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Post by FerryDude2012 on Jan 3, 2011 15:17:12 GMT -8
Post all 2011 service notices here:
The MV Mill Bay seems to have cancelled a couple round trips today: -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Note: This Service Notice applies to the following route(s): - Brentwood - Mill Bay
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Updated as of 2:30 pm:
Please be advised that the MV Mill Bay has had to cancel the following sailings:
* 1:15 pm departing Brentwood Bay
* 1:50 pm departing Mill Bay
* 2:25 pm departing Brentwood Bay
* 3:00 pm departing Mill Bay
For traffic updates or more information please call us toll free at 1-888-BCFERRY (223-3779).
We apologize for any inconvenience experienced as a result of these sailing cancellations.
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Koastal Karl
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Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
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Post by Koastal Karl on Jan 4, 2011 13:29:42 GMT -8
Looks like the Bowen Queen is having a bad first day on the Bowen run Service Notice - Sailing Delay - Bowen Queen Posted Tuesday, January 4, 2011 Print Version Note: This Service Notice applies to the following route(s): - Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) - Bowen Island (Snug Cove) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Update as of 8:30 am: Please be advised that the Bowen Queen is currently operating 26 minutes behind schedule. For traffic updates or more information please call us toll free at 1-888-BCFERRY (223-3779), check our website at www.bcferries.com or go to mobile.bcferries.com on your mobile device. We apologize for any inconvenience experienced as a result of this sailing delay. According to the current conditions it's a mechanical difficulty with vessel. Although she did the 12pm sailing in 13 mins. I have noticed lately that even the Capilano does the crossing sometimes in 15 mins which is different from the posted 20 min crossing time on the schedules.
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Post by Ferryman on Jan 4, 2011 15:56:19 GMT -8
I believe she is running on 3 legs at the moment. They had issues during the trip to Horseshoe Bay last night.
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Post by FerryDude2012 on Jan 4, 2011 16:25:52 GMT -8
Posted Tuesday, January 4, 2011 Print Version Note: This Service Notice applies to the following route(s): - Vancouver (Tsawwassen) - Victoria (Swartz Bay) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- QUEEN OF NEW WESTMINSTER IN SERVICE JANUARY 6 – MARCH 16 Tsawwassen- Swartz Bay From January 6th to March 16th the Queen of New Westminster will be providing service between Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay. The Queen of New Westminster is a smaller vessel with reduced capacity for cars and commercial vehicles. Commercial operators please note that the Queen of New Westminster has a height clearance of 13'8'' and a width of 12' as compared to the 15'1'' height clearance and a width of 14' on the Spirit class vessel. To avoid possible overloads at peak sailing times, customers are encouraged to plan ahead by making a reservation or by arriving early at the terminal for their desired sailing. In particular, the first sailing of the day from Tsawwassen is expected to be busy. The Queen of New Westminster will be sailing on the following schedule: Leave Tsawwassen Leave Swartz Bay 7:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 9:00 p.m. For reservations or additional sailing information visit our web site at www.bcferries.com or call 1-888-BCFERRY (223-3779). Copyright ©2011, British Columbia Ferry Services Inc.
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Post by johnnytindale on Jan 4, 2011 18:44:09 GMT -8
I'm assuming this is due to a refit for the SOBC? Any reason why they wouldn't move the SOVI to Tsawwassen and run the C-Cel out of Swartz Bay?
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Koastal Karl
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Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
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Post by Koastal Karl on Jan 4, 2011 18:52:23 GMT -8
They are running the C Cel in place of the SOVI and the SOVI will be doing extras on Friday's and Sunday's like it was before Christmas now no Spirits on route 1 at all.
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Post by FerryDude2012 on Jan 4, 2011 19:22:39 GMT -8
I'm assuming this is due to a refit for the SOBC? Any reason why they wouldn't move the SOVI to Tsawwassen and run the C-Cel out of Swartz Bay? Since it's the off-season, there isn't enough traffic and demand needed to run the SOVI full time. Since it's busy on the weekends, the SOVI provides extra scheduled sailings to clear up the traffic. The QNW and C-Cel can handle the traffic loads on Route 1.
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Post by WettCoast on Jan 4, 2011 19:32:25 GMT -8
My understanding is that it is actually the SoVI that is going for refit first. It is being replaced by the somewhat smaller C-Cel. Meanwhile, at Tsawwassen, BCFS is pulling the SoBC, in favour of the QoNWM. This is a much smaller vessel and lacks some Spirit/Coastal type amenities. The SoBC will be used only for the Friday/Sunday supplemental sailings starting at 2:00 PM from Tsawwassen. As far as I know, this is the first time since 1994 that there will not be at least one Spirit in service. Is Route One being upgraded to a whole new level of service?
This also represents a 20% drop in capacity. With both Spirits in service they can move up to 3280 vehicles per day (based on 410 vehicles for each of eight sailings). With the C-Cel and the QoNWM in service they can move a maximum of 2616 vehicles (based on capacities of 370 & 284). This will lead to some overload situations.
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Koastal Karl
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Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
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Post by Koastal Karl on Jan 4, 2011 21:47:50 GMT -8
Of course route 1 always seems busy even in Jan and Feb! Route 1 is never dead, lol!
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Neil
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Post by Neil on Jan 4, 2011 22:21:43 GMT -8
The QNW and C-Cel can handle the traffic loads on Route 1. No they can't, and there will be frequent overloads. It's unfortunate that the CFS contract doesn't stipulate capacity as well as frequency, because BC Ferries shouldn't be allowed to have anything less than at least two Coastals on this route for anything more than a few days. This is shoddy service.
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Post by gordon on Jan 5, 2011 10:44:34 GMT -8
Hopefully once Tsawwassen crews are famolliarized with the C Cel ,this deployment will not happen.
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Nick
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Chief Engineer - Queen of Richmond
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Post by Nick on Jan 5, 2011 13:16:53 GMT -8
It will happen as long as BCF is structured the way it is, because they will run the cheapest ships possible as long as the loads are carried by the end of the day. If that means people arriving at 1700 have to wait for the 2100 ferry, so be it.
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Post by gordon on Jan 5, 2011 14:51:46 GMT -8
If B.C. Ferries did not have a problem with running Cs through Active Pass, to me a better decision would be to use A C as opposed to the Q of NW because of the C's overall vehicle capacity of the Cs
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Post by WettCoast on Jan 5, 2011 23:00:34 GMT -8
Creating scarcity on route 1 has some benefits for BCFS (but not for the travelling public).
For starters, I would think the revenue 'earned' from people making reservations would be way down at this time of year. With reduced capacity, however, and the possibility of 3 hour waits, maybe people will spring for the $17.50 for a guaranteed loading time.
Secondly, this will divert some traffic to route 30 and perhaps route 2 also. Imagine - you arrive at Tsawwassen at 12:15 PM with plans to catch the 1 PM sailing of the C-Cel. At the ticket booth you are told the 1 PM is filled; you will make the 3:00 PM sailing. You could take the next Duke Point sailing and be in Victoria sooner than if you wait until 3:00 PM sailing of the QoNWM. Many travellers will opt to do exactly as in this scenario. This also has the effect of making Route 30 stats look better.
It is interesting that for the next 6 weeks or so, on most days, BCFS will be offering more capacity on route 3 than they offer on route 1!
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Post by WettCoast on Jan 6, 2011 19:28:27 GMT -8
By the look of things it has not been a great day (6 Jan 2011) on Route 1. Right off the bat a stalled car on the 7:00 AM sailing ( QoNWM) from Tsawwassen delaying departure by 26 minutes. How can that happen on the first sailing? Meanwhile the SoBC sits idle, tied up to the dock at Tsawwassen.
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Post by lmtengs on Jan 6, 2011 19:35:46 GMT -8
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Post by WettCoast on Jan 6, 2011 20:41:03 GMT -8
Actually my link was to the arrivals/departures page which has routes 1, 30, 9, 2, etc, all routes that they report on.
The point is route 1 has been a bit of a mess, on a Thursday, in early January. Meanwhile, the SoBC sits idle.
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Koastal Karl
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Post by Koastal Karl on Jan 6, 2011 21:46:36 GMT -8
I personally dont think the New West should be on route 1 as the number 1! I mean sure the Van and Saanich were on route 1 replacing the Spirits but I think they carried more vehicles than the New West. I think the Renaissance or Inspiration should be on route 1 right now and the New West should either be at Departure Bay or on route 30.
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CFG
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I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not sure.
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Post by CFG on Jan 6, 2011 21:57:09 GMT -8
Actually my link was to the arrivals/departures page which has routes 1, 30, 9, 2, etc, all routes that they report on. The point is route 1 has been a bit of a mess, on a Thursday, in early January. Meanwhile, the SoBC sits idle. Except that according to the arrivals departures page the delays were caused by stalled vehicles, not lack of capacity. Also the QoNW made up the time in which it was delayed, something that the SoBC would have struggled to do. BC Ferries is being run like a proper company now, large over sized, expensive to operate equipment is not needed at this time of the season, therefore it is not used. It is a huge waste of fuel and crew wages to run a half full Spirit Class ship all day long when there is a more cost effective option. Plain and Simple.
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Neil
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Post by Neil on Jan 6, 2011 22:51:17 GMT -8
BC Ferries is being run like a proper company now, large over sized, expensive to operate equipment is not needed at this time of the season, therefore it is not used. It is a huge waste of fuel and crew wages to run a half full Spirit Class ship all day long when there is a more cost effective option. Plain and Simple. Sorry, but it's not that plain and simple. The 'New Westminster was overloaded this afternoon, on the 1:00 sailing on a Thursday, and there will be many more overloads. If you think the Spirits are running half full all day long, I don't think you've been observing the load stats closely enough. The current vessel deployment on route one is not sufficient for any time of the year.
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Post by hwy19man on Jan 8, 2011 0:43:38 GMT -8
Sorry, but it's not that plain and simple. The 'New Westminster was overloaded this afternoon, on the 1:00 sailing on a Thursday, and there will be many more overloads. If you think the Spirits are running half full all day long, I don't think you've been observing the load stats closely enough. The current vessel deployment on route one is not sufficient for any time of the year. You are correct Neil, the NW should not be a primary vessel on route 1. BCF has seriously missed the boat again.
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Post by hwy19man on Jan 8, 2011 0:48:02 GMT -8
I personally dont think the New West should be on route 1 as the number 1! I mean sure the Van and Saanich were on route 1 replacing the Spirits but I think they carried more vehicles than the New West. I think the Renaissance or Inspiration should be on route 1 right now and the New West should either be at Departure Bay or on route 30. Just like with Neil's post, I agree with you Karl. The Saanich, Vancouver, and Esquimalt carried the same amount of vehicles as the NW because the retired vessels did not use their aft deck ramps for several years.
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Post by hwy19man on Jan 8, 2011 0:52:30 GMT -8
The point is route 1 has been a bit of a mess, on a Thursday, in early January. Meanwhile, the SoBC sits idle. It sure is a mess. For the next three Thursdays (Jan. 13, 20, and 27), the SBC will do 1600h sailing from TSA and a 1800h return trip from SWB. BCF should have done that this past Thursday too. Hopefully, the extra sailing on Thursdays will continue in February and March.
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Post by hwy19man on Jan 8, 2011 1:11:27 GMT -8
Posted Tuesday, January 4, 2011 Print Version Note: This Service Notice applies to the following route(s): - Vancouver (Tsawwassen) - Victoria (Swartz Bay) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- QUEEN OF NEW WESTMINSTER IN SERVICE JANUARY 6 – MARCH 16 Tsawwassen- Swartz Bay From January 6th to March 16th the Queen of New Westminster will be providing service between Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay. The Queen of New Westminster is a smaller vessel with reduced capacity for cars and commercial vehicles. Commercial operators please note that the Queen of New Westminster has a height clearance of 13'8'' and a width of 12' as compared to the 15'1'' height clearance and a width of 14' on the Spirit class vessel. The service notice should also explain that the NW is an inferior vessel for customer ammenities.
There will be no private rooms to reserve. For food services, there is no Pacific Buffet and the cafeteria and snack bar are much smaller. The gift shop, which is also smaller, has a greatly reduced selection compared to the Spirit and Coastal vessels. The decks are not as wheelchair friendly and there is a small amount of space for work\study stations.
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Koastal Karl
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Post by Koastal Karl on Jan 8, 2011 9:21:16 GMT -8
I took a trip on the New West the last time she was on route 30 and I thought this is the route she should be on! She is better suited for route 30. So it might be just me but I will always think that the Inspiration should be off route 30 and on route 1 or route 2 and another Coastal should be based out of Tsawwassen.
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