Mirrlees
Voyager
Bathtub!
Deck Engineer- Queen of Richmond
Posts: 1,013
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Post by Mirrlees on Jan 17, 2011 21:51:13 GMT -8
It's the Master's decision which way to depart. I'm betting Skeena Queen went through Goose Pass while the New West took the the Portland Island detour.
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Nick
Voyager
Chief Engineer - Queen of Richmond
Posts: 2,078
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Post by Nick on Jan 17, 2011 22:03:15 GMT -8
Sometimes, depending on the tides, going via Moresby can save time because the turns are slower allowing the vessel to get up to speed faster.
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Post by FerryDude2012 on Jan 30, 2011 0:06:00 GMT -8
SOVI returns today as #2 out of Swartz Bay today, and the SOBC is going for refit. In a few weeks, the SOVI returns as #1 out of Swartz Bay, and the CC is back to her usual #2 position out of Swartz Bay. Does anybody know what they did to the SOVI during her mini-refit?
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Post by Queen of Vancouver on Jan 30, 2011 5:46:06 GMT -8
i have no idea but she was at swartz bay the wholt time i was out there on friday and she was running and puffing lots of black smoke for like 2 sec every couple of min almost looked like she was going to back up
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Post by lmtengs on Jan 30, 2011 10:44:00 GMT -8
i have no idea but she was at swartz bay the wholt time i was out there on friday and she was running and puffing lots of black smoke for like 2 sec every couple of min almost looked like she was going to back up That would be her engines starting up. I posted a photo of a Spirit doing that this summer. Also, to Ferrydude, I know they did some work on her safety equipment, since all her lifeboats and zodiacs were removed, and they may have done something with the foot-passenger exit on the starboard bow, because that entire area was torn up last sunday (viewable in the SoVI photo gallery).
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Post by Ferryman on Jan 30, 2011 14:08:44 GMT -8
While I wouldn't know for sure, but I'd almost suspect the work that was done to the SOVI's overhead walkway gates, was done to allow for use in the new Berth 4 at Tsawwassen someday? I'm not sure if the Spirits ever used Berth 4, but I've seen them use Berth 3 a few times, and the gate on the port side is positioned differently than the starboard side.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Feb 2, 2011 12:45:54 GMT -8
Here is a comparison between SOVI, SOBC and CCEL on fuel usage. This is an FOI request's information released on Feb.1st. - comparison of "litres per round trip", so this is a comparable statistic, regardless of how many trips a ship takes on a day. foi.bcferries.com/2010-025-responsiverecord.pdf
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Post by gordon on Feb 2, 2011 13:38:11 GMT -8
The statistics show the C cell using less fuel per trip than the Spirits, better fuel efficiency. I would think it would pay B.C. Ferries to use 2 Coastals on route #1 in the off season.
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Nick
Voyager
Chief Engineer - Queen of Richmond
Posts: 2,078
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Post by Nick on Feb 2, 2011 14:33:06 GMT -8
You are forgetting that the Coastals were designed for a 40 YEAR LIFE SPAN. We have seen them in operation for a maximum of 3 years, or less than 10% of their expected life span. This is a very small window of statistics to look at and decide that they are too big. Demand WILL increase with time. You don't go building infrastructure so that it can be at maximum capacity right off the get-go, otherwise you're always building to increase capacity and build twice as often as you need to.
Take a look at the Deas tunnel, for example. When it was built in the late 50's, everybody was criticizing the government for spending so much on building it 4 lanes wide, when it was only necessary to build 2 lanes. Well, if you look at it now, it's running at or beyond capacity for the majority of the day. However, aside from adding a counterflow lane, we've done nothing to it to increase capacity since it' was built. This has saved us a considerable amount of money, since it was done properly to begin with.
In 10 to 15 years, once the C class are retired, I'm betting the ridership on the coast will increase to the point that the Coastals are needed. At that point, everybody will be pleased as punch that BCF built the ships slightly overkill, so that they wouldn't have to build NEW ships to replace ones that are only 15 years old.
EDIT: I realize after posting that I'm replying to a message that has been deleted by a mod or it's author.
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Post by WettCoast on Feb 2, 2011 20:41:09 GMT -8
As I have said before one needs to consider capacity when you compare vessels regarding their fuel consumption. The figures provided by BCFS re consumption per round trip show an average of about 6900 litres for the C-Cel, versus 8345 for the Spirits.
The Spirits, however carry 40 more cars, and are listed as carrying about 500 more passengers. Fuel consumed per vehicle carried is 9.3 litres on the C-Cel versus 10.2 litres on the Spirits. This is based on fully loaded vessels (410 & 370 vehicles respectively Spirit versus Coastal) & on a one way trip. The difference is brought down further if you factor in the additional 60-car capacity that the Spirits have (had) when the platform decks are in use.
If you look at this on a passenger carrying capacity basis the Spirits actually are slightly more efficient, requiring 2.0 litres per person versus 2.15 litres on the C-Cel. This is based on BCFS listed passenger capacities (2100 & 1604 respectively, Spirit versus Coastal) & on a one way trip.
The Coastal vessels could also be fitted with platform decks allowing them to move an additional ~60 vehicles. Because of the speed advantage I am sure that they could keep the Route 1 schedule. The fuel consumption would no doubt increase significantly in such a circumstance.
I am curious also as to why the Coastals are listed as having a passenger capacity 500 fewer than the Spirits. They seem to me to have a similar amount of interior space. A Coastal with 1600 passengers aboard would be crowded, whereas a Spirit with 2100 aboards would be 'stuffed'.
Last point... Service on Route 1 is currently being provided by one Coastal and one lifted V/B class through most of the week. This is the lowest level of capacity that BC Ferries has provided on Route 1 since before 1993. And they are doing this on the route that is by far the busiest, at any season of the year, and with by far the highest occupancy rate. This route should always be served by at least two of the big ships - either Spirit or Coastal. The QNWM should never be serving as a primary vessel. This is poor service from BCFS.
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Post by Low Light Mike on May 7, 2011 21:44:46 GMT -8
From a BCFS May 5, 2011 response report to the BC Ferry Commissioner (see the "performance term 3" thread in the news page, for more on this). -------------
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Post by gordon on May 7, 2011 22:14:58 GMT -8
What would the Vehicle Capacity of this vessel be?
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Post by ferryfanyvr on Jul 7, 2011 22:06:26 GMT -8
Here are the ship assignments for route 1 for the period Oct 12, 2011 to March 30, 2012, according to the BCF Travel Centre. The Spirits are once again spending much time as #2 vessels. Oct 12-Nov14: Swartz Bay: #1: CC, #2: SOVI Tsawwassen: #1: SOBC Nov15-Dec15: Swartz Bay: #1: CC, #2: SOVI Tsawwassen: #1: CR Dec16-Dec17: Swartz Bay: #1: SOVI, #2: CC Tsawwassen: #1: CR Dec18-Jan4: Swartz Bay: #1: SOVI, #2: CC Tsawwassen #1: SOBC, #2: CR Jan5-Feb16: Swartz Bay: #1: CC Tsawwassen: #1: CR, #2: SOBC Feb17-Mar30: Swartz Bay: #1: SOVI, #2: CC Tsawwassen: #1: CR So..................lots of upcoming opportunities to see 2 Coastals passing each other in Active Pass
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Post by Ferryman on Jul 7, 2011 23:02:04 GMT -8
Next question is....what happens with the New West? As noted by ferryfanyvr, the Coastal Renaissance is deployed on Route 1 out of Tsawwassen as the number two vessel. This would mean that either the New West is deployed to Route 2 (most desired IMO) as the number 2 vessel, and the Coquitlam staying on Route 3 as the number 2 vessel. The reason why I say the New West might be better on Route 2 is due to its amenities, as in the Seawest lounge which would be a waste on Route 3.
Should be interesting to see how it all pans out nonetheless.
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Post by ferryfanyvr on Jul 8, 2011 7:53:06 GMT -8
Next question is....what happens with the New West? As noted by ferryfanyvr, the Coastal Renaissance is deployed on Route 1 out of Tsawwassen as the number two vessel. This would mean that either the New West is deployed to Route 2 (most desired IMO) as the number 2 vessel, and the Coquitlam staying on Route 3 as the number 2 vessel. The reason why I say the New West might be better on Route 2 is due to its amenities, as in the Seawest lounge which would be a waste on Route 3. Should be interesting to see how it all pans out nonetheless. I don't think the New West will be used on Rt2 unless absolutely necessary as she can't maintain the the every-2-hour off season schedule (it was tried 9 or 10 years ago.) Also, berth 3 is the only HSB berth that she can ideally use. She can't use berth 2 as the upper ramp at that berth doesn't articulate, and the overhead walkway at berth 1 doesn't fit. I believe the Alberni is scheduled for a longer than normal refit this year so the New West may be on rt 30 for a couple months, and the New West herself may also be scheduled for a similar length refit. That could account for about 4 months' time for the whereabouts of the New West.
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Post by lmtengs on Jul 8, 2011 9:39:25 GMT -8
I don't think the New West will be used on Rt2 unless absolutely necessary as she can't maintain the the every-2-hour off season schedule (it was tried 9 or 10 years ago.) Also, berth 3 is the only HSB berth that she can ideally use. She can't use berth 2 as the upper ramp at that berth doesn't articulate, and the overhead walkway at berth 1 doesn't fit. Has she even been to HSB since her MLU? They might have changed her footie exits a bit to accomodate the berths there. It's a long-shot, but a possibility...
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Post by Nickfro on Jul 8, 2011 10:03:59 GMT -8
I don't see the Queen of New Westminster coming to Horseshoe Bay at all. There are 4 C Class ferries to share Routes 2 & 3, and they only need all 4 during the Christmas holidays. Other than that, between Thanksgiving and Easter, 3 C Class ferries will serve those routes, rotating out 1 boat at a time for refits.
If the Queen of Alberni goes out for a longer than normal refit, it's obvious what ferry will replace it: one that shares the same home port. I think that'll be the only time the New West will not be on Route 1, in refit, or laid up.
As for the Spirits being number two, I only like that decision when the number one boat has the same amenities available, which in this case the Coastal Renaissance is lacking the buffet. It's different when it's replacing a Spirit while in refit, but when the Spirit of BC is just sitting idle, I scratch my head a bit, even though I know BCFS is only looking at the bottom line.
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Post by Scott (Former Account) on Jul 8, 2011 10:13:03 GMT -8
Has she even been to HSB since her MLU? They might have changed her footie exits a bit to accomodate the berths there. It's a long-shot, but a possibility... No, she has not been to Horseshoe Bay since her MLU. Her ability to use the overhead walkways at Horseshoe Bay for footsies would not be an issue as she docks bow in.
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Post by ferryfanyvr on Jul 8, 2011 20:29:41 GMT -8
I don't think the New West will be used on Rt2 unless absolutely necessary as she can't maintain the the every-2-hour off season schedule (it was tried 9 or 10 years ago.) Also, berth 3 is the only HSB berth that she can ideally use. She can't use berth 2 as the upper ramp at that berth doesn't articulate, and the overhead walkway at berth 1 doesn't fit. Has she even been to HSB since her MLU? They might have changed her footie exits a bit to accomodate the berths there. It's a long-shot, but a possibility... Her gates weren't modified during her MLU and they probably will never be modified for the HSB berths because she will likely never serve that terminal again, even with the Spirits spending more time as #2. I was just meaning to express that IF she went to HSB, berth 3 is the only berth where all vehicle and footsie ramps fit the New West.
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Post by sebsbcferries on Oct 15, 2011 16:03:08 GMT -8
I've been on the 9:15 from Fullford and we docked at Berth 1. First of all there is no 9:15 out of Fulford and the Skeena Queen can't fit into berth 1 you got messed up there bro
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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 15, 2011 16:17:01 GMT -8
I've been on the 9:15 from Fullford and we docked at Berth 1. First of all there is no 9:15 out of Fulford and the Skeena Queen can't fit into berth 1 you got messed up there bro Seb: - why do you think that the Skeena Queen can't fit into berth-1 at Swartz Bay ? Please explain.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Oct 15, 2011 18:35:00 GMT -8
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Post by Ferryman on Oct 15, 2011 21:02:19 GMT -8
The Skeena actually has pretty much the same beam as a V-Class. I've tied her up in Berth 1 a number of times too, it's just not desireable if route 1 is trying to load in Berth 2, the Skeena or any gulf islands vessel cannot receive their traffic because the traffic flow to Berth 2 blocks off berth 1 from the gulf islands lanes at the terminal.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Nov 3, 2011 14:21:38 GMT -8
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Post by lmtengs on Nov 3, 2011 15:02:07 GMT -8
Notice that they don't mention the CR's lack of a buffet.... could it be that they've added it?
Probably not, but they've always shouted out her lack of a buffet in past times when she's filled in.
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