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Post by WettCoast on May 2, 2017 13:57:16 GMT -8
Hull # 559 ... This is my brother's photo ( mrdot ), and dates from about September of 1992. I have had a bit of doubt about this actually being an early photo of the 'senior spook', and that it might possibly be of the younger spook. This photo, however, clearly shows that this is "Hull # 559".
I am looking for confirmation that # 559 is indeed the SoBC. The builder's plaque should show the hull # on it. If not, there is some other documentation somewhere ...
Update [2017 May 4] I had another look at the print from which this image was scanned. On the back of the print is a photo finisher's date stamp that says "June 1992". So that says without any doubt that this is SoBC and the hull #559 would be Yarrows - Victoria shipyard designation for the rear section. Presumably, SoVI was hull #560.  "Queen of Lego 1", aka Spirit of BC, all pieced together and ready to be fitted out @ Fraser-Surrey Docks - June 1992
© Mr DOT by mrdot., on Flickr |
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Post by mybidness459 on May 2, 2017 15:11:46 GMT -8
Allied Shipbuilders say Spirit of BC is #254 and the VI is 255 see link posted for confirmation. The spirits near bottom of the page. www.alliedship.com/index.phpClick on vessel gallery on left side of page. Now it says forward hull section does this mean that the completed hull received a new number when joined together? |
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Post by WettCoast on May 2, 2017 15:50:51 GMT -8
Now it says forward hull section does this mean that the completed hull received a new number when joined together? Yarrows (Victoria Shipyard) built the rear hull section, so the 559 # may be theirs? |
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Nick
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Chief Engineer - Queen of Richmond
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Post by Nick on Jul 21, 2017 12:47:38 GMT -8
I'm currently on board the SoBC. I can't remember the last time I was on this vessel... I think it has been at least a year. These days I often end up on the CC.
I've been walking around doing my usual looksiedoodle and I'm sreuck by how tired she looks. The passenger spaces, which were updated in 2005 I think, are pretty worn and in some places dirty looking. The car decks are in major need of paint, particularly in the hard-to-reach areas and the outside decks are showing lots of deep corrosion and wear.
I don't know if this is all just age finally showing through or if maybe this winter's refit was a minimum work only job since the big MLU is this winter.
I was an eager beaver kid when this boat was the fancy new ferry running out of Swartz Bay so it's a little weird to see her looking so old. I wonder if Starsteward feels the same looking at the Nanaimo?
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Post by Ferryman on Aug 8, 2017 21:47:57 GMT -8
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Post by Balfour on Aug 10, 2017 12:05:07 GMT -8
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Post by mybidness459 on Aug 13, 2017 11:07:19 GMT -8
So as we near mid August anyone know anything about when, where and how BCF are planning to prep her for her long voyage to Poland? Is a BC Ferries crew who are familiar with the ship going with her or is a seperate crew outside of BCF going to sail her.
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Post by Ferryman on Aug 13, 2017 11:48:30 GMT -8
So as we near mid August anyone know anything about when, where and how BCF are planning to prep her for her long voyage to Poland? Is a BC Ferries crew who are familiar with the ship going with her or is a seperate crew outside of BCF going to sail her. The SOBC will be taken out of service immediately after Labour Day, for about a week of preparations. By mid-Sept she'll be underway with a Redwise Delivery Crew |
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Post by WettCoast on Aug 15, 2017 8:26:49 GMT -8
BC Ferries' Spirit of British Columbia en route from Swartz Bay with the 1 PM sailing for her home base @ Tsawwassen - 27 July 2017. I am leaving the exact location of this shot out for now so that others can see if they can peg it down.  © WCK-JST by Jim Thorne, on Flickr |
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Post by arrrrmatey on Aug 22, 2017 12:48:07 GMT -8
There has, for what I think may be a couple of weeks now, a service notice regarding the SOBC running at reduced speed because she is having trouble with one of the main engines. Does anyone know what the problem is, and has she been running on 3 of 4 engines since? I've notice significant delays daily for her, and reduced speed on AIS. Maybe they aren't going to fix it, since it is so close to being replaced by new engines.
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Post by futureferrydriver on Aug 22, 2017 13:48:42 GMT -8
There has, for what I think may be a couple of weeks now, a service notice regarding the SOBC running at reduced speed because she is having trouble with one of the main engines. Does anyone know what the problem is, and has she been running on 3 of 4 engines since? I've notice significant delays daily for her, and reduced speed on AIS. Maybe they aren't going to fix it, since it is so close to being replaced by new engines. I don't know what the exact issue is but one of the main engines in not operational right now. So she is running at a reduced speed on 3 engines. I've heard (not sure how true this is) that they are waiting on a part to repair it, which is supposedly about 2 weeks away as of a few days ago. Since she is being pulled from service for her MLU in a little less then 3 weeks anyways I don't know if they'll go through with the repair or not. It might need to be done before she can cross the Atlantic though, so perhaps they will perform the repair after she is pulled from service in September, before she leaves. Either way I think we will likely be experiencing these delays with the 'BC for the rest of this summer. |
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Post by mybidness459 on Aug 28, 2017 14:01:53 GMT -8
I was wondering last night about how the pilots are going to board and disembark the Spirit of BC/VI while en route to and from Poland. Too my knowledge I do not think the Spirits have a little door on side like the Coastal.
The Queen of Nanaimo does have access at the stern so all the pilots have do do is climb a small ladder.
The Spirits raises a problem. A ladder from the passenger deck would land on the "fender"** rather than to the pilot vessel. Would they open the big main cardeck door for this occasion then use the ladder?
** I forgot what the proper name for the are on the outside of the cardeck. Sorry.
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FNS
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Post by FNS on Sept 6, 2017 16:04:12 GMT -8
Here's a news release from BCF of the SPIRIT OF BRITISH COLUMBIA's removal from service and preparations for her sea voyage to Poland: www.bcferries.com/bcferries/faces/attachments?id=1088450For Immediate Release 17-083
September 6, 2017
SPIRIT OF BRITISH COLUMBIA REMOVED FROM SERVICE TO UNDERGO MID-LIFE UPGRADE
Vessel will also be converted to operate on liquefied natural gas VICTORIA – BC Ferries announced the Spirit of British Columbia has been removed from service as of today to transit to BC Ferries’ Fleet Maintenance Unit in Richmond to prepare for departure to Remontowa Ship Repair Yard S.A. of Gdansk, Poland under its own power on Sept. 12 for completion of a mid-life upgrade. While the vessel is at the Fleet Maintenance Unit, several preparations will occur including the installation of a wave break on the main car deck forward section, marine pilot access arrangements and voyage logistical provisions. Other tasks include safety inspections and de-storing of vessel equipment that will not be required during the transit or at the shipyard site. The transit of the vessel should take approximately 42 days, depending on weather. For those who want to join the voyage “virtually”, customers can track the ship’s progress including course, position and speed at vesselfinder.com. In 2016, BC Ferries awarded a contract to Remontowa Ship Repair Yard S.A. of Gdansk, Poland to conduct the Spirit Class mid-life upgrades, which include the conversion of both vessels to dual-fuel so they can operate on liquefied natural gas or ultra-low sulphur marine diesel. BC Ferries conducted an extensive competitive bidding process to ensure the company secured the best value bid. One shipyard from B.C. participated in the RFP process; however, they opted to withdraw from the process before the award decision. Remontowa Ship Repair Yard is the largest ship repair yard in Poland and ranks amongst the largest in Europe. “Last fiscal year, we spent approximately $100.2 million on diesel fuel of which the two Spirit Class vessels consumed approximately 15.5 per cent,” said Mark Wilson, BC Ferries’ Vice President of Engineering. “Liquefied natural gas costs significantly less than marine diesel. The conversion of the two largest ships in the fleet along with the three new dual-fuel Salish Class vessels that all entered service this year will go a long way to help both our environmental footprint and with fare affordability for our customers.” BC Ferries expects to reduce CO2 emissions by 12,000 tonnes annually, which is the equivalent of taking approximately 2,500 vehicles off the road per year, by using natural gas to fuel the Spirit Class vessels. In addition to the liquefied natural gas conversion, the vessel’s passenger areas will be upgraded with new carpeting, refurbished washrooms, expanded gift shop and an additional washroom on Deck 5 as well as a new coffee bar on Deck 6. Upgrades to the passenger elevators include renewal of mechanical and electrical drive components, emergency communication system and electrical and control systems. Other planned upgrades include the renewal of navigation equipment, propulsion equipment components including rudders, steering system, bow thrusters, propeller blades, LED lighting and more efficient air conditioning equipment to reduce energy consumption. The Spirit of British Columbia will be the first ship through the mid-life upgrade and conversion process, with the upgrade being completed from fall of 2017 through the spring of 2018. The Spirit of Vancouver Island will follow the next year from the fall of 2018 through the spring of 2019. This schedule will allow for these two vessels, the largest in the fleet, to be back in operation during the summer months when traffic is at its highest. The Spirit of British Columbia was built in 1993 and the Spirit of Vancouver Island was built in 1994. BC Ferries plans to operate these two vessels for another 25 years. Both ships service the Metro Vancouver – Victoria (Tsawwassen – Swartz Bay) run, which is the busiest route in the fleet. *** *** *** If these have not been scrapped yet, could BCF be using one of two remaining (out of three) FSG wave breakers for the voyage of the SOBC? We'll see. |
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Post by WettCoast on Sept 6, 2017 18:29:25 GMT -8
The BCFS news release reproduced above gives no detail as to when the SoBC is expected back, and ready for service, except to say "to be back in operation during the summer months when traffic is at its highest".
Considering that the two Spirit class vessels are pretty much essential when the traffic volume is high on Route One, just what is the date they are supposed to be back in BC in the 'spring'? I am fairly certain that their will be a period of at least several weeks required when they return for her regular crews to be trained & familiarized on all the new equipment (more than just the new main engines) that is part of this project. And we need to keep in mind that so far this yard in Poland has a zero in three record of delivering vessels to BCFS as per the contracted date. I am sure BCFS will not divulge any penalty details in the contract that hopefully exist.
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Neil
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Post by Neil on Sept 6, 2017 19:08:17 GMT -8
The BCFS news release reproduced above gives no detail as to when the SoBC is expected back, and ready for service, except to say "to be back in operation during the summer months when traffic is at its highest". Considering that the two Spirit class vessels are pretty much essential when the traffic volume is high on Route One, just what is the date they are supposed to be back in BC in the 'spring'? I am fairly certain that their will be a period of at least several weeks required when they return for her regular crews to be trained & familiarized on all the new equipment (more than just the new main engines) that is part of this project. And we need to keep in mind that so far this yard in Poland has a zero in three record of delivering vessels to BCFS as per the contracted date. I am sure BCFS will not divulge any penalty details in the contract that hopefully exist. I can't remember where it was (Times Colonist?), but I did read recently that the SoBC was expected to be back in service, not just back in BC, by late June. Like you, I'll believe it when I see it. I am happy to see that the last made in BC majors are going to get a major sprucing up. I don't like the fact that they've been allowed to get tired and grubby in comparison to their newer German compatriots. |
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Post by mybidness459 on Sept 11, 2017 10:38:44 GMT -8
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FNS
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Post by FNS on Sept 12, 2017 3:01:40 GMT -8
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FNS
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Post by FNS on Sept 12, 2017 6:17:33 GMT -8
It's just after 0700PDT here on our coast and the tug SEASPAN VENTURE is on site to, most likely, assist the big ferry out of Deas.  |
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FNS
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Post by FNS on Sept 12, 2017 7:48:03 GMT -8
 The SOBC has tugs surrounding her like bumble bees. |
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FNS
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Post by FNS on Sept 12, 2017 9:57:29 GMT -8
 There are some NASA launch commentators who would say "AND THE ___ HAS CLEARED THE TOWER". The SPIRIT OF BRITISH COLUMBIA has been cleared from the tight confines of Deas. Sure takes a lot of precise movements and tug coordination to get a massive ship out of there. The first movement was made at 1025PDT. So, we can start her "Voyage Elapsed Time" to Gdansk from that time. She now begins her slow movement down the Fraser and my next position report will be at Sand Heads. |
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FNS
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Post by FNS on Sept 12, 2017 11:04:42 GMT -8
 The SPIRIT OF BRITISH COLUMBIA has been relieved of her Fraser River pilot. The Pilot Boat PACIFIC NAVIGATOR took that person. She now heads out of BC waterways for her first time and charts courses to new areas. There will be no reports off Tsawwassen, East Point, or Turn Point unless requested. I'll let other Forum members do these. I'll do a summary after she leaves Victoria and imaging capturing off Race Rocks. There is at least one imperfection. I'll let you guess what it is. |
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Post by mybidness459 on Sept 12, 2017 11:47:27 GMT -8
Well, at least I am not the only one, Pamama instead of Panama, LoL!😉
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Post by mybidness459 on Sept 12, 2017 11:56:13 GMT -8
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FNS
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Post by FNS on Sept 12, 2017 14:52:32 GMT -8
Just a quick update:
The Pilot Boat PACIFIC SCOUT has taken the pilot away from the SPIRIT OF BRITISH COLUMBIA off Victoria and the big ferry is on her way out of our Salish Sea waterways (to return next year). Watch the Race Rocks cam now.
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Post by terrybc on Sept 12, 2017 15:26:02 GMT -8
Looks as if the Spirit of BC will be chasing the Disney Wonder down the coast as the Disney Wonder is now bound for San Diego.
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