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Post by Ollie on Aug 21, 2024 20:46:50 GMT -8
Coastal Celebration entering Active Pass, today.
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Post by Ollie on Aug 22, 2024 21:10:15 GMT -8
Coastal Celebration using the spotlight while entering Active Pass, today.
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Post by Ollie on Aug 23, 2024 14:02:36 GMT -8
Coastal Celebration seems to have broke again... It's going around Saturna now.
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Post by Ollie on Aug 23, 2024 21:13:18 GMT -8
Both eastbound sailings 2pm and 6pm today used Boundary Passage, but I do not see any service notices for this change. Has there been a mechanical issue on the Coastal Celebration?
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Aug 24, 2024 6:10:28 GMT -8
Both eastbound sailings 2pm and 6pm today used Boundary Passage, but I do not see any service notices for this change. Has there been a mechanical issue on the Coastal Celebration? She seems to be taking Boundary Passage as the first sailing today out of Swartz Bay. |
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Post by Ollie on Aug 24, 2024 14:46:30 GMT -8
Both eastbound sailings 2pm and 6pm today used Boundary Passage, but I do not see any service notices for this change. Has there been a mechanical issue on the Coastal Celebration? She seems to be taking Boundary Passage as the first sailing today out of Swartz Bay. On the BC Ferries website, "A mechanical issue is causing ongoing delays". It departed an hour late for its 2pm sailing from Swartz Bay today, however it seems to be using Active Pass both ways now. |
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Post by Ollie on Aug 26, 2024 17:37:28 GMT -8
Coastal Celebration two hours late in Active Pass, 25 August 2024. It was so late it should have been going the other direction!
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Aug 27, 2024 8:55:09 GMT -8
Coastal Celebration has pet area on Vancouver Island bound side on the upper outside deck.
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Aug 27, 2024 9:08:10 GMT -8
Coastal Celebration is operating as single bridge vessels spinning around at Swartz Bay.
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Post by pacificcat99 on Aug 27, 2024 19:19:56 GMT -8
Coastal Celebration is operating as single bridge vessels spinning around at Swartz Bay. If they can't get the issue fixed in the next few days I think it makes sense to switch the Celebration with the Renaissance or Inspiration on the Duke Point-Tsawwassen run. This would allow the boats to run on time and they would not have to take the risk through active pass or take longer to go around. Going to be a super busy weekend on Route 1 with Touchdown Pacific Lions game Saturday too so hopefully they get everything sorted out. It is too bad they do not have a spare boat like back in the day with the Queen of Esquimalt that they could sub in. |
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QoNW Fan
Voyager 
Queen of New Westminster fan!
Posts: 269 
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Post by QoNW Fan on Aug 29, 2024 20:30:01 GMT -8
Has there been a mechanical issue on the Coastal Celebration? A mechanical issue with a Coastal Class ship?? Who saw that coming?  |
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Post by WettCoast on Aug 29, 2024 21:19:13 GMT -8
Has there been a mechanical issue on the Coastal Celebration? A mechanical issue with a Coastal Class ship?? Who saw that coming? For what it's worth, the C Cel seems to have stayed on schedule all day, today. Does that mean it has been fixed? |
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Post by Dane on Aug 30, 2024 16:27:00 GMT -8
A mechanical issue with a Coastal Class ship?? Who saw that coming? For what it's worth, the C Cel seems to have stayed on schedule all day, today. Does that mean it has been fixed? Yes. Heard on the radio it was fixed two days ago now. |
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Post by WettCoast on Aug 30, 2024 19:40:48 GMT -8
For what it's worth, the C Cel seems to have stayed on schedule all day, today. Does that mean it has been fixed? Yes. Heard on the radio it was fixed two days ago now. Any info on exactly what the problem was this time?
Was it related to the issues that have 'troubled' the Coastal class over the last couple of years?
I recall BCFS saying in the spring that the work done on all three vessels 'should' make them trouble-free this summer and beyond.
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Post by Ferryman on Aug 31, 2024 6:39:51 GMT -8
Yes. Heard on the radio it was fixed two days ago now. Any info on exactly what the problem was this time?
Was it related to the issues that have 'troubled' the Coastal class over the last couple of years?
I recall BCFS saying in the spring that the work done on all three vessels 'should' make them trouble-free this summer and beyond.
While I have no idea why the Celebration was forced to take the long way around via East Pt the other day, I do know that all three Coastals are about to go through Phase 2 of their propulsion overhaul. This past refit season, the focus was getting the rotors in each drive motor replaced. Each Coastal has one drive motor at each end, which is what each respective propeller connects to. It was a massive undertaking to do that job where large holes had to be cut in the deck. The objective of this work was mainly preventative maintenance. This next phase will see a massive modification done to each drive motor where they will be changed from Constant Speed Drives to Variable Speed drives. What is the difference? Well presently the Coastal Class propulsion runs at Constant RPM, which means for as long as that propeller is turning, it's turning at a constant rate of 138 rpm. The propeller blades are all that are being adjusted when the vessel accelerates or decelerates. This is part of why they're so noisy while they maneuver into the dock at slow speed. The electricity needed to get a 5m in diameter propeller up to that constant speed is huge. When this process is initiated, you see the lights dim slightly, which is reminiscent of the Queen of Tsawwassen's electric bow propeller being turned on. When you consider the amount of start/stops on these drive motors for every departure and arrival, alot of stress is put on the ship's systems. The Variable Frequency Drive will hopefully alleviate alot of the concerns of wear and tear, plus reduce noise, wash, etc. This is because the drive motor will have the ability to have the shaft RPM fluctuate with the propeller blades. The Salish and Island Class were built with Variable Frequency Drives which have the ability for the drive motor to be running but not be turning the shaft until throttle is applied. It'll be a very interesting and hopefully a pleasant change for the Coastal Class. |
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grk2
Chief Steward
Posts: 108
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Post by grk2 on Aug 31, 2024 10:47:54 GMT -8
Ferryman`-Thank you for the excellent explanation Greatly appreciated!
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anderpz
Deckhand
I need some Vitamin Sea
Posts: 64
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Post by anderpz on Aug 31, 2024 11:58:52 GMT -8
Coastal Celebration from Port Washington, Pender Island |
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Post by WettCoast on Aug 31, 2024 12:36:51 GMT -8
While I have no idea why the Celebration was forced to take the long way around via East Pt the other day, I do know that all three Coastals are about to go through Phase 2 of their propulsion overhaul. This past refit season, the focus was getting the rotors in each drive motor replaced. Each Coastal has one drive motor at each end, which is what each respective propeller connects to. It was a massive undertaking to do that job where large holes had to be cut in the deck. The objective of this work was mainly preventative maintenance. This next phase will see a massive modification done to each drive motor where they will be changed from Constant Speed Drives to Variable Speed drives. What is the difference? Well presently the Coastal Class propulsion runs at Constant RPM, which means for as long as that propeller is turning, it's turning at a constant rate of 138 rpm. The propeller blades are all that are being adjusted when the vessel accelerates or decelerates. This is part of why they're so noisy while they maneuver into the dock at slow speed. The electricity needed to get a 5m in diameter propeller up to that constant speed is huge. When this process is initiated, you see the lights dim slightly, which is reminiscent of the Queen of Tsawwassen's electric bow propeller being turned on. When you consider the amount of start/stops on these drive motors for every departure and arrival, alot of stress is put on the ship's systems. The Variable Frequency Drive will hopefully alleviate alot of the concerns of wear and tear, plus reduce noise, wash, etc. This is because the drive motor will have the ability to have the shaft RPM fluctuate with the propeller blades. The Salish and Island Class were built with Variable Frequency Drives which have the ability for the drive motor to be running but not be turning the shaft until throttle is applied. It'll be a very interesting and hopefully a pleasant change for the Coastal Class.
Thanks for this detailed response, Chris.
I did not know that the fix for the Coastal class propulsion issues involved a phase 1 & phase 2, and that only phase 1 has been done so far. As far as I know BCFS has not shared that information with the public.
Two things:
1 - It is clear that BC Ferries made a cost-cutting decision not to go with variable speed drives at the time these vessels were being procured, and that that decision has caused them, and the travelling public, a fair bit of grief. No doubt the fix has been costly.
2 - About how much down time for each vessel will be required for phase 2 and can it be done within routine refit time periods?
I found this document very informative regarding vessel maintenance & refits in general, and Coastal class issues in particular. Would be good if more of the general public were to read it. |
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Post by Ollie on Sept 3, 2024 19:53:08 GMT -8
Coastal Celebration "filling in" for the Queen of New Westminster on the 6pm sailing, today.
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Post by WettCoast on Sept 10, 2024 6:48:41 GMT -8
The Celebration is on route 30 this morning. Traded with the Renaissance I assume.
A very quiet sailing by Coastal class standards.
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Post by Olympic Ferries on Sept 10, 2024 8:09:25 GMT -8
The Celebration is on route 30 this morning. Traded with the Renaissance I assume. A very quiet sailing by Coastal class standards. They swapped as of Monday, yesterday. |
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Post by WettCoast on Sept 10, 2024 8:13:16 GMT -8
Perhaps the more important question is why did they swap? Is the Celebration’s drive train still a little tender?
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Post by Olympic Ferries on Sept 10, 2024 10:17:46 GMT -8
Perhaps the more important question is why did they swap? Is the Celebration’s drive train still a little tender? Didn't see this swap planned before the QoNW was out of service, so I imagine that is probably the reason. And that they are running the Renaissance a little more now on 1 than she would be normally right now. |
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Post by Dane on Sept 10, 2024 17:31:48 GMT -8
Perhaps the more important question is why did they swap? Is the Celebration’s drive train still a little tender? While I don't have the answer, I have had reservations for some work stuff that showed the CR as the vessel from several weeks ago for sailings that have yet to occur. Consequently, I suspect that this was not a last minute swap. |
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Post by WettCoast on Sept 16, 2024 19:06:14 GMT -8
Coastal Celebration closes in on Duke Point Terminal, Nanaimo, at end of a morning sailing from Tsawwassen 12 September 2024
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