Koastal Karl
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Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
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Post by Koastal Karl on Aug 22, 2011 11:14:08 GMT -8
I guess the day trip Bella Coola is not a day trip afterall. More of a afternoon/overnight trip still non stop though, lol! I wonder what travellers will think of that? lol!
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Post by Low Light Mike on Aug 31, 2011 15:33:16 GMT -8
from a recent BCFS service notice about the Chiliwack service on the Comox-Westview route this Autumn:
The above items answer some questions that we've asked about the Chiliwack, and that I'm sure people will be asking about again this Autumn. ;D
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Koastal Karl
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Post by Koastal Karl on Sept 5, 2011 18:18:23 GMT -8
According to the vessel tracking the Chilliwack is stopped at Namu. How often does she stop there I dident think she stopped there anymore?
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Post by Low Light Mike on Sept 5, 2011 18:45:19 GMT -8
According to the vessel tracking the Chilliwack is stopped at Namu. How often does she stop there I dident think she stopped there anymore? That would be a kayak wet-launch. |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Sept 9, 2011 11:40:30 GMT -8
The last "round trip" of the Route-40 season has been cancelled.
- this is the Saturday-Sunday-Monday sailings.
Service notice excerpt:
I'm not sure what the mechanical issues are. But the weather is real and understandable.
Cancelling the last round-trip of the season is a very big deal, and I'll suspect that any stranded Bella Bellans or Klemtuians might get home via an extra-stop on the NorEx.
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Post by glasseye on Sept 10, 2011 2:23:28 GMT -8
www.bcferries.com/bcfservicenotice?id=542954NorEx is providing service to Klemtu and Bella Bella on 11 and 12 Sept. Nimpkish is providing service Shearwater > Ocean Falls > Bella Coola on 12 Sept. The trip is scheduled for nine hours. At first glance, anyone who had been planning to travel from/to Klemtu and Shearwater, Ocean Falls, or Bella Coola and is out of luck. I don't know enough about inside passage travel patterns to know if the number of people effected is more likely to be zero or one.... Nine hours on the Nimpkish for anyone expecting the Chiliwack will be interesting to say the least.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Sept 10, 2011 16:09:17 GMT -8
Chilliwack is on the move south, as of right now (Saturday evening), and is currently near Port McNeil.
My guess is that she's headed to Deas (that's what SiiTech says) and maybe also eventually to a shipyard, for some work to be done between now and when she starts to substitute for the 'Burnaby.
- and although she's supposed to do 3 more days of Route-40 service, she's skipping that because she needs the extra-time in repair.
ie. My theory is that they've cancelled the last-weekend of Route-40 in order to buy extra time for repairs, although the Chilliwack could have run (perhaps a bit slower) one more weekend on Route-40.
- just a guess.
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Post by glasseye on Sept 10, 2011 17:10:52 GMT -8
The 'Wack is moving south at the leasurely speed of about 8 kts. I wonder if it's down to three engines? Given what happened the last time the Chilliwack went out in bad weather on three engines[1], it'd be understandable of BCFS decided to bring it south early rather than take risks with the weekend's weather. [1] www.nicholassimons.ca/?p=2477 |
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Nick
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Post by Nick on Sept 10, 2011 18:07:14 GMT -8
The 'Wack is moving south at the leasurely speed of about 8 kts. I wonder if it's down to three engines? Given what happened the last time the Chilliwack went out in bad weather on three engines[1], it'd be understandable of BCFS decided to bring it south early rather than take risks with the weekend's weather. [1] www.nicholassimons.ca/?p=2477If she's running at 8 knots because of engines, she's got more than one down. Normal operation on route 40 is bow engines offline, and stern at 60%. This usually provides 10.5 to 11 kts depending on tides. |
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WettCoast
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Post by WettCoast on Sept 10, 2011 20:54:38 GMT -8
I have arrived back in Kitimat this evening and I can say that the weather is just fine here, and has been apparently since Thursday. This is true for both the Central & North Coasts.
Mechanical issues may be a justification for 'pulling' the last route 40 runs of this season for the Wack, but weather is not. BCFS's claims re cancellation being justified in part by the weather is perhaps a 'bit much'.
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Post by glasseye on Sept 10, 2011 22:31:28 GMT -8
Environment Canada's current forecast for the central coast calls for 1-2m waves and 15-20 knot north west winds.
Weather cancellation only passes the smell test if the Chilliwack is in such bad shape that it can't handle 2m quartering seas.
I doubt we'll get a definitive answer as to BCFS' thinking unless somebody feels like paying for a FOI request.
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Post by glasseye on Sept 11, 2011 17:15:25 GMT -8
Chilliwack is at Deas.
Marine Traffic's course log shows that the Chilliwack made 9-10 knots south of Campbell River.
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Quatchi
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Post by Quatchi on Sept 11, 2011 17:44:41 GMT -8
9-10 knots only requires 2 engines. So, there are two possible dud's.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2011 21:13:12 GMT -8
I doubt it is engine problems those old Bergen diesels are reliable it most likey leg failure which is common for the Chilliwack. They need to get the Wack in shape for the Comox run the old Burnaby isn't going to take any bad weather or she may snap in half  |
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Post by Scott (Former Account) on Sept 23, 2011 19:17:21 GMT -8
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 24, 2011 9:58:01 GMT -8
The nightmare starts in 2 days for the Powell to Comox run ;D
No choice the Burnaby needs repairs.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Sept 24, 2011 10:57:41 GMT -8
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Koastal Karl
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Post by Koastal Karl on Sept 24, 2011 12:44:03 GMT -8
Could not the New West run from Comox to Powell River?? I know that is a bit of an overkill as the New West is alot bigger or why not bring the Nanaimo up but then the Wack cant run in the Gulf Islands could the New West not run to the Gulf Islands??
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Post by lmtengs on Sept 24, 2011 13:25:26 GMT -8
Could not the New West run from Comox to Powell River?? I know that is a bit of an overkill as the New West is alot bigger or why not bring the Nanaimo up but then the Wack cant run in the Gulf Islands could the New West not run to the Gulf Islands?? Could not the Kaleetan Rhody Coho or maybe the Taku run from Comox to Powell River?? I know that is huge overkill and completely illogical or why not bring the Steel E's up but then we'd have to put it together again but we can do that can't we??
There's nothing wrong with having the Queen of Chilliwack run the route, she's done it for years. She's a good boat, she's sound, and she's not a 'risk' to passengers riding her. There's no need to make such a huge deal out of a vessel replacement that's tried and true. All we maybe need is a modified schedule to suit the ship better. |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Sept 24, 2011 13:43:16 GMT -8
There's nothing wrong with having the Queen of Chilliwack run the route, she's done it for years. - this is only the 3rd time that the 'Chilliwack has been on the Comox route. (May 2009, Autumn 2010, and now) ------------ She's a good boat, she's sound, and she's not a 'risk' to passengers riding her. - tell that to the people who were riding her on Route-40 at the end of this season, and those who took her down from Port Hardy to Deas Dock a few weeks ago. ----------- There's no need to make such a huge deal out of a vessel replacement that's tried and true. - Powell River people will remember the 9-hour voyage for a long, long time.... ----------- All we maybe need is a modified schedule to suit the ship better. - umm, maybe you should check the service-notice or schedule to see the modified schedule that they've announced. They also ran a modified schedule in Autumn 2010.... |
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Post by Scott (Former Account) on Sept 24, 2011 13:47:59 GMT -8
Could not the New West run from Comox to Powell River?? I know that is a bit of an overkill as the New West is alot bigger or why not bring the Nanaimo up but then the Wack cant run in the Gulf Islands could the New West not run to the Gulf Islands?? The New West is the only other vessel I could think of that could possibly serve Route 17, though she is, as you mentioned, overkill. She would be far from ideal in terms of operating costs, as well. The Nanaimo is best left on Route 9. The fact remains that if we had a proper replacement vessel for the Tsawwassen ( not the Island Sky), there wouldn't be an issue. |
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Post by lmtengs on Sept 24, 2011 14:20:38 GMT -8
- tell that to the people who were riding her on Route-40 at the end of this season, and those who took her down from Port Hardy to Deas Dock a few weeks ago. The Queen of Chilliwack isn't the only vessel that's had major mechanical issues. Remember the engine fire on the SoBC? and wasn't there also one on the Queen of Surrey a decade or so ago? The Queen of Oak Bay found herself a new parking spot down at Sewells a few years back, and after a refit, she was fine. Ferries break down, just like cars. Cars have fender benders, and it's not like people are scared of driving them after a trip to the repair shop. Should be the same deal with ferries. - Powell River people will remember the 9-hour voyage for a long, long time.... Once again, there have been other times when a much-longer-than-normal crossing time has occurred. The vessels that were in those situations were retired just a couple years ago, and it seems as if people had long forgotten the long sailings by then. - umm, maybe you should check the service-notice or schedule to see the modified schedule that they've announced. They also ran a modified schedule in Autumn 2010.... I realize that. From the way it sounds, there were still delays though. Maybe they should rewrite that modified schedule so that it actually works. |
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WettCoast
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Post by WettCoast on Sept 24, 2011 15:30:49 GMT -8
The fact remains that if we had a proper replacement vessel for the Tsawwassen ( not the Island Sky), there wouldn't be an issue. The fine folks at BCF Services made the decision to build a modified Q-Cumber rather than building a vessel capable of filling in on all the roles that the Tsawwassen once had. Then they let the Tsawwassen go... permanently. Their decisions are not looking all that brilliant. Speaking of possibilities, the NorAd will be idle for most of the next six months. Other than not fitting in at any southern berths without an 'adapter', she might be a reasonable replacement on the Comox to Powell River route. Then again, maybe not. Perhaps southerners might like to experience a bit of that Hecate Strait in the fall/winter feeling. PS: This whole conversation seems not to be in an appropriate thread. I don't know which thread might be better, however. Suggestion: How about route specific threads, where discussion such as this could go in under 'Route 17 Discussion'? |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 24, 2011 16:22:40 GMT -8
Okay issues with the Chilliwack on the Comox route.
1) She is such a low floating ship getting trucks and vehicals off the ship is next to impossible on low tides. Trucks delivering goods to Powell River have to stay over night if the tides are not high enough.
2) She draws a lot of water, in Comox the Chilliwack is sitting on the sea bed or close to it.
3) Chilliwack's service speed is slow and slower get into some bad weather forget it. Burnaby can do 18 knots the Chilliwack is maxed out at 12 on a good day.
4) The Chilliwack is such a heavy pig they have to be very careful using the Powell River or Little River dock the Chilliwack can do some serious damage. So you have slower dockings.
5) Takes longer to load the Chilliwack, with these new doors inside the ship it will take even longer. Also a significant reduced capacity.
6) There is a limit on truck length now I forget the max length but it will make some trucking companies go the long way to Powell River.
A lot of the supplies for Powell River come from the island.
The Chilliwack IS NOT a good replacement for the Burnaby and never will be. The old Tsawwassen was the only ship that could service most of the minor and intermediate routes.
The other problem the Burnaby was left way too long without getting work done to her. Now it needs some major work done to it requiring a longer time out of service.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Sept 24, 2011 16:28:17 GMT -8
I've moved a day's worth of posts from the "BC Ferries not-in-service movements" to this here Chilliwack thread.
- if you use the "last 80 posts" view, you'll need to view this here specific thread's view to read today's posts about the Chilliwack.
yours in thread herding,
FH
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