Koastal Karl
Voyager 
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
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Post by Koastal Karl on Dec 31, 2013 19:58:25 GMT -8
The Carrier Princess is a ship I would love to take a trip on if that was possible!
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Post by princessofvanfan on Dec 31, 2013 22:10:42 GMT -8
Please explain what you meant in your first post about "Passenger Only". - Why would a passenger-only Carrier Princess need additional vehicle decks ? Passenger-only ships don't carry vehicles. I'm thinking that perhaps a typo on your part is causing confusion for anyone reading your post. Sorry. Passenger AND vehicles.  |
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,310
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Post by Neil on Dec 31, 2013 23:39:06 GMT -8
I can't think of any BC Ferries routes the Carrier Princess would be suitable for, though it is an interesting question. She has the right vehicle capacity for Comox to Powell River, or route nine in the off season, but not enough cabin space. She could be a freight carrier for route 30, but that's not economical for that route. She has enough cabin space for route 5, but way too much vehicle capacity.
She was used only briefly as a combined vehicle and passenger carrier by Canadian Pacific. This is an interesting example of a vessel that was built for a role that never worked out, over the long term. |
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Post by princessofvanfan on Jan 1, 2014 1:55:27 GMT -8
I wonder what her passenger areas look like nowadays. I remember passing her while aboard the Princess of Van leaving Nanaimo on our way to Vancouver, and seeing a few passengers on the outside decks. I always wondered what she was like on the inside and what she had for a cafeteria. Attachments:
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FNS
Voyager
The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
Posts: 4,957
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Post by FNS on Jan 1, 2014 7:26:48 GMT -8
I wonder what her passenger areas look like nowadays. I remember passing her while aboard the Princess of Van leaving Nanaimo on our way to Vancouver, and seeing a few passengers on the outside decks. I always wondered what she was like on the inside and what she had for a cafeteria. Nice photo of the CARRIER PRINCESS. Behind her alongside the east berth was the PRINCESS PATRICIA II (Remember, the PAT had her whistles mounted higher than the PRINCESS MARGUERITE II's). Check your PM re: the CP's interior. |
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Post by WettCoast on Jan 1, 2014 10:26:30 GMT -8
This is interesting to speculate as to what use BC Ferries could have made of the Carrier Princess. With some radical modifications to the superstructure to increase passenger accommodation a useful role could have been found, I am sure. In addition to the discussion above she might have been a decent vessel for the Jervis Inlet crossing.
This speculation is similar to the discussion we once had about what difference radical surgery might have made to the sea life of the Queen of the Islands; might she have continued in useful service to this day?
Happy 2014 New Year to all,
Jim aka WCK
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FNS
Voyager
The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
Posts: 4,957
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Post by FNS on Jan 1, 2014 22:34:49 GMT -8
The Carrier Princess is a ship I would love to take a trip on if that was possible! Me, too! It all depends if she's carrying hazardous cargo (by lorry and/or by rail car). If so, no rides except maybe the drivers of such lorries et al. |
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Post by Chris City on Jan 2, 2014 17:11:26 GMT -8
I've always been interested in the short lived Coastal Express trailer barge. Doing a Google search turns up very little, just a couple of articles, same with image search. I just read in one of SC Heal's books how Seaspan had the barge constructed in order to handle the extra trailer traffic because of the E&N closing the Port Alberni sub, a very interesting fact that I hadn't heard before. Just wondering if anybody has any links to articles, photos, or their own stories about this barge they can share.
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,310
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Post by Neil on Jan 2, 2014 22:09:22 GMT -8
The Carrier Princess is a ship I would love to take a trip on if that was possible! Me, too! It all depends if she's carrying hazardous cargo (by lorry and/or by rail car). If so, no rides except maybe the drivers of such lorries et al. Seaspan is not licensed to carry passengers, hazardous cargo or no. I don't know if they carry the drivers of the hazardous rigs.
I see that the Seaspan Doris is no longer listed as part of their fleet. As well, the Seaspan Greg is not a part of their current schedule, which means that only the Carrier Princess and the Princess Superior remain as self propelled carriers. I guess the addition of the Van Isle barges has allowed Seaspan to scale back their Tilbury operations.
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Post by Ferryman on Jan 5, 2014 10:11:35 GMT -8
The Princess Superior is bound for Vancouver Drydock currently. According to AIS, just came out of the river and is heading up the Strait.
My source is that a friend of mine on Facebook is a crew member on board, and he mentioned it as one of his status updates.
I might try and grab photos of it arriving, however I've been pretty sick the past few days so I'll see how I feel after I've had a coffee.
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Post by Chris City on Jan 5, 2014 10:35:01 GMT -8
The Princess Superior is bound for Vancouver Drydock currently. According to AIS, just came out of the river and is heading up the Strait. That should mean that Seaspan Greg will see some action then. |
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Post by Ferryman on Jan 5, 2014 12:58:39 GMT -8
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Post by Chris City on Jan 6, 2014 17:34:06 GMT -8
Seaspan Greg is on the move, looks like she's on her way to Nanaimo. First time she's been in service in a few months.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jan 6, 2014 17:54:18 GMT -8
Seaspan Greg is on the move, looks like she's on her way to Nanaimo. First time she's been in service in a few months. Little Greg Yorke certainly is the runt of the Seaspan fleet. This is why she's the relief vessel. Her (his?) 26 trailer capacity is lowest. Next lowest is 34-trailers for the Georgia Link barge. Next smallest is 38-trailers for both Carrier Princess and Princess Superior. |
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Post by Chris City on Jan 6, 2014 18:39:56 GMT -8
Seaspan Greg is on the move, looks like she's on her way to Nanaimo. First time she's been in service in a few months. Little Greg Yorke certainly is the runt of the Seaspan fleet. This is why she's the relief vessel. I've always liked the Greg, wish I got to see her in her railcar hauling days though. Hope I can get a photo in the next few days. |
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Post by Chris City on Jan 8, 2014 18:20:51 GMT -8
Got the photo I wanted, just wish the weather was better. Seaspan Greg approaching the slip at Tilbury Island after a trip from Swartz Bay, January 7, 2014:  |
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Post by Ferryman on Jan 25, 2014 11:04:55 GMT -8
Seaspan Challenger is on her way to the shipyard now and was abeam of sandheads a few mins ago. I'm not entirely sure yet whether or not it's going to Vanship or Van Drydock
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Post by Low Light Mike on Feb 1, 2014 20:19:43 GMT -8
Mr. Greg Yorke with Ms. Bowen Queen, off of Gabriola Island. - February 1, 2014  |
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Post by bramwell on Feb 4, 2014 13:16:09 GMT -8
With its motley collection of antiquated ships, Seaspan Ferries is a tottering wreck of an institution. The only thing holding the Doris and the Greg together during their final years in service was the paint that was liberally applied when they went through drydock every two years. Mechanically, the fleet is reasonably sound, but most of the engineers mouth a silent prayer before commencing their shifts. Attachments:
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,310
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Post by Neil on Feb 4, 2014 13:56:41 GMT -8
With its motley collection of antiquated ships, Seaspan Ferries is a tottering wreck of an institution. The only thing holding the Doris and the Greg together during their final years in service was the paint that was liberally applied when they went through drydock every two years. Mechanically, the fleet is reasonably sound, but most of the engineers mouth a silent prayer before commencing their shifts. Pretty strong statement for an initial post... could you give us a bit of background regarding the basis for your insight into Seaspan? Thanks, and welcome to the forum. |
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Post by Chris City on Feb 4, 2014 14:11:35 GMT -8
With its motley collection of antiquated ships, Seaspan Ferries is a tottering wreck of an institution. The only thing holding the Doris and the Greg together during their final years in service was the paint that was liberally applied when they went through drydock every two years. Mechanically, the fleet is reasonably sound, but most of the engineers mouth a silent prayer before commencing their shifts. Disgruntled former employee? I've always been more interested in the freight only ships that sail our coast, so any inside info you can share would be greatly appreciated. Welcome to the forum! |
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Post by bramwell on Feb 5, 2014 14:40:34 GMT -8
Pardon the longueur.
Suffice it to say that I have been employed by Seaspan for a distressingly large number of years.
Have questions?
Fire away.
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Post by Chris City on Feb 5, 2014 16:25:45 GMT -8
Pardon the longueur. Suffice it to say that I have been employed by Seaspan for a distressingly large number of years. Have questions? Fire away. I'm sorry to hear that Seaspan isn't good to work for, has it always been that way, or is it just since Washington Group bought them? Any idea what will become of Seaspan Doris, scrapped or sold? Do you know how much longer the trailer ferries will be used, and if Seaspan will replace them with either new ferries or go with more of the pusher tug/barge combos? How much has BC Ferries drop trailer service hurt Seaspan's, I'm guessing it's pretty significant. Are they doing anything to get those customers back? Thanks if you're able to answer any of these, glad to have you on the forum! |
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Post by bramwell on Feb 6, 2014 13:54:00 GMT -8
I think that we’ve inadvertently stumbled into cross purposes here. You might have misinterpreted several of my phrases to mean that I’ve a slatheringly rancourous relationship with my employer. I don’t. Seaspan has always conducted itself in accordance with the highest standards of propriety. There have been swings and roundabouts over the years, but overall, the Seaspan experience has been an exceptionally positive one.
However…
The fleet is far past its Best Before date, and the company desperately needs to make some significant capital investments to stave off a disaster.
-The Doris sits in the boneyard, and her fate will be identical to all the other rusty wrecks that have sat there for any amount of time.
-Seaspan has a fleet renewal program in place, with the Greg, Fraser Link, and Georgia Link destined for the scrapheap within five years.
-They’ve decided to reject the articulated tug and barge nonsense, so anticipate seeing some new vessels plying the Strait before long.
-BC Ferries isn’t really a threat: Their capacity is limited, they cannot leave a port in heavy weather, and they cannot carry dangerous goods.
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Post by Chris City on Feb 6, 2014 17:32:24 GMT -8
I think that we’ve inadvertently stumbled into cross purposes here. You might have misinterpreted several of my phrases to mean that I’ve a slatheringly rancourous relationship with my employer. I don’t. Seaspan has always conducted itself in accordance with the highest standards of propriety. There have been swings and roundabouts over the years, but overall, the Seaspan experience has been an exceptionally positive one. However… The fleet is far past its Best Before date, and the company desperately needs to make some significant capital investments to stave off a disaster. -The Doris sits in the boneyard, and her fate will be identical to all the other rusty wrecks that have sat there for any amount of time. -Seaspan has a fleet renewal program in place, with the Greg, Fraser Link, and Georgia Link destined for the scrapheap within five years. -They’ve decided to reject the articulated tug and barge nonsense, so anticipate seeing some new vessels plying the Strait before long. -BC Ferries isn’t really a threat: Their capacity is limited, they cannot leave a port in heavy weather, and they cannot carry dangerous goods. Ah ok, sorry about the misunderstanding! Let's move on then.... Thanks for answering my questions! I must say I'm surprised at a couple things: first, I thought the articulated tug and barge system was the way they would be going in the future considering their last new purchase was the Coastal Express. I assumed they would be cheaper to operate. I'm excited that there will be new ferries in the near future, but I'm curious why you don't like the art'd tug and barge? I'm glad that BC Ferries hasn't been too much of a threat, I haven't been a fan of them getting into that service at all. It drives me nuts as I sit through a two sailing wait and watch them hauling all those trailers onto the ferry while dozens of cars get left behind. Another question if you don't mind: is there a date set for Seaspan vacating their downtown Nanaimo property and consolidating at Duke Point? I imagine this will be happening sooner rather than later as Nanaimo has plans for that property. |
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