Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,151
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Post by Neil on Jul 9, 2021 21:43:45 GMT -8
I don't think it's reasonable to expect everybody to have the same level of expert knowledge. Lot's of people would simply tell you to use the search function, but that sometimes won't work for posts which get dated, so I don't think it's a stupid question at all. Ergo, here's my 'expertise'... 1. Heavier loads are identified at the toll booths and are then separated into special lanes in the holding lot. It is then up to the deckhands under direction from their chiefs to distribute when receiving vehicles off the loading ramp. In general, heavier loads are best kept as close to the centreline as possible. 2. I got nothing here. 3. The first post in this entire thread set the tone in 2011 and nothing has changed in regards to sardine packing on BCF. That practice is seldom used unless the lots are still full counting down to the 2nd last or last sailing of the night. 'Deleted Member' probably said everything best on his/her post Sep 18, 2011 at 20:21. Perhaps the biggest reason why this practice is not done anymore is b/c there is often so much foot passenger traffic, maximum capacity is often reached before deck space is, thus a lesser need to pack em in. In fact, if they packed'em tight and max capacity is reached, there could even be imbalance between the bow and stern so in certain situations, 'wasting space' is actually better for buoyancy. There is one significant change (I've noticed) compared to earlier loading procedures: The chiefs will often halt loading to re-position the apron. Officially, this is to account for the weight taken on. It completely baffles me why this is necessary as it isn't done offloading -the apron isn't even anchored to the ship and in times of rough seas, you can clearly see it sliding back and forth across the deck anyways. However, these re-positioning halts give deckhands a chance to catch-up during busy times. I would take issue with your assertion that some wasted space between cars is partly due to buoyancy or balance concerns, or passenger capacity. Particularly on the Duke Point run, I doubt that pax capacity is ever reached, because there is relatively so little foot passenger traffic. The only exception I can imagine would be if they were sailing with a lower pax license. Route one, I realize, is a different story. I suspect that the reason drivers are allowed to waste so many spots is simply because there aren't enough deckhands to monitor all the lanes of parking.
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Post by paulvanb on Jul 10, 2021 11:01:33 GMT -8
I'm with Neil on this one. there is nothing more annoying than seeing people leaving a bunch of space in front of them, which denies others from naking the sailing.
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Post by arrrrmatey on Jul 11, 2021 20:39:39 GMT -8
I would take issue with your assertion that some wasted space between cars is partly due to buoyancy or balance concerns, or passenger capacity. Particularly on the Duke Point run, I doubt that pax capacity is ever reached, because there is relatively so little foot passenger traffic. The only exception I can imagine would be if they were sailing with a lower pax license. Route one, I realize, is a different story. I suspect that the reason drivers are allowed to waste so many spots is simply because there aren't enough deckhands to monitor all the lanes of parking. When I worked as a summer terminal attendant at tsawassen several years ago, they would occasionally schedule 2-4 terminal attendants to assist the deckhands with packing cars in tighter. I don't remember exactly, but I don't think they traveled with the vessel, but walked into each sailing, did their thing, then walked off just before departure.
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Post by 1foot2ships on Jul 22, 2021 12:13:13 GMT -8
I would take issue with your assertion that some wasted space between cars is partly due to buoyancy or balance concerns, or passenger capacity. Particularly on the Duke Point run, I doubt that pax capacity is ever reached, because there is relatively so little foot passenger traffic. The only exception I can imagine would be if they were sailing with a lower pax license. Route one, I realize, is a different story. I suspect that the reason drivers are allowed to waste so many spots is simply because there aren't enough deckhands to monitor all the lanes of parking. Neil: What you said is probably the norm for all routes. As for the absence of deckhands to encourage packing, yes, that is probably the largest factor for all that wasted space. I should have been more clear that the scenarios I was describing were mainly for route 1 & 2. So in reference to that, the incentive to maximise vehicle take is compromised by total passenger count. From BCFs point of view, it's ok to waste a little space here and there... to maintain on-time departures, and b/c it's likely full capacity will be met before deck space is 100%. paulvanb: I agree completely with what you said as well. Particularly on some of the smaller capacity routes such as TSW-SGI, SWB-SS, HSB-BI, there are often many cars left behind on busy days and yeah, there is nothing more annoying than being first in line waving bye-bye to a ferry you should have been on.
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Post by WettCoast on Feb 25, 2022 20:21:20 GMT -8
One reason why the listed auto capacities of vessels in the BCF fleet are down is that they make a portion of the car deck into a 'dog park'. What's with that?
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Post by Ferryman on Feb 26, 2022 11:15:20 GMT -8
One reason why the listed auto capacities of vessels in the BCF fleet are down is that they make a portion of the car deck into a 'dog park'. What's with that? Far too many complaints would arise from people parked in that lane that they couldn’t open their door far enough to comfortably exit their vehicle. It’s difficult to hand pick small enough cars to park in while loading with minimal staffing. However, interesting to note that the Cowichan and Coquitlam have the open pet area on the articulating ramp itself, leaving both sections beside and on top of the articulating ramp clear. In either case, it’s nice for pet owners to have another option for a place to sit
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Post by WettCoast on Feb 26, 2022 19:08:34 GMT -8
So I gather this means that all 'C' class vessels (except the Alberni) have these 'dog parks'. Re the articulating ramps, how often do they get used and are they actually needed anymore?
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Post by Mike C on Feb 26, 2022 23:26:15 GMT -8
So I gather this means that all 'C' class vessels (except the Alberni) have these 'dog parks'. Re the articulating ramps, how often do they get used and are they actually needed anymore?
My understanding is that it’s just during any closure of the main berth at Langdale, planned or unplanned, requiring the use of the secondary single level berth. Anytime it’s planned it seems to result in some kind of a modified schedule due to the extended time for deployment. I’d be curious to know how often they’re tested regularly. Or, perhaps we’re close enough to retirement that the ramps themselves have already been retired.
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Post by Dane on Feb 27, 2022 9:29:34 GMT -8
I feel like the last two Langdale berth closures were addressed via two-boat service? But my memory for these things is not particularly great these days. I certainly know it did a few years ago because I went over to ride the vessel previously known as the Island Sky on Route 3.
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Post by Mike C on Feb 27, 2022 18:08:40 GMT -8
I feel like the last two Langdale berth closures were addressed via two-boat service? But my memory for these things is not particularly great these days. I certainly know it did a few years ago because I went over to ride the vessel previously known as the Island Sky on Route 3. Oh you’re probably right, this could just be one of those things where my linear memory of the thing stops in mid-2014 when I moved off the coast. Now that you mention it I do seem to remember something about two-boat single deck service for a day during maintenance.
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Post by arrrrmatey on Mar 3, 2022 7:36:03 GMT -8
I’ve travelled a lot on route 3 since 2010 and I want to say that I remember using those ramps once to get to the upper deck, but I can’t say for sure if my memory is correct. I’d like to think that would have been a significant enough change in routine to remember more clearly haha. Possibly there might be a service notice saved on this forum somewhere?
I definitely remember going round and round to go up a few levels once as a kid, that would have been in the early 90’s so definitely do not remember which vessel.
The only significantly long closure of the main berth at langdale in more recent history was dealt with by 2-boat service - when they rebuilt the main berth.
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Post by Dane on Mar 28, 2022 10:59:28 GMT -8
Another Berth 1 closure coming to Langdale late-April for a few days. It's being handled via two boat service with the Oak Bay & Surrey.
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