similar to the Queen of the North, it would be more acurate to say that she looks similar to the MV Wickersham.

The Wickersham was built in Sweden in 1967, I believe, and could be considered a sort of older sister to the ship that would become the Queen of the North. The Wickersham was of a slighlty earlier design that was similar to the Queen of the North. The Wickersham was originally called Stena Britannica.

The Wickersham could not carry passengers or vehciles between Alaskan ports due to the Jones Act. However she could carry people and vehicles from a Canadian port to a US one. The Wickersham was bought by the state to begin service from Seattle to Alaska, the Wicky had to stop at Prince Rupert enroute as part of the temporary waiver to the Jones Act. For a brief peroid around 1969, the Wicky also made port calls at Vancouver as well.

The Columbia was built to replace the Wickersham, and there are some similarities in appearance to the Wickersham.

Here are some more photos from the trip my brother and I took the other day.

The Solarium.


The Dining Room.


A shot from inside the Snack Bar. Columbia has a dining room with sit down restaurant style dining and a snack bar that actually serves full meals and is more like the cafeteria style dining found on most other AMHS vessels.


A view of the passage way next to the Snack Bar.


The Bridge Deck, this view is from the solarium looking forward.


The view from the lower forward lounge while docked at Skagway.


A view of a 4 berth outside stateroom, unseen are the sink and lavatory with a shower.


The Builders Plaque.


Some more interior decor.


Finally, the Columbia at Skagway.

[alaskanmohican]

Jul 7, 2010 20:19:31 GMT -8 @4roads said:

Very fascinating pictures.

Columbia leaves Bellingham at around 6 to 7 PM, and arrives offshore from Roberts Bank and Sand Heads at around 9 to 10 PM, so there isn't much of a daylight window to see her. Scott was out on the Duke Point run last year hoping to meet her and did, was watching from my Coast station here via Siitech.

She was built in Seattle and since she was U.S Made, she was able to circumvent much of the Jones Act's provisions.

She looks to be well cared for, compared to some of the BC Ferries which are sadly getting to be a bit rough around the edges.

Was able to locate the lighthouse on charts.

Hope there's more pictures!

Alaska isn't an area many of us can get to, but I have heard the passenger fares are incredibly cheap compared to ours with BC Ferries, even with the exchange.

Kep the pictures coming. The area must be spectacular when there is a rare stretch of sunny weather up there.

Thanks for the comments, there are a few more photos, and some others I may put in other threads as they are not specifically about the Columbia.

As far as fares for AMHS, I really couldn't say how they compare to BC Ferries. At the Marine Highway we have people with the state who have gone to great lengths to complicate our fare structure and have done an admirable job at it.

As far as sailing out of Bellingham, we tell people that the cost is comparable to driving up to Alaska. It all depends on what type of vehicle, it's fuel mileage, the highway route a traveler follows and if one tents or hotels it up the highway.

Generally we've found that if you are traveling with a smaller vehicle and camping alot, then it will likely be cheaper to drive, however, if you are taking a larger vehicle and especially if you stay at hotels while traveling, the cost of the ferry will be about the same or cheaper.

The real selling point with the ferries for out of state travelers is that it is a different route with very different scenery than when you drive. We really encourage people to drive one way, and take the ferry the other.

And what is this sunshine you speak of?

[Neil]

Jul 7, 2010 20:19:31 GMT -8 @4roads said:

Alaska isn't an area many of us can get to, but I have heard the passenger fares are incredibly cheap compared to ours with BC Ferries, even with the exchange.

A few comparisons, taking into account a small vehicle and two passengers.

Tsawwassen - Duke Point, 2 hours: $75
Skagway - Haines, 1 hour: $123 (U.S)
Ketchikan - Metlakatla, 1 hour: $85 (U.S)
Wrangell - Petersburg, 3 hours: $120 (U.S.)

No incredibly cheap fares to be had in Alaska, I'm afraid.

[Scott]

Jul 7, 2010 22:17:45 GMT -8 Neil said:

Jul 7, 2010 20:19:31 GMT -8 @4roads said:

Alaska isn't an area many of us can get to, but I have heard the passenger fares are incredibly cheap compared to ours with BC Ferries, even with the exchange.

A few comparisons, taking into account a small vehicle and two passengers.

Tsawwassen - Duke Point, 2 hours: $75
Skagway - Haines, 1 hour: $123 (U.S)
Ketchikan - Metlakatla, 1 hour: $85 (U.S)
Wrangell - Petersburg, 3 hours: $120 (U.S.)

No incredibly cheap fares to be had in Alaska, I'm afraid.

And if you're just talking about walk-on passengers it's:

Tsawwassen - Duke Point, 2 hours: $14
Skagway - Haines, 1 hour: $31 (U.S)
Ketchikan - Metlakatla, 1 hour: $25 (U.S)
Wrangell - Petersburg, 3 hours: $33 (U.S.)

So... averaging about double the price for half the fun:)

Maybe it's just due to the complicated geography and routes, but Alaska's fare and schedule system is pretty complicated. It doesn't help that their website is like a scrapbook of information and half the pages leave you with more questions than answers.

[northwesterner]

Love the shot of Skagway looking across the bow and windlass on the Columbia. I can see my office from that picture!

Its been a crummy few weeks up here at the north end of Lynn Canal, but the sun finally broke through today and it was beautiful.

As for driving from Bellingham vs. taking the Ferry - in my experience, it is considerably cheaper just to drive up. I've done, and kept the receipts.

Additional photos of the Columbia from when I rode her Skagway to Juneau last summer are available at this link:
ferriesbc.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=gt&action=display&thread=7107

[alaskanmohican]

Jul 7, 2010 22:58:06 GMT -8 Scott said:

And if you're just talking about walk-on passengers it's:

Tsawwassen - Duke Point, 2 hours: $14
Skagway - Haines, 1 hour: $31 (U.S)
Ketchikan - Metlakatla, 1 hour: $25 (U.S)
Wrangell - Petersburg, 3 hours: $33 (U.S.)

So... averaging about double the price for half the fun:)

Maybe it's just due to the complicated geography and routes, but Alaska's fare and schedule system is pretty complicated. It doesn't help that their website is like a scrapbook of information and half the pages leave you with more questions than answers.

It is true that AMHS has a complicated system. The schedules are due in part to the need to have vessels be at certain narrows and straits when the tide is right, and is also affected by dock usage. Many terminals only have space for one ferry at a time.

There is also the political aspect. You have different governing officials who lobby for service in one area and the Marine Highway tries to balance that with the needs and demands of other areas. How successful they are at this is debatable.

As far as the fares, for many people it is cheaper to drive than to sail to Alaska. However, there are instances where the costs can be comparable. Still like I mentioned above, the real selling point for the ferries is that it is an alternative to driving, not really that it is more economical.

Now for local travel between communities ferries can be cheaper than the alternative of flying. Also the ferries are usually the only way to travel with your car and they do cost less than barge services normally.

So as far as being cheaper, it depends on what you are comparing it to, local transportation services or other ferry systems.

I should also add that the fares are first based on nautical mile and not duration. Also how much a route is subsidized can affect the fares as well.

So all in all, yes AMHS is a complicated system, and I am sure someone somewhere is is quite proud of this accomplishment, I just haven't found them yet.

[WettCoast]

I read the fare comparisons between AMHS & BCFS given above by Neil & John H, and thought to myself that these were not really telling the 'whole truth'. So I have done some homework of my own...

My comparison is based on this summer's high season rates on both systems and compares long distance northern BCFS operations with similar AMHS operations. All information used is from the public websites of both organizations. The results paint a fair bit different picture than has been provided by Neil & John. I invite others to verify my figures.



You will see that the BCFS route to Haida Gwaii from Prince Rupert is almost exactly the same distance as AMHS's route from Rupert to Ketchikan. BCFS's passenger fare on the HG route is much cheaper than AMHS's passenger fare on the Ketchikan run. The situation changes when you include auto fares in the comparison such that the cost per km of travel is almost equal. If, your vehicle is over height, the BCFS fare works out as 35% more expensive than AMHS.

Comparing BCFS's Inside Passage route to AMHS's Ketchikan to Bellingham route comes out way in favour of AMHS being better value. On a cost per km basis for car & driver the BCFS rate is 36% higher. If the vehicle is over height the difference is much greater - 72%.

The winner for most expensive route of those that I have checked out, however, goes to the Discovery Coast between Port Hardy & Bella Coola. A driver with an over height vehicle will pay more than twice as much per km than he would if travelling on AMHS's Bellingham to Ketchikan route.

I have used an exchange rate of 1 Canadian $ = 0.96 US $'s in making these comparisons. I have also not factored in such items as sitting in the forward observation lounge. On AMHS's Columbia there is no extra charge while on BCFS's Northern Expedition it will cost $30 extra.

PS: I was unable to find the exact sea distance between Port Hardy & Bella Coola. If anyone provide me with that information I would appreciate it.

[Neil]

Thanks for all that research, Jim. Interesting. I don't know that it contradicts what I posted, though; I think it shows that BC Ferries is perhaps more expensive per kilometre over a long distance, but I think AMH is still pricier on the few short runs that they do.

It might be unfair to include the Port Hardy - Bella Coola route, because in essence that is a tourist oriented, seasonal route, which is not the only way for residents to drive out, as the panhandle ferries are.

If we wanted to complicate the equation further we might introduce the fact that AMH receives a subsidy of about $135 million to carry only 400,000 passengers, while BC Ferries carries in excess of 20 million on a subsidy of $150 million, but we would have to compare also the mileage and time passengers spend on board, and that's too involved for me.

In any event, chances are that most customers of either carrier feel they're paying too much, whether they actually are or not.

[alaskanmohican]

Interesting comparisons by all. A few more numbers just for fun:

Ports/Terminals: AMHS 32, BCF 47

Routes: AMHS 12, BCF 25

Total Route Length (nautical miles): AMHS 3500, BCF 755

AMHS carries less people with less ships, serving fewer communites, however the distance people travel is far greater.

It really is difficult to accurately compare the two systems. The closest routes that BCF has to what AMHS operates is the northern routes.

And like "Neil" pointed out, it doesn't matter which ferry system you ride, most people feel they pay too much, who knows, maybe they do.

[alaskanmohican]

Here are some more random photos from the last trip I took on the Columbia.



Some views from inside the dining room, courtesy of my brother, used by permission.






Looking back at the wake.


Veiwing a glacier in the distance.


Columbia's wake. What is it about a ship's wake that is so mesmerizing?




Looking over the solarium at the funnel.


The Alaska flag, also the house flag for AMHS.


Looking aft outside on the boat deck.


In case the Captain forgets where it is.


Zoomed in on the horns.




Upper deck (deck 5) outside next to some staterooms. This is the deck the Purser's Counter is on.


Looking aft while Columbia makes the turn into Auke Bay.


Finally, Columbia peeking around the Skagway Terminal building.

[novabus9228]

mv Columbia passing Campbell River at about 9:55pm on Canada Day 2010 southbound for Bellingham. I took this video while waiting for the Fireworks to begin.

[Scott (Former Account)]

Columbia passing Ivory Island.



Columbia sailing northbound in Milbanke Sound.





Photos taken from BC Ferries' Northern Expedition, August 7, 2010.

[SS Shasta]

MV Columbia departed Ketchikan yesterday for Bellingham, Wa. This is her last scheduled voyage south to Puget Sound for the 2010 Summer Season. Next week MV Malaspina will replace MV Columbia on the route.

I would think that this change is a week or two too early. With the end of the summer cruise ship season, there is often a sharp increase in southbound traffic on AMHS.

[alaskanmohican]

Sept 9, 2010 15:26:23 GMT -8 SS Shasta said:

I would think that this change is a week or two too early. With the end of the summer cruise ship season, there is often a sharp increase in southbound traffic on AMHS.

I definitely agree with this. When the Mal takes over the Bellingham run, she quickly sells out of car deck space for about the first month of service.

I think that the Columbia could stay on the run into the first part of October and still have full sailings with the "southbound migration" that happens every year as people head back outside.

[Deleted]

Just a few spaces the general populace rarely sees...

MAL

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[Deleted]

Local Control Panel... and 2 Enterprise DMRV-16-4 Mains...

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[Scott (Former Account)]

Thank you for sharing these images with us, shipyardwanderer.