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Post by Starsteward on Sept 11, 2018 13:55:35 GMT -8
Memo: What not to do on the Friday of a long weekend! Paul's comment brings up a thought about the timing of safety drills. I had a passionate back-and-forth on a Galiano FB page with a person who argued that BC Ferries was foolish to do a drill at a busy time of service (like the start of a long weekend). I argued that drills are important at any time, and that sea travel has risks, and that drills are important regardless of the calendar. There seems to be a mentality that sea travel is routine and things to do with safety are inconveniences. I think that's a crazy thought. I also think that the bigger issue is that BC Ferries has had two incidents of rescue davits failing, in the past few months. It's injured workers, and it's shown that the public is at risk in the event of an emergency. So yes, what not to do on the Friday of a long weekend is to not have a disaster, because the ferry wasn't prepared. Unless the scheduling of Fire & Boat drills has changed dramatically over the course of time, Captains will usually schedule drills on the first day back from crew's days off. Hence drills may take place before the first morning sailing or before the first afternoon sailing. (This is the one that usually creates a late departure time). With additional deck and catering crew coming and going during the busy summer schedule, the Chief Officer will notify the Captain of any new crew members joining the ship. In order to comply 100% with T.C. regulations, the Captain would notify all department heads that a fire and boat drill would be implemented prior to the ship's initial sailing. Should an incident arise during the first sailing or before a complete drill had been carried out, the Captain could be in breach of T.C. regulations and find him/her-self in deep doo doo with T.C. The fact that an 'accident' occurred during the boat drill stage of the proceedings was just that. An untimely accident totally unrelated to the previous accident that occurred while crew were testing the fast boat equipment. These incidents will be investigated and reports submitted by senior officers of the ships involved. Captains of any deep-sea vessels must also comply with T.C. regulations in carrying out fire and boat drills prior to sailing from any Canadian port of entry. Captains are usually very vigilant about meeting this requirement especially if their vessel is transiting from one Canadian port to another. Log books will be checked by T.C. and Customs & Immigration officials whenever a vessel enters a Canadian destination port. American officials will be checking for drills performed as well. Deep-sea Captains are known to be less stringent in meeting fire and boat drills if they know they are destined for a foreign port.( although I have experienced a drill whilst underway from one foreign port to another). Many of our members will have also seen boat drills carried out by cruise liners before they leave Victoria or Vancouver at the start of their itineraries. These drills are usually done at dock-side when the majority of passengers have been checked in. Captains may opt for a boat drill once their ship is underway, ( taking the risk of annoying those passengers who happen to have 'first sittings' on ships who still have that policy in place in their main dining salons). The scheduling/timing of fire and boat drills can be inconvenient for both crew and passengers, that's just a fact of life at sea. When fire and boat drills are NOT conducted at the appropriate times we witness the near total calamity that befell the passengers and crew of the 'Costa Concordia' especially when the Captain accidentally 'fell' into a lifeboat. His actions culminated with a well-deserved stint in prison. |
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Post by Brandon S on Sept 11, 2018 19:04:45 GMT -8
I've received some info from my step-dad (currently prepping the SOVI for Poland) that there is a chance she is heading out of Deas on Friday or Saturday.
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Post by terrybc on Sept 12, 2018 18:29:19 GMT -8
I'm quite aware about the Pacific Pilotage Authority website & use it quite often. Thanks for taking the time out to reply back.
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Post by Starsteward on Sept 13, 2018 7:36:38 GMT -8
Hopefully preparations for this trans-Atlantic crossing have taken into consideration the nasty rounds of weather currently being experienced.
If memory serves correctly, the 'SOBC' had somewhat better luck with the weather when she did her crossings.
Good to hear that the departure of the 'SOVI' appears to be pretty much on schedule.
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tak22
Chief Steward
Posts: 108
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Post by tak22 on Sept 13, 2018 9:17:19 GMT -8
If you're interested, I will be tracking the Spirit of Vancouver Island on my website at patbaywebcam.com/spiritvi.phpTracking now includes: Voyage KM distance, Speed Knots last/max/avg, wind and weather forecast for current position, and whenever possible I include timelapse videos of the ships going through the Panama Canal. As always, if you have suggestions/requests/ideas for changes, let me know and I'll see what I can do. You can either discuss it here or use my site contact form at Pat Bay Webcam Contact FormPreviously I've tracked the Salish ships (Orca, Eagle, and Raven), The Northern Seawolf, and the Spirit of BC. These transits are on the tracking archive page at patbaywebcam.com/tracking_archive.php tak |
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Post by Starsteward on Sept 13, 2018 14:23:59 GMT -8
If you're interested, I will be tracking the Spirit of Vancouver Island on my website at patbaywebcam.com/spiritvi.phpTracking now includes: Voyage KM distance, Speed Knots last/max/avg, wind and weather forecast for current position, and whenever possible I include timelapse videos of the ships going through the Panama Canal. As always, if you have suggestions/requests/ideas for changes, let me know and I'll see what I can do. You can either discuss it here or use my site contact form at Pat Bay Webcam Contact FormPreviously I've tracked the Salish ships (Orca, Eagle, and Raven), The Northern Seawolf, and the Spirit of BC. These transits are on the tracking archive page at patbaywebcam.com/tracking_archive.php tak Pacific Pilotage is now showing on the Fraser River section of their site that a pilot has been ordered for 0:9:00 Friday, September 14, 2018 Tug from Smit Marine is showing as assisting the move from Fraser River anchorage ( I assume they are talking Deas Pacific Marine) to Sandhead. We'll be watching with interest as 'tak22' tracks the 'SOVI' on her journey to Poland and her much awaited MLU. Godspeed 'SOVI'! |
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Post by Brandon S on Sept 13, 2018 17:09:17 GMT -8
If you're interested, I will be tracking the Spirit of Vancouver Island on my website at patbaywebcam.com/spiritvi.phpTracking now includes: Voyage KM distance, Speed Knots last/max/avg, wind and weather forecast for current position, and whenever possible I include timelapse videos of the ships going through the Panama Canal. As always, if you have suggestions/requests/ideas for changes, let me know and I'll see what I can do. You can either discuss it here or use my site contact form at Pat Bay Webcam Contact FormPreviously I've tracked the Salish ships (Orca, Eagle, and Raven), The Northern Seawolf, and the Spirit of BC. These transits are on the tracking archive page at patbaywebcam.com/tracking_archive.php tak Pacific Pilotage is now showing on the Fraser River section of their site that a pilot has been ordered for 0:9:00 Friday, September 14, 2018 Tug from Smit Marine is showing as assisting the move from Fraser River anchorage ( I assume they are talking Deas Pacific Marine) to Sandhead. We'll be watching with interest as 'tak22' tracks the 'SOVI' on her journey to Poland and her much awaited MLU. Godspeed 'SOVI'! I'm heading over there tomorrow. Hopefully I can get some photos. |
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Post by futureferrydriver on Sept 14, 2018 9:23:12 GMT -8
Looks like the journey has officially begun! Vesselfinder showing SoVI surrounded by tugs just outside of FMU in the Fraser! Farwell SoVI, have a safe trip!
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Post by Mike on Sept 14, 2018 12:30:39 GMT -8
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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 Sept 14, 2018 14:03:15 GMT -8
The SPIRIT OF VANCOUVER ISLAND has dropped off her pilot outside of Victoria and is heading out the Juan De Fuca Strait. WEBCAM:www.racerocks.ca/ |
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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 Sept 14, 2018 14:44:27 GMT -8
 SPIRIT OF VANCOUVER ISLAND with the bulk carrier NSU OBELISK. OBELISK is no stranger to the open ocean. SOVI? First time.  SPIRIT OF VANCOUVER ISLAND abeam Race Rocks.  SPIRIT OF VANCOUVER ISLAND abeam Race Rocks.  On her way out to sea.  See you in Panama, if webcam operations permits. We thank Race Rocks for providing these images. Visit their site as linked above. I wish the ship and her crew well on their voyage to Poland. |
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Sept 14, 2018 21:08:31 GMT -8
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Post by Mike on Sept 15, 2018 10:12:32 GMT -8
Well, yeah. SoVI entered service 24 years ago. Plus, the fact they're calling this refit the "Mid Life Upgrade" is a bit of a giveaway... |
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Post by terrybc on Sept 15, 2018 17:38:14 GMT -8
MarineTraffic.com Shows it's destination as Gdansk arriving on October 24th. I'm sure the arrival date will be pushed back further depending on weather.
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Post by terrybc on Sept 15, 2018 23:10:44 GMT -8
Just after 12 Midnight this evening & Spirit of Vancouver Island is abeam off Eureka California.
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Post by Mike C on Sept 16, 2018 19:51:45 GMT -8
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Post by terrybc on Sept 19, 2018 5:07:58 GMT -8
As of 6am Spirit of Vancouver Island is abeam with Cabo San Lucas Mexico.
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tak22
Chief Steward
Posts: 108
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Post by tak22 on Sept 24, 2018 18:38:30 GMT -8
Spirit of Vancouver Island is getting near Panama, I'll be trying to capture enough pictures from the lock cam to make a time lapse video. SOVI tracking page at: patbaywebcam.com/spiritvi.php |
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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 Sept 24, 2018 23:25:31 GMT -8
The SPIRIT OF VANCOUVER ISLAND is now at anchor outside of the Canal at Panama. |
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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 Sept 27, 2018 6:04:30 GMT -8
The SPIRIT OF VANCOUVER ISLAND passed through the Panama Canal on Wednesday, 2018-09-26. I captured her passing through the Gatun Locks just when I got home from out of town. Here are my image captures:        We thank the operators of the Panama Canal webcams for enabling us to see this action. The SPIRIT OF VI was anchored outside as of this morning awaiting ship replenishing for her journey across the Atlantic. |
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tak22
Chief Steward
Posts: 108
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Post by tak22 on Sept 27, 2018 10:07:17 GMT -8
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Post by Starsteward on Sept 27, 2018 10:22:00 GMT -8
Thanks to 'FNS' and 'tak22' for their recent postings of the 'SOVI' as she journeys to Poland.
The first leg to this point appears to have gone uneventfully and now comes the big run across the Atlantic to the Canary Islands where most likely 'SOVI' will get a chance to catch her breath before the run up the West African coast and on into the crowded shipping lanes off the coasts of France et al.
Hopefully 'SOVI' won't run into any of the storms that have had their genesis off the coast of Africa and moved across the Atlantic to devastate America.
Looking forward to seeing 'SOVI' flying our colours in Polish waters and receiving her long-planned MLU.
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tak22
Chief Steward
Posts: 108
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Post by tak22 on Sept 28, 2018 9:26:32 GMT -8
Spirit of VI will be going through quite a few 'dark zones' (no VHF AIS coverage) from now to arrival in Gdansk. Is anyone interested in receiving either an email or a text message when tracking resumes? I'm considering adding a notification service, and can trial it with anyone that contacts me here: patbaywebcam.com/wxcontact.php either by form or email. October 1st update:Basic notification service now available and the first email went out at 1:50am today: '1,763 KMs since last out of range' Next notice will have more information and direct links to ship location on my tracking site, on marinetraffic.com, etc. Content suggestions accepted. - Trigger - Sent when the tracking AIS feed becomes available after an 'Out of AIS range' period.
- Email notifications - Direct to the email address you provide.
- Text notifications - A 2 step process to the phone number you provide using the Rogers Email to SMS service. You'll receive an initial text notification, then you reply with 'Read' to receive the actual message.
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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 Oct 3, 2018 22:10:48 GMT -8
Based on my estimate, the SPIRIT OF VI may be nearing half way across the Atlantic from the islands guarding the Caribbean. Using the 200km 100mi zoom scale, Marine Traffic shows "Passenger Vessel Position received via Satellite". The nose of the blip is pointing more towards the Canary Islands.
We'll get a confirmation of this when the blip nears the Canaries showing a name several days from now.
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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 Oct 7, 2018 11:15:07 GMT -8
The blip of interest is now within about a couple hundred miles from reaching the next fueling stop in the Canary Islands.
Name to be shown when the blip gets closer to land.
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