COASTAL RENAISSANCE - Photos & Discussion

[queenofcowichan]

I have now just finished uploading new pictures to my Queen of Esquimalt and Coastal Renaissance page pictures taken of Yesturday's trip. Be sure to see the Inboard ad and the Queen taken on board the Renaissance. See link at the bottom of my post.

I watched her enter Horseshoe Bay from my favorite spot beside Sewells Marina and Marvelled at Just how huge she looks in the tiny Bay.

[Queen of Vancouver]

Taking the 5pm on march 21 from HSB.

[Kahloke]

I did my Coastal Renaissance trip yesterday. I got up really early, took the 0520 sailing from Bainbridge to Seattle, picked up a friend of mine in Seattle, then took off for the border. We had no wait at the Peace Arch crossing at about 0815, but there was a long wait on the other side heading into the US. I guess a lot of people were going shopping yesterday.

We made it to Tsawwassen about 25 minutes later, plenty early for the 1015 Duke Point sailing. This was fine with me, as I wanted to explore the terminal area a bit and get some breakfast. I hadn't been to the Tsawwassen Quay Marketplace since they re-did it. It's pretty cool.

This was the time for me doing Route 30, and it's been at least 18 years since I have ridden on the Queen of Alberni, so that was another reason for me doing this route. Alberni left on time but arrived at Duke Point 15 minutes late. It was pretty windy yesterday morning. Maybe that's why she was running a little late.

We grabbed lunch in downtown Nanaimo and kind of walked around there for awhile. I've never really explored downtown much before. I made reservations on the 1500 CR sailing just to make sure that we would make that. We would have anyway, since they didn't fill the boat, but we arrived at Departure Bay at 1415.

As has been reported by others, Coastal Renaissance was late yesterday, too. She didn't arrive until 1440. We loaded a little after 1500 but didn't leave until 1540 because they were loading and unloading containers off the side of the ship with that crane. I took some pictures of that because I've never seen anything like that before on a ferry. I actually lucked out on where they parked me. They put me in the front left lane just behind the forward gate on the upper deck - sweet!

I did all the usual wandering around during the crossing, and grabbed a cheesecake dessert in The Coastal Cafe, which was yummy. I even managed to score one of the tables by the aft slanted windows. Coastal Renaissance definitely has a distinct engine note. I think others have commented on that, as well, but this is the first time I have heard it in action.

After departing at HSB, we went through downtown Vancouver, stopped at Granville Island for dinner, then drove back to Seattle. All in all, it was a fun day, and I have plenty of pictures to upload, which I will probably do later today.

[ferryrider42]

Ah excellent, you got a picture of them loading cargo using the freight crane. I was just going to ask someone to try and get a picture of this. Regulars of route 1 will be familiar with this system as it is also used by the Spirit class vessels. If memory serves me, the door itself is called a ‘gull door’ but don’t take this as any sort of authority on the subject.

A little voice in my head has always considered jumping over the railing and walking around the open ‘gull door’. Another voice told me that the ensuing life-time ban wasn’t worth the cheep immediate thrill.

The specific door can be seen in pictures 84 and 85 in reply #25.

[NMcKay]

ferryking said:

from operational delays to a crossing that only took 1 hour 31 min ...assuming that the departures and arrivals page is accurate, CR left HB at 9.06pm and arrived in DB at 9.37pm. The best time the OB did today was 1 hour 34min but most of the times were 1h37m or higher.

So the CR can go go when she needs to ro ro...

ok that was bad but so what...

be interesting to see if 1h30m can be beaten or maybe it already has.
or has any of the OB or others done the route faster...excluding the Cats of course...

fk

fk

you mean 31 mins? what were they doing? flying?

[Kahloke]

Here's a pic of that cargo door with a container being lowered

[johnnytindale]

As many are aware, CR sailings on Rt 2 have been significantly behind schedule since the CR started its service last weekend. Some have mentioned the fact it is reasonable to expect some initial delays at the outset as everyone gets used to the new vessel, etc, to which I'm in agreement. Also, some of these delays have occurred during the crane loading at Departure Bay. However, I wonder if this is indeed the main reason for these lengthy delays? By the scheduled 7:00 PM sailing out of Departure Bay, the CR was almost 1 hour behind schedule. In my mind, this seems too long. Does anyone else wish to shed more light on this?

[Low Light Mike]

johnnytindale said:

As many are aware, CR sailings on Rt 2 have been significantly behind schedule since the CR started its service last weekend. Some have mentioned the fact it is reasonable to expect some initial delays at the outset as everyone gets used to the new vessel, etc, to which I'm in agreement. Also, some of these delays have occurred during the crane loading at Departure Bay. However, I wonder if this is indeed the main reason for these lengthy delays? By the scheduled 7:00 PM sailing out of Departure Bay, the CR was almost 1 hour behind schedule. In my mind, this seems too long. Does anyone else wish to shed more light on this?

I have been wondering the same thing, and was just about to post the same thing, and then I saw your post.

The ship has regularly been between 30-60 minutes behind schedule in the evenings. And that's after the 30-minute catch-up opportunity during the afternoon shift-change.

I'd be interested in hearing inside-info on this too, as it does seem a bit too much of a delay, even for a new ship that wasn't built in Greece. ;D

If it's just regular growing-pains, then I'd still like some examples, so that I can better understand the situation.

A colleague of mine was traveling on the CR on Saturday evening, and I was sure to warn her that the ship's been consistently 45-minutes behind schedule in the evening hours.

And the Oaky still leaves right on schedule.........so it's not just the busy traffic that's causing delays.

[Political Incorrectness]

I was wondering the exact same things, why can't they floor her across the strait at 22 knots yet? Why does it take so long to turn around? Why not do two mini restockings during the day? Shouldn't she be able to take one days worth of supplies from the beginning of the day?

[Ferryman]

The stores are usually taken on during the crew layover in the middle of the day. Then also just before the last sailing for the day as well. The only problem with the provisioning door at thet side to take on stores, it might take a few extra mins to load. But on a C-Class they will actually drive the stores on with a truck on the main car deck. Then will close off an elevator and a side lounge in order for these stores to be taken on during the final sailing of the day.

But from what I saw on the maiden voyage, I'm thinking it's the departure/arrival at the dock which eats up most of the time. They have to run her in mode 2 (stern prop pushing/bow prop pushing opposite the desired direction), and it must go at a slow speed for the bow prop to have any affect on the steering. The turn in/out of Horseshoe Bay are the biggest turns, and she has to dock into berth 1 which makes it an especially wide turn. They'll get used to her sooner or later. That extra bit of length really changes everything from what those bridge crews are used to with the regular C's.

[DENelson83]

So I guess that means the CR is still in her breaking-in period. The bridge crew just needs the experience.

[Retrovision]

ferryman said:

The stores are usually taken on during the crew layover in the middle of the day. Then also just before the last sailing for the day as well. The only problem with the provisioning door at thet side to take on stores, it might take a few extra mins to load.

As we know, the Spirits take on stores from the side of the vessel also (port side, just forward of the aft foot passenger overhead walkway entrance; all that needs to be closed inside the vessel is the section of hall between the door and the galley, look for the crane mount overhead next time you're aboard) at Swartz Bay. From that example I think it will only be a matter of time before Coastal (or is that Super-C? ) crews make it all part of the routine and not let taking on stores effect their schedule anymore than the Spirit crews have.

ferryman said:

They have to run her in mode 2 (stern prop pushing/bow prop pushing opposite the desired direction), and it must go at a slow speed for the bow prop to have any affect on the steering.

Is this the same way that mode 2 is done when a 'C' transits Active Pass?

[ferryfanyvr]

Just wondering about the berth assignments for the CR at HSB. She usually docks at berth 1 for obvious reasons. It's the widest berth, it has the ramp which can be adjusted without stopping traffic, etc. However when the modification work was being done over the past year to prepare for the CR's arrival it was stated that berths 1 AND 2 were being modified to accept the coastal class ships.

I take it that the CR could use berth 2 if necessary. What I'm wondering is: which foot passenger overhead walkway would they use on the CR at berth 2? They could use the berth 1/2 walkway which would use the access gate at the front starboard side of deck 5 right in front of the bridge (incidently, this is where the on board signage directs HSB foot passengers to disembark). Or they could use the berth 2/3 overhead on the port side...the same access point that is used at berth 1.

Assuming that either walkway would be available for use, which would be chosen? If anyone witnesses the CR using berth 2, please reply.

[Dane]

flugelhorn said:

johnnytindale said:

As many are aware, CR sailings on Rt 2 have been significantly behind schedule since the CR started its service last weekend. Some have mentioned the fact it is reasonable to expect some initial delays at the outset as everyone gets used to the new vessel, etc, to which I'm in agreement. Also, some of these delays have occurred during the crane loading at Departure Bay. However, I wonder if this is indeed the main reason for these lengthy delays? By the scheduled 7:00 PM sailing out of Departure Bay, the CR was almost 1 hour behind schedule. In my mind, this seems too long. Does anyone else wish to shed more light on this?

I have been wondering the same thing, and was just about to post the same thing, and then I saw your post.

The ship has regularly been between 30-60 minutes behind schedule in the evenings. And that's after the 30-minute catch-up opportunity during the afternoon shift-change.

I'd be interested in hearing inside-info on this too, as it does seem a bit too much of a delay, even for a new ship that wasn't built in Greece. ;D

If it's just regular growing-pains, then I'd still like some examples, so that I can better understand the situation.

A colleague of mine was traveling on the CR on Saturday evening, and I was sure to warn her that the ship's been consistently 45-minutes behind schedule in the evening hours.

And the Oaky still leaves right on schedule.........so it's not just the busy traffic that's causing delays.

I can provide some in sight to this based on what I have heard from some people working at BCF, most of it is obvious stuff you have likely deduced yourself, and a few are just generally interesting "tid bits." Note that not all of the items listed happen every sailing, but rather occur more often than they will after the training period.

1. New Crew - more crew are now required for Coastal sailings so there is a mix of people new to the ship and just generally new to the company;
2. Handling - this we know - just generally a lot different, although the comfort level will built up, when you are controlling a ship worth hundreds of millions of dollars you take time getting used to her ;D
3. Training over the break period - apparently a lot is being done in the break period, I know for several days they had a very large catering staff on the vessel for familiarization and this caused delays
4. Delays cascade - leaving late on the 3pm sailing will lead to a casdaing effect of delays when she's at Horseshoe Bay due to cross traffic. My observation is that generally Bowen Island is given the preference to get her commuter sailings out with the near constant one sailing wait in the afternoons (weekdays)
5. The container door, many have likely noticed, is being used more than is required for familiarization.

As has already been noted, the morning sailings where they are just picking up and going seem to be fine, it's the afternoon when they are doing training etc when the vessel is getting delayed.

Cheers

[Canucks]

I had my first ride on the Renaissance and was very pleased with it. It is roomy and has amazing views at the ends. As others have mentioned the vibration is very minimal and overall it is very quiet. Also, there are plenty of seats for those busy summer runs. I only have one complaint about her in regards to the stairs. On the 9:00 PM sailing the outside stairs from Deck 5 to 7 were closed and you had to take the ones inside, yet today on the 3:00 PM, the inside stairs were closed and you had to take the outside ones! Does anyone if there is a reason for this or was it just a strange coincidence

[Balfour]

It sounds like a strange coincidence to me because I remember having the outside stairs from deck 5 to 7 being closed while on her maiden voyage. Strange and inconsistent indeed.

[DENelson83]

The signs on the outside stairways said "for emergency use only" when I was aboard.

[queenofcowichan]

I asked a crew member about the outside stairs last week and he told me because the angle is too steep the stairs are for EMERGENCY use only.

[Ferryman]

Too steep?! If anything, I thought those stairs weren't as steep as the stairs on the other Ferries. They couldn't be any worse than the stairs inside.

[Canucks]

The outside stairs are in my opinion less steep then the inside ones and there was a sign hanging on one side that said EMERGENCY exit only. The inside stairs on Deck 6 had a sign that said something about doors being out of use and to use the external stairs from Deck 5. To say the least it was a pain to have to go down and then back up but I'm sure they were just making the doors AWESOME.

[Hardy]

queenofcowichan said:

I asked a crew member about the outside stairs last week and he told me because the angle is too steep the stairs are for EMERGENCY use only.

All due respect, but I don't think that something like pitch/angle of the stairs would have been overlooked by FSG or BCFS in design/build. FSG builds ships for around the world, and would have noticed a design flaw such as improper stairs. Furthermore, exterior ones could have been corrected before delivery with less inconvenience than interior ones.

I don't think that 'steepness' is a factor why they are closed. Something else is going on ...

Perhaps it is ghostly hauntings by the former Spaulding boats, most notably the Queen of Richmond....

[kylefossett]

noticed the departure/arrivals yesterday that the renaissance is improving on how far behind schedule it is by the end of the day. last sailing was only 15 minutes behind. not bad for a busy day before a holiday weekend

[WettCoast]

I was on the CR's 3:00 pm sailing from DPB on the 19th. The inside stairs to deck 7 were closed, the outside open. I asked a crew member; we had a fairly long chat. It seems the doors leading to the outside on deck 7 were not provided with wind breaks before & after. When a door is opened the wind sometimes catches it in a bad way. Some of these doors have already been damaged. As a precaution they have all been locked and those wishing to use deck 7 must use the two flight outside stairs from deck 5. These stairs also have issues. I will explain more later.

[Hardy]

wetcoastkidjst said:

It seems the doors leading to the outside on deck 7 were not provided with wind breaks before & after. When a door is opened the wind sometimes catches it in a bad way. Some of these doors have already been damaged.

Ahhh, this starts to make sense now with this level of explanation. It will be interesting to see if there is a kludge devised to deal with this, rather than just locking the doors. Shall we start a list of the Coastal's first refit wish list already??

wetcoastkidjst said:

These stairs also have issues. I will explain more later.

Hmmm, this sounds ominous! Should we cue the Star Wars (tm) music now?

[johnnytindale]

tsawwassenterminal said:

ferryman said:

The stores are usually taken on during the crew layover in the middle of the day. Then also just before the last sailing for the day as well. The only problem with the provisioning door at thet side to take on stores, it might take a few extra mins to load.

As we know, the Spirits take on stores from the side of the vessel also (port side, just forward of the aft foot passenger overhead walkway entrance; all that needs to be closed inside the vessel is the section of hall between the door and the galley, look for the crane mount overhead next time you're aboard) at Swartz Bay. From that example I think it will only be a matter of time before Coastal (or is that Super-C? ) crews make it all part of the routine and not let taking on stores effect their schedule anymore than the Spirit crews have.

ferryman said:

They have to run her in mode 2 (stern prop pushing/bow prop pushing opposite the desired direction), and it must go at a slow speed for the bow prop to have any affect on the steering.

Is this the same way that mode 2 is done when a 'C' transits Active Pass?

Looks like they are starting to get the kinks worked out on the CR. She's bang on schedule today and handling the holiday weekend traffic just fine. Hopefully the lengthy delays are behind her now.