3rd 64-car ferry: purchased by BC Ferries?

[Ferryman]

I was aboard three sailings on the Island Home in 2007, and she was brand spanking new that year. I was lucky enough to make it up to the Bridge for each of those trips, and even got to tour the engine room. Everything on that ship was very simple, and it gave me the impression it was a bit of an economic Ferry. No fancy seats, simple bridge equipment, simple layout. I did find the operation of the vessel to be a little interesting, with the fact that they would use the propellar at the bow to pull the ship ahead, at the same time as using the propellar at the stern. I questioned this method with the Captain on board that day, with wondering if that would cause extra drag. But apparently it actually assists with the speed of the vessel.

The Island Home also has retractable decks, similar to what you see on our Spirit Class. There are two seperate retractable decks, and both of them would add an additional 16 cars to the load. But they would only use one of those decks to allow for more overheight traffic. Those decks seemed like a real pain to use though, because terminal staff would have to stop each car before it boarded the ship, to tell all of the passengers to walk on to the vessel, because the retractable deck is very narrow.

I wish I could post the video footage I captured from those trips, but those videos are stuck on my busted external hard drive. All I have is photos, which I've posted on this forum a number of times now.

[Kahloke]

I actually had an interesting thought: the 64-car ferry template may not be of any use to BC Ferries, but the 144-car ferry design could be an excellent replacement for the Queens of Burnaby and Nanaimo on Rtes 9 and 17. And, before anyone says it, I am aware that those two vessels will be in the fleet for some time to come, and I am aware this idea has no basis in reality. But, since we're in dreamland on this thread, hear me out.



The 144-car ferry, as seen here, could be modified for BC Ferries by fully enclosing the car deck with bow doors, and removing all of the car deck port holes/openings. If it is possible, it may be nice to keep some of the openings on the upper car deck (gallery wing) level, but I don't know if Transport Canada will allow that anymore for newbuilds (not counting the older vessels already in the fleet that are grandfathered in). This design already has 4 evacuation slides from the passenger cabin, so that would not need to be modified too much. The rescue boats could be moved up to the Sun Deck. Such a design would have enough passenger cabin space to accommodate a Coast Cafe and Passages Gift Shop, or even a combined Coast Cafe Express/Gift Shop like what Island Sky has, although this vessel would be larger than Island Sky. Passenger access to and from the car deck levels would be classic WSF and C-Class design with two casings accommodating 4 stairwells and 2 elevators, and a centre tunnel on the car deck.

BC Ferries could potentially build 3 of them, operating 2 on Route 9 during the summer and shoulder seasons, and one on Route 17. You would need 2 on Route 9 during the busy season because these are smaller capacity vessels than Queen of Nanaimo. During the refit season, one would be on standby status to fill in when the other vessels rotate through their maintenance cycles.

Anyway, I didn't mean to hijack this thread, but I figure it is somewhat related to the current discussion.

[FNS]

Great idea, "Kahloke"!



Here's what I've come up with. Same design with a bow door at each end and the rescue boats moved up to the Saloon Deck. Also, you can see the Swartz Bay/Nanaimo foot passenger gates added. One of these could be placed on a night owl round trip between the lower mainland and the island if desired.

I have placed a similar design on one of the threads on this forum. This has been modified a bit.

The stacks would also get cosmetic extras with steel tubes installed all around to accommodate the slugs and give the vessel a bit of an FSG look.

I have done one of these with the BCF logos added. I await a moderator's guidance whether these should be shown.

Enjoy!

[Low Light Mike]

Mar 11, 2010 9:13:54 GMT -8 Kahloke said:

Anyway, I didn't mean to hijack this thread, but I figure it is somewhat related to the current discussion.

Not a hijack at all. Thanks for contributing your idea to this fun thread.

[Low Light Mike]

Mar 11, 2010 12:38:30 GMT -8 FNS said:

I have done one of these with the BCF logos added. I await a moderator's guidance whether these should be shown.Enjoy!

It all depends on your ability to handle any potential messages from BC Ferries to you. If you can take any BCF "brand police" requests in-stride, then go for it. If you freak out at those kinds of things, then save yourself the trauma and drama.

I like your work: thanks for sharing it here.

[Kahloke]

Mar 11, 2010 12:38:30 GMT -8 FNS said:

Nice drawings, Ferrynut!

[FNS]

Thanks for the complements!

I will just leave this as is with no BCF logos. Most of you would know what the slugs may look like on the stacks and the BCF logo on the ship's sides. Thanks for the guidance.

Let's keep on dreaming!

[Kahloke]

Mar 11, 2010 19:59:47 GMT -8 FNS said:

Thanks for the complements!

I will just leave this as is with no BCF logos. Most of you would know what the slugs may look like on the stacks and the BCF logo on the ship's sides. Thanks for the guidance.

True enough. And, for this month, all one needs to do is look at my signature pic to be reminded of what the slugs look like ;D

[Barnacle]

Interesting to note that it looks suspiciously like the Alberni... ;D

[zargoman]

Having a 3rd 64 boat would be good for WSF. Although small, it would be nice to have a boat that could be thrown into service in the event of a breakdown of another vessel. I am mostly speaking on the part of the Bremerton route, as lately (with the exception of the Kitsap last week), the only back-up plan is to get the Victoria Express boats. Even though it's only 64 cars, it's 64 cars more than their current passenger only backup plan.

[Barnacle]

Actually the third 64-car boat is intended for regular service at Point Defiance. The ultimate plan is to end up with an 85-car relief boat, I think.

[Mike C]

One of the older posts in this thread mentioned selling the KDT's to BC Ferries. I have been wondering where three mammoth 64-vehicle ferries would go.

Chetzmoka: route 9A (Tsawwassen-Southern Gulf Islands, Tsawwassen-based) in the summer, relief for PRQ/HSQ-class and Quinsam vessels in winter
Kennewick and Salish: tandem for Route 7 (Earls Cove-Saltery Bay), creating 128 vehicle capacity.

This would send the Island Sky to Bowen, the Capilano to replace the Mayne Queen, which would be either a spare, retired, or sent to replace the HSQ.

Just a thought.