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Post by Dane on Mar 7, 2009 0:07:03 GMT -8
This sign exemplifies the "CI Experience." ... Tonight, Deck 5 & the SitKa Lounge were closed. In reality the SeaWest Lounge doesn't really exist on this vessel.
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Post by DENelson83 on Mar 8, 2009 0:34:44 GMT -8
Great photos Scott! I like the Ocean theme better for some reason. I just wish BCF would put something other then the weather network on. It gets a little repetitive after about 10 minutes. No one would be able to hear the TV over all the talking. And you wouldn't want to see anyone fighting over the remote onboard, would you?
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Post by ferryfanyvr on Mar 8, 2009 8:55:02 GMT -8
... Tonight, Deck 5 & the SitKa Lounge were closed. In reality the SeaWest Lounge doesn't really exist on this vessel. Was the entire Sitka Coffe Place lounge closed, or just the serving area? I haven't been on the CI for several months...are they closing the Sitka on a fairly regular basis? If so, it seems like the 'Coastal Lite" experience on rt30 is getting "lite-r"
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Post by Curtis on Mar 8, 2009 13:04:17 GMT -8
This is why they should modify the Cowichan or Coquitlam for use on Route 30. If they removed the Gallery Decks and put in a few showers, they'd be set. But instead they put the CI on Route 30 when she would be more suited for Route 2 with the CR and Oak Bay.
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Post by blackshadow on Mar 8, 2009 15:50:12 GMT -8
How times need to be said on this forum? There are few arm chair designers in this group. The Cowichan and Coquitlam isn't build to have trucks on their outer sides on main deck. The deck plating is thinner (3/8 verses 7/16) and framing (2.5 feet apart verses 18 inches) which is design to carry weight of vehicles not heavy trucks. BCFS looked at this option but the $100 million to modify one of these vessels can be better used for other things. Say keeping fares down or purchase a new northern vessel which is now sitting in Departure Bay. These vessels isn't worth that money as they are not young girls. If they were 10-15 years old then it might be worth while.
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Post by Curtis on Mar 8, 2009 17:08:40 GMT -8
Considering the price a new Alberni-Type Coastal Class sounds like the best option. These vessels isn't worth that money as they are not young girls. If they were 10-15 years old then it might be worth while. But ask yourself this. What did they just do to the Queen of New Westminster?
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Post by Mike C on Mar 8, 2009 20:31:30 GMT -8
The Queen of New Westminster was modified to carry trucks on Route 30 at the age of 27 in 1991.
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WettCoast
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Post by WettCoast on Mar 8, 2009 21:05:57 GMT -8
I find it very difficult to believe that it would cost $100 million each to modify the Q's of Cowichan/Coquitlam to be fully over height on the main car deck. I understood that as built the Alberni and Cow/Coq were identical from the main car deck down.
Please confirm that that was not the case and explain the basic differences. Surely removing the gallery decks and reinforcing the main car deck plating can not be a 100 million dollar job?
Lastly, the C Inspiration is waisted on route 30 in all respects other than its MCD will accommodate a lot of trucks. Perhaps the solution is to put the QNWM back on route 30 and move the Inspiration to route 1. I would have suggested putting her on route 2 as the #1 HSB based vessel. But that would mean putting a C class as the TSW based #2 on route 1 and we all know what Davin Haun said about the C class and route 1.
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Post by Mike C on Mar 10, 2009 11:27:45 GMT -8
I find it very difficult to believe that it would cost $100 million each to modify the Q's of Cowichan/Coquitlam to be fully over height on the main car deck. I understood that as built the Alberni and Cow/Coq were identical from the main car deck down. Please confirm that that was not the case and explain the basic differences. Surely removing the gallery decks and reinforcing the main car deck plating can not be a 100 million dollar job? The height difference between that of the Cowichan/Coquitlam/Oak Bay/Surrey is notable compared to that of the Alberni. It is a tight squeeze for truckers on Route 2; you will notice in previous service notices that when the Coquitlam/Cowichan/Surrey did replacement work on Route 30, BCFS noted the height differences. From what I understand there would also have to be a heightening of the MCD, in addition to work on the deck plating and removal of gallery decks. Lastly, the C Inspiration is waisted on route 30 in all respects other than its MCD will accommodate a lot of trucks. Perhaps the solution is to put the QNWM back on route 30 and move the Inspiration to route 1. I would have suggested putting her on route 2 as the #1 HSB based vessel. But that would mean putting a C class as the TSW based #2 on route 1 and we all know what Davin Haun said about the C class and route 1. I agree; as a person who commutes on Route 30, the Inspiration (as much as I enjoy taking her over the New West) is overkill. The fact that they cannot open Deck 5 or the SeaWest on any of the crossings makes it a waste. It is not designed for Route 30, and that isn't where it belongs; it is designed to, and should be on either Route 1 or 2.
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Post by DENelson83 on Mar 11, 2009 0:03:46 GMT -8
Then let's get BCF to order another Super C class vessel that is designed to use route 30.
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Post by Kahloke on Mar 11, 2009 6:34:18 GMT -8
Then let's get BCF to order another Super C class vessel that is designed to use route 30. Oh, now that's just crazy talk! ;D I think this might have been mentioned before, but FSG has a RO-PAX SUPER SHUTTLE listed on their products page. There's no data sheet so it's hard to tell what the exact specifications are, but at first glance, it appears something like this, with perhaps an expanded passenger cabin, could potentially be a good fit for Route 30. Without further data, it's hard to say, of course, but it looks interesting. www.fsg-ship.de/
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Post by Northern Exploration on Mar 11, 2009 6:52:01 GMT -8
Then let's get BCF to order another Super C class vessel that is designed to use route 30. Oh, now that's just crazy talk! ;D I think this might have been mentioned before, but FSG has a RO-PAX SUPER SHUTTLE listed on their products page. There's no data sheet so it's hard to tell what the exact specifications are, but at first glance, it appears something like this, with perhaps an expanded passenger cabin, could potentially be a good fit for Route 30. Without further data, it's hard to say, of course, but it looks interesting. www.fsg-ship.de/To give the conspiracy theorists something more to chew on, remember Markus alluded to a surprize that was coming but that we wouldn't hear about it from him.
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Kam
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Post by Kam on Mar 11, 2009 10:10:53 GMT -8
This was my idea: 30 should have a new coastal built custom. Basically the same coastals we have now, minus deck 6. Less weight, less wind drag, more fuel efficient and same vehicle capacity.
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Post by Ferryman on Apr 26, 2009 20:00:45 GMT -8
The Coastal Inspiration randomly appears to be out of service again. I'm surprised they didn't put the Renaissance in its place, and run the Cowichan on Route 2. But instead they have the Cowichan running in its place. GASP! This is first time a non Super C has been based out of Duke Point since the Inspiration was introduced to the route, almost a year ago.
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Post by gordon on Apr 26, 2009 20:20:32 GMT -8
She may be having some minor problems and is probably not worth bringing the CR on to route #30 for a day. The CI seems to be back in service full time this week.
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Post by ferryfanyvr on Apr 27, 2009 8:16:29 GMT -8
Apparently it was a one day only change to keep the route 30 crews familiarized on the Cowichan
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Post by cohocatcher on May 6, 2009 20:38:10 GMT -8
The CI was docked at Departure Bay at noon today when I arrived on the Oak Bay from Horshoe Bay.
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Post by Dane on May 6, 2009 20:42:31 GMT -8
CI has been out all week with CR on 30.
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Post by Scott (Former Account) on May 6, 2009 20:45:42 GMT -8
The CI was docked at Departure Bay at noon today when I arrived on the Oak Bay from Horshoe Bay. She has been here since Monday. She is out for a few days while the Renaissance takes her place on Route 30. Unfortunately, I am not sure of the reasons leading to her being pulled...
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Post by ferryfanyvr on May 18, 2009 20:19:20 GMT -8
I travelled today on the 1515 sailing of the Inspiration out of Duke Point, and it was an extremely busy sailing...I asked one of the deckhands how many passengers were on board and he replied, "over 1100". And guess what...with the exception of the two mini-lounges at #1 end, all of deck 5 remained closed. I know this is usually the case, but I thought that with this many people, they would at least open the TV lounge. It was a zoo...there were no available seats as they were all either occupied or had luggage piled on them. I asked at the chief steward's office if they would perhaps open part of deck 5, and was told "no". I remained standing by the office, and there proceeded to be an endless number of passengers complaining about the crowded conditions and the deck 5 closure. As one woman said, "why should we have to sit on the floor when you have a whole passenger level closed off?" About 10 minutes later I went back down to deck 5 and lo and behold was greeted by this sight: About 10 minutes after I took this photo, the TV lounge was about three quarters full.
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Post by hwy19man on May 19, 2009 19:32:43 GMT -8
Nice to see that customer complaining worked. Good on you and the rest of the passengers for pointing out the overcrowding. One would think that on a long weekend all decks would be open. While the problem was corrected (good on BCF for doing that), in the beginning, it looks like BCF missed the boat!
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Neil
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Post by Neil on May 19, 2009 21:05:01 GMT -8
In keeping deck five closed, chances are the crew were doing what they were told to do by head office, and in opening it, they were taking the initiative themselves. It's inexcusable having a policy of such bad customer service, and it also points out the nonsense about route 30 just being for truckers.
I was told last year by a steward on the CI that deck five would be open if they had 900 or so passengers. 150 million of our tax dollars sent overseas to build each one of these things, they can at least give us the passenger amenities we paid for.
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Post by Ferryman on May 22, 2009 21:14:18 GMT -8
I've been commuting back and forth on the Renaissance about twice a week for the past month, and Deck 5 has been closed for all of the sailings I've been on. In the past, I had seen Deck 5 open, but was quite surprised to see it still closed off at the beginning of the May Long Weekend last Friday evening. It certainly bothers me when I see it closed on a busy sailing, but all I can do is whine and complain and hope for the best.
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Post by DENelson83 on May 22, 2009 21:24:30 GMT -8
I'm thinking the CI should have the same type of passenger licences both other Super C's have; basically, deck 5 is open on an A or B licence.
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Post by ferryfanyvr on May 23, 2009 17:50:37 GMT -8
I believe the CI does indeed have the same licenses as the other 2 coastals. The licences on display on the CI state that it's only with a "C" licence that Transport Canada requires deck 5 to be closed off to the public. If deck 5 is kept closed when the ships are operating on A/B licences it's nothing to do with Transport Canada regulations, probably just BCF not wanting to pay an extra cleaner to look after the area.
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