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Post by Curtis on Sept 28, 2011 22:17:08 GMT -8
Why are stupid people complaining about overloads? it's a smaller ship of course there are going to be overloads. Ships need to go into refit so they should learn to deal with it. While I can argue, I mainly agree with this. Vehicle Capacity is just the beginning of it, there's also passenger space, sea-keeping abilities, mechanical difficulties, and (the obvious answer) on-time performance. She's far from perfect, but it's all we've got for now. But tell me that residents of the Gulf Islands would not make the same complaints if she ran the Route 9 Milk-Run. In the end all I can say is something we've probably said already, "Where is the Queen of Tsawwassen when we need her?" Oh well, sign me up when the next Norweigen Wønderboat arrives.  Then again, if she's anything like our current Wønderboat it's probably better she doesn't. |
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Quatchi
Voyager 
Engineering Officer - CCG
Posts: 930
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Post by Quatchi on Sept 29, 2011 12:52:47 GMT -8
They do use a deckhand on the car deck calling dimensions to the bridge via radio. When I was talking to the captain of her once he said he really didnt care about the solarium, they used the same procedure for both ends anyways.
If you think about it its no different than any other single ended ship. she has decent forward visibility while running and then silly visibility aft when docking stern too.
From what I've been told all her asbestos has been removed.
Cheers,
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Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
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Post by Koastal Karl on Oct 2, 2011 9:14:28 GMT -8
Dont know where to put this so I will say it here when is BC Ferries going to get Comox to Powell River up on the Current Conditions page?? I think that is a route they should have on CC.
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Post by WettCoast on Oct 2, 2011 9:45:38 GMT -8
Dont know where to put this so I will say it here when is BC Ferries going to get Comox to Powell River up on the Current Conditions page?? I think that is a route they should have on CC. Yes, Karl, I agree and have wondered about this also. They have set a precedent in that they have this route as being reservable just like routes 1,2,3 & 30, right? |
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Post by ferryfanyvr on Oct 2, 2011 9:57:02 GMT -8
Dont know where to put this so I will say it here when is BC Ferries going to get Comox to Powell River up on the Current Conditions page?? I think that is a route they should have on CC. Ditto...especially since route 17's current conditions are much more, um, "interesting" when the Chilliwack is on the route. Not only for us ferry geeks, but I'm sure regular travellers would appreciate keeping up on the current state of the day's schedule when planning their trips. |
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Post by Curtis on Oct 2, 2011 11:08:48 GMT -8
It would make a ton of sense to do this. It's always nice to have some prior knowledge if the Chilliwack is going to be over 80% full or if the NIP is doing an extra sailing that day. While they're at it, they could also put the vessel tracking on their site for the route or Northern Vancouver Island in general.
Unfortunately, I'm sure it will never happen because the Route only Serves Powell River as a connection to the Island. Now if a Highway from Powell River to Squamish or Whistler existed, Route 17 could be the official Third Connection to the Island and the main connection to the Island for People from the Interior, Northern BC, Northern Alberta, the Yukon, etc.
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Post by glasseye on Oct 2, 2011 14:18:48 GMT -8
I doubt BCFS will ever include minor routes on vessel tracking or current conditions because it would be highly embarrassing to the company for the state of performance on minor routes to be available in black-and-white to the public and media. It's much easier to get away with providing substandard service when the reality of regular late sailings, overloads and strandings is hidden from public view.
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Post by lmtengs on Oct 2, 2011 15:02:50 GMT -8
They have live tracking for all ships in the fleet in the BCF Vacations Center down on Canada Place. It's pretty neat.  |
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Quatchi
Voyager
Engineering Officer - CCG
Posts: 930
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Post by Quatchi on Oct 2, 2011 18:31:58 GMT -8
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Post by Scott (Former Account) on Oct 2, 2011 20:43:36 GMT -8
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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 10, 2011 19:29:23 GMT -8
Both the 'Chilliwack and the North Island Princess were running storm-courses on their Comox - Westview afternoon sailings today.
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Post by Dane on Oct 10, 2011 20:18:56 GMT -8
Is the NIP running the route just to provide extra capacity?
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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 10, 2011 20:30:11 GMT -8
Is the NIP running the route just to provide extra capacity? Yes. And it's a combination of scheduled extra sailings, and some last minute manager's discretion sailings. |
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Post by Scott (Former Account) on Oct 11, 2011 14:05:27 GMT -8
October 10, 2011The following images posted by this account are copyright © S.A. ~ Unauthorized use is prohibited.
 BC Ferries - Queen of Chilliwack at Little River. by BCFS, on Flickr  BC Ferries - MacGregor Doors, Queen of Chilliwack. by BCFS, on Flickr  BC Ferries - Solarium, Queen of Chilliwack. by BCFS, on Flickr  BC Ferries - Bridge, Queen of Chilliwack. by BCFS, on Flickr  BC Ferries - Exterior Seating, Queen of Chilliwack. by BCFS, on Flickr  BC Ferries - Queen of Chilliwack en route to Westview. by BCFS, on Flickr  BC Ferries - Queen of Chilliwack departing Little River. by BCFS, on Flickr  BC Ferries - Queen of Chilliwack en route to Westview. by BCFS, on Flickr
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mrdot
Voyager
Mr. DOT
Posts: 1,252
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Post by mrdot on Oct 11, 2011 14:28:18 GMT -8
:)pritty good pics. of the wack posted by scott! my kitchen is stocked with a few expo ferry items, which as you say, make to chow taste better! mrdot.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 11, 2011 14:36:01 GMT -8
Wow, that's the kind of photo you can only get in the rare circumstance when there is 2-ship service on this route and when one ship is doing a storm-course.  |
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Quatchi
Voyager
Engineering Officer - CCG
Posts: 930
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Post by Quatchi on Oct 11, 2011 14:51:33 GMT -8
Scott,
Are they actually using the macgregor doors on route 17?
Cheers,
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Post by Scott (Former Account) on Oct 11, 2011 14:58:47 GMT -8
Scott, Are they actually using the macgregor doors on route 17? Cheers, Unfortunately, I did not check to see if they were in use...  |
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Quatchi
Voyager
Engineering Officer - CCG
Posts: 930
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Post by Quatchi on Oct 11, 2011 15:11:56 GMT -8
Ahh, no problem.
Cheers,
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Post by priver on Oct 11, 2011 15:23:26 GMT -8
yes they are using the doors
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Post by WettCoast on Oct 11, 2011 18:52:58 GMT -8
Scott, Are they actually using the macgregor doors on route 17? Cheers, On Monday, September 26th, a brother of mine (not Mr. DOT, BTW) was aboard the Wack for a trip from Comox to Powell River. On that day 3 of 4 sailings were cancelled due to wind & sea conditions. My brother and his wife sat in their car at Little River waiting I gather for many hours until the evening sailing finally left. They could not walk the beach as it was awash. My brother told me that once they finally got underway the journey was not particularly rough or uncomfortable, at least not comparable with a rough journey on the NorAd. During the long afternoon wait my brother was talking to a crew member whom he is fairly sure was 'the Master' (or perhaps a senior officer) for the afternoon shift that day. This person told him that the Wack was not permitted to sail (by Transport Canada) in seas greater than 1.3 metres (4 feet?) because one of the MacGregor car deck doors was not working. My brother said that none of these doors were used during his crossing. I gather that these doors are working now? Has anyone else heard anything that might confirm this information? Were the doors out of service? Is the vessel permitted to sail without the doors in operation, but only in seas of 1.3 metres or less? |
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Post by ferryfanyvr on Oct 17, 2011 21:16:29 GMT -8
I took a round trip on the Chilliwack today. 1215 from Westview and 1430 from Little River. Some observations............ She did the trip over to Little River in 1 hour 25 minutes. Returning to Westview was 1 hour 35 minutes. Not bad at all. On my first trip, the passenger deck-level doors to the stairwells remained open. I expected them to be closed, or at least have a little rope or chain across them, since passengers aren't allowed on the car deck during the crossing. I mentioned this to a cashier and she said the deckhands patrol the car deck and tell any passengers they find to go upstairs. On my return trip (with a different crew) the doors leading to the car deck were closed right after departure and remained closed until just before arrival. There were also signs on the doors explaining that access to the car deck was prohibited. On both sailings, one set of platform decks was loaded. The other set remained retracted against the car deck ceiling. The 'MacGregor Doors" were not used. Crewmembers on both trips told me they don't use these doors, and that route 40 is the only route where they'll be in operation. And the highlight of my day...my bacon-cheeseburger combo, served on a lovely Expo plate. Routes 9 and 17 are pretty much the only time I allow myself to indulge in eating fried food. It's always worth it!  |
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Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
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Post by Koastal Karl on Oct 18, 2011 16:32:28 GMT -8
I am thinking of going up soon to get on the Chilliwack! You should of done a morning sailing then you could of got the bunwich! lol! That crossing time is pretty good dosent he Burnaby take 1hr 20 to cross. The Wack is 5 mins slower I thought they list the crossing time as 1hr 40mins, lol! Last time I was on her she did the Powell River to Comox in about 1hr and 25mins.
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Post by kevins on Oct 18, 2011 17:46:59 GMT -8
Guess they think sailing on Route 40 is not as safe as Westview to Little River.
Interesting operational profiles.
From the MacGregor web site.
The fundamental problem with the RoRo concept is the large open deck areas. The national maritime administrations of North and West European countries decided – with the Stockholm Agreement in 1996 – on further measures to improve the survivability of RoRo passenger/car ferries damaged at sea. These improvements were developed to prevent a rapid capsize so that a rescue operation could be carried out in an organised manner.
One efficient way of improving the survivability of RoRo vessels is to divide the car deck into water tight compartments with longitudinal or transverse barriers. These flood control doors prevent the free water from spreading over the whole car deck, and thus decrease the total free surface effect and its potential to capsize the vessel.
MacGREGOR has actively participated in drawing up these new rules and has contributed to the development of safe and suitable systems for improved safety on RoRo passenger ferries. MacGREGOR's first-generation flood control doors were installed in 1993.
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Post by Scott (Former Account) on Oct 21, 2011 9:39:57 GMT -8
October 20, 2011The following images posted by this account are copyright © S.A. ~ Unauthorized use is prohibited.
 BC Ferries - Queen of Chilliwack approaching Little River. by BCFS, on Flickr  BC Ferries - Exterior Seating, Queen of Chilliwack. by BCFS, on Flickr  BC Ferries - Bell, Queen of Chilliwack. by BCFS, on Flickr  BC Ferries - No. 2 End Lounge Seating, Queen of Chilliwack. by BCFS, on Flickr  BC Ferries - No. 2 End Lounge Seating, Queen of Chilliwack. by BCFS, on Flickr  BC Ferries - No. 2 End Lounge Seating, Queen of Chilliwack. by BCFS, on Flickr  BC Ferries - No. 2 End Lounge Seating, Queen of Chilliwack. by BCFS, on Flickr  BC Ferries - Builders Plaque, Queen of Chilliwack. by BCFS, on Flickr  BC Ferries - Cafeteria, Queen of Chilliwack. by BCFS, on Flickr  BC Ferries - Table Seating, Queen of Chilliwack. by BCFS, on Flickr  BC Ferries - No. 1 End Table Seating, Queen of Chilliwack by BCFS, on Flickr  BC Ferries - Henry, Queen of Chilliwack. by BCFS, on Flickr  BC Ferries - Queen of Chilliwack en route to Little River. by BCFS, on Flickr  BC Ferries - Queen of Chilliwack en route to Little River. by BCFS, on Flickr  BC Ferries - Queen of Chilliwack en route to Little River. by BCFS, on Flickr
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Then again, if she's anything like our current Wønderboat it's probably better she doesn't.
