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Post by Low Light Mike on Jan 25, 2021 16:40:21 GMT -8
I see, Seaspans changing their way of transporting trailers and rail cars. Maybe he can correct me, but I thought 'Low light Mike' mentioned at some point that there is perhaps one rail client left in the Nanaimo area? If so, clearly there is minimal capacity requirements for transport to the mainland. 2 things: 1) There are 2 Seaspan companies: - Seaspan Ferries operates the traditional self-propelled ships and the articulated tug/barge. These are what are used for drop-trailers between the terminals. - Seaspan (some other name) operates tug boats that pull rail barges. 2) Rail customers on Vancouver Island are Superior Propane, as well as some customers who trans-load the products at the railyard in Nanaimo. - ie. Top Shelf Feeds in Cowichan drives a truck to Nanaimo's railyard, and takes grain from a rail-car, on truck load at a time... |
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Neil
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Post by Neil on Jan 25, 2021 21:26:39 GMT -8
Maybe he can correct me, but I thought 'Low light Mike' mentioned at some point that there is perhaps one rail client left in the Nanaimo area? If so, clearly there is minimal capacity requirements for transport to the mainland. 2 things: 1) There are 2 Seaspan companies: - Seaspan Ferries operates the traditional self-propelled ships and the articulated tug/barge. These are what are used for drop-trailers between the terminals. - Seaspan (some other name) operates tug boats that pull rail barges. 2) Rail customers on Vancouver Island are Superior Propane, as well as some customers who trans-load the products at the railyard in Nanaimo. - ie. Top Shelf Feeds in Cowichan drives a truck to Nanaimo's railyard, and takes grain from a rail-car, on truck load at a time... I did know that it wasn't the Ferries division that took the railcars. I believe they have a rail barge terminal on Annacis Island? |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jan 26, 2021 7:25:43 GMT -8
I did know that it wasn't the Ferries division that took the railcars. I believe they have a rail barge terminal on Annacis Island? Yes, that's the location. And that railway's main yard is called "Trapp Yard," and it is in New Westminster. |
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Post by hullnumbers on Jan 26, 2021 16:46:18 GMT -8
Maybe he can correct me, but I thought 'Low light Mike' mentioned at some point that there is perhaps one rail client left in the Nanaimo area? If so, clearly there is minimal capacity requirements for transport to the mainland. 2 things: 1) There are 2 Seaspan companies: - Seaspan Ferries operates the traditional self-propelled ships and the articulated tug/barge. These are what are used for drop-trailers between the terminals. - Seaspan (some other name) operates tug boats that pull rail barges. 2) Rail customers on Vancouver Island are Superior Propane, as well as some customers who trans-load the products at the railyard in Nanaimo. - ie. Top Shelf Feeds in Cowichan drives a truck to Nanaimo's railyard, and takes grain from a rail-car, on truck load at a time... What Low Light Mike said on the first thing was what I was thinking, Instead of having rail cars and trailers together on Seaspan Ferries. The company is now separating the two services. tug and barge is for rail cars and ferries are to carry trailers due to changes in Vancouver island transportation. Which when I asked about the next ferries being built and it was answered it made me understand that Seaspan was changing their way transporting the two. |
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Post by paulvanb on Feb 18, 2021 22:57:43 GMT -8
Maybe he can correct me, but I thought 'Low light Mike' mentioned at some point that there is perhaps one rail client left in the Nanaimo area? If so, clearly there is minimal capacity requirements for transport to the mainland. 2 things: 1) There are 2 Seaspan companies: - Seaspan Ferries operates the traditional self-propelled ships and the articulated tug/barge. These are what are used for drop-trailers between the terminals. - Seaspan (some other name) operates tug boats that pull rail barges. 2) Rail customers on Vancouver Island are Superior Propane, as well as some customers who trans-load the products at the railyard in Nanaimo. - ie. Top Shelf Feeds in Cowichan drives a truck to Nanaimo's railyard, and takes grain from a rail-car, on truck load at a time... A little something I got in from Vesselfinder:
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Post by Victoriaclass on Apr 28, 2021 15:09:51 GMT -8
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Post by observer on Jul 15, 2021 21:59:14 GMT -8
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Post by paulvanb on Jul 28, 2021 22:06:05 GMT -8
The Seaspan Reliat as viewed from the upper car deck of the QNW.  |
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Post by observer on Nov 29, 2021 22:16:55 GMT -8
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Nov 29, 2021 23:01:24 GMT -8
What boring names. But I am glad there are on the way to British Columbia. |
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,310
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Post by Neil on Dec 1, 2021 20:29:26 GMT -8
Is this a first?
Two BC ferries sailing north, in waters south of BC. Island 6, near the boundary of the two Mexican Baja states, and the Seaspan Trader, just now entering the waters off Costa Rica.
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tak22
Chief Steward
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Post by tak22 on Dec 13, 2021 15:09:45 GMT -8
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Neil
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Post by Neil on Dec 13, 2021 18:38:04 GMT -8
Thanks for that. The ' Trader has been stalled for a couple of days as well, presumably riding at anchor offshore just outside Bahia Sebastian Vizcaino, Baja. We've seen the Island class vessels zig zagging back and forth at times in rough weather, but never stopped as the ' Trader seems to be. Guess there's no suitable port nearby, and she doesn't want to head north until the California coast calms down. |
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tak22
Chief Steward
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Post by tak22 on Dec 15, 2021 10:28:34 GMT -8
I've created a dedicated tracking page for the two Seaspan ferries, Trader and Transporter. patbaywebcam.com/seaspan.phpUse the ship named buttons at the top to switch between ships. Click the ship name on the map to zoom in. Trader is on the move again, Transporter has not set off yet, still in Mangalia is now doing sea trials. |
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Neil
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Post by Neil on Dec 21, 2021 11:46:24 GMT -8
Seaspan Trader now off Tsawwassen. I was hoping to go to Deas and get a shot or two of her arriving at Tilbury, but according to Marine Traffic, she's headed into Vancouver harbour, most likely North Van.
EDIT: So much for Marine Traffic's forecast; she's at Tilbury.
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Neil
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Post by Neil on Dec 31, 2021 12:12:26 GMT -8
Possibly just on sea trials, but the Seaspan Transporter is off the Bulgarian coast and travelling in the direction of the Bosporus at a decent clip. Maybe we'll have another 'race', this time between her and the Salish Heron.
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Post by timmyc on Jan 1, 2022 21:49:15 GMT -8
Some great pics of Seaspan Transporter sailing south on the Bosphorus:
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tak22
Chief Steward
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Post by tak22 on Jan 2, 2022 12:26:32 GMT -8
..... Maybe we'll have another 'race', this time between her and the Salish Heron. The 'race' is on - Salish Heron vs Seaspan Transporter! The first leg is from shipyard to the Canary Islands. Salish Heron from Poland to Victoria, has been twiddling for days now waiting for a weather window to get out to the Atlantic Seaspan Transporter from Romania to Vancouver, has resumed after some sort of delay off northwest Turkey, and is gaining on Salish Heron. Both tracking pages have an updating race line. |
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tak22
Chief Steward
Posts: 108
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Post by tak22 on Jan 14, 2022 12:21:31 GMT -8
The 'race' is on - Salish Heron vs Seaspan Transporter! Not much of a race so far, what with Transporter making what looks like an unplanned stop at a shipyard in Greece. It's a long way to BC and there's any number of possible delays for both ships. We will keep on tracking! |
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Jan 20, 2022 18:46:31 GMT -8
What are these two vessel replacing?
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Neil
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Post by Neil on Jan 20, 2022 22:24:06 GMT -8
What are these two vessel replacing? I seem to recall a Seaspan employee on one of the maritime facebook pages saying he thought the Princess Superior would be kept as a relief vessel. Surely they won't keep the ' Greg around, and maybe the Coastal Spirit/Seaspan Challenger combo will go, too. I also wonder if the increased capacity in the two new vessels might lead Seaspan to consolidate their operations at Tilbury, closing the pusher barge terminal upriver and its two daily sailings. |
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grk2
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Post by grk2 on Jan 30, 2022 11:12:00 GMT -8
It looks as if Seaspan Transporter has a large problem. First a diversion to a shipyard near Athens for several days. Once underway towards the Straits of Gibraltar we see a sudden turn northwards and a docking in Cartagena where there are ship repair facilities both in the inner harbour and out at the deep sea docks. (I seem to remember one of the BC Ferry vessels making a pit stop here as well). After several days along side the vessel headed north to Alicante and remains there. Does anyone know her status?
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grk2
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Post by grk2 on Jan 30, 2022 13:41:01 GMT -8
Further to my post above, I suspect the problem is with the power plant. The ship yard in Cartagena is a Naval yard with a small civilian component. This is the base for Spain’s submarine fleet. Alicante’s port has large diesel mechanical companies and repair facilities. An unfortunate start to Transporter’s service.
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tak22
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Post by tak22 on Feb 2, 2022 7:48:37 GMT -8
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Neil
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Post by Neil on Feb 25, 2022 18:09:09 GMT -8
As of the 28th, Seaspan's schedule shows the Transporter on regular runs, and the Princess Superior no longer in service. Also, the Seaspan Greg is currently docked about a mile upriver from Tilbury, near the foot of Nelson on the Richmond side. She still shows up on Marine Traffic.
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