QUEEN OF CHILLIWACK - Photos & Discussion

[Mill Bay]

Is the Queen of Chilliwack doing weather courses at the moment, because she appears to heading for Texada Island at the moment on Siitech. I have no idea what the weather up-coast is like today.

[Neil]

Oct 21, 2011 10:29:05 GMT -8 Mill Bay said:

Is the Queen of Chilliwack doing weather courses at the moment, because she appears to heading for Texada Island at the moment on Siitech. I have no idea what the weather up-coast is like today.

Very blustery here on Hornby; Comox reporting winds 40-50k.

[Koastal Karl]

wow me and Scott were up there yesterday on the Queen of Chilliwack and it was sunny and calm seas yesterday afternoon!

[Low Light Mike]

Sept 6, 2008 22:27:32 GMT -8 Retrovision said:

Queen of Chilliwack Platform/Ramps Vids:


flickr.com/photos/bctransit/2834628375


flickr.com/photos/bctransit/2834653689


flickr.com/photos/bctransit/2834669917

[Low Light Mike]

News story about the 'Chilliwack in this week's Powell River Peak newspaper.

Excerpts from this story.

Chilliwack safe and suitable for Comox run
BC Ferries’ letter assures reliability of troubled vessel
by Kyle Wells [e-mail]
Published: Wednesday, November 2, 2011 11:15 AM PDT

BC Ferries maintains that the Queen of Chilliwack is safe, performs adequately and is the only available replacement on the Comox to Powell River run while the Queen of Burnaby undergoes an $11-million refit.

Mike Corrigan, executive vice-president and chief operating officer, and Captain Jamie Marshall, vice-president, fleet operations and training, explained as much in a written reply to a letter sent by City of Powell River Mayor Stewart Alsgard and Powell River Regional District Chair Colin Palmer on September 14.

Alsgard and Palmer’s letter questioned the suitability of the Chilliwack on the route and expressed concern over safety following a near eight-hour sailing of Chilliwack in November 2010 that happened as a result of a decision to sail despite wind warnings and rough seas.

The response from Corrigan and Marshall explains that over its two stints as a replacement for the Burnaby, the Chilliwack has delivered “a comparable level of service related to on-time sailing performance as well as heavy weather sailing cancellations.”

...

Flood doors were also installed on the Chilliwack in the spring of 2011. These doors can be used in heavy weather, mainly while the ship is on its usual route during the summer from Port Hardy to mid-coast communities. The doors will be tested on some low-utilized Saturday sails from Powell River to Comox but BC Ferries expects that they will not be used much otherwise.

from here:
www.prpeak.com/articles/2011/11/03/news/doc4eb09499463da503017051.txt

see the Peak webpage for the interesting online comments.

[WettCoast]

Nov 3, 2011 12:15:07 GMT -8 Low Light Mike said:

see the Peak webpage for the interesting online comments.

Are the views expressed by those commentators fairly representative of opinion in Powell River re the current service with the Wack, or is this a small but vocal minority?

I don't think there were many (any?) complaints in the past when the Tsawwassen was around to relieve the Burnaby & Nanaimo.

Could the idle NorAd (assuming berthing issues could be adequately addressed) be used to relieve on the Comox - Powell River route? She is just sitting idle for six months.

[Mirrlees]

Nov 3, 2011 19:33:01 GMT -8 WettCoast said:

Nov 3, 2011 12:15:07 GMT -8 Low Light Mike said:

see the Peak webpage for the interesting online comments.

Are the views expressed by those commentators fairly representative of opinion in Powell River re the current service with the Wack, or is this a small but vocal minority?

I don't think there were many (any?) complaints in the past when the Tsawwassen was around to relieve the Burnaby & Nanaimo.

Could the idle NorAd (assuming berthing issues could be adequately addressed) be used to relieve on the Comox - Powell River route? She is just sitting idle for six months.

Couldn't you just imagine the howls of protest if the NorAd was to be used. We all know the NorAd rocks and rolls like a drunk even in reletivly calm seas. This might really freak-out Powell Riverites to make them think the `Wack is not to bad at all.

[Low Light Mike]

The Basto-Beauty, seen at Little River in May 2009.

[Low Light Mike]

VIDEO of the Queen of Chilliwack leaving the berth at Little River, and doing her spin around.
- cameo by the North Island Princess

From Sunday November 13, 2011


www.facebook.com/v/10150389699208647

[Low Light Mike]

I visited Comox today, to see the substitute ferry Queen of Chilliwack arriving/departing Little River, and to also see the ultra-substitute "North Island Princess" do the same thing.


Chilliwack arriving at Little River in the early afternoon.



Chilliwack arriving at the berth.



Chilliwack is leaving Little River, and she meets NIP which is arriving.

[Low Light Mike]

A few more photos of Chilliwack arriving this afternoon at Little River
- photo vantage-point is the beach at the end of Singing-Sand Road.

Un-zoomed. The animal on the left-side is a shore bird flapping its wings.

[Low Light Mike]

Queen of Chilliwack's storm course today.
- this shows the most southerly point of her course, well below her regular route.
- she's on her way from Westview to Comox.

[Koastal Karl]

What does she go all the way around Texada Island?, lol! That's what it looks like to me!

[piglet]

Just talked to my #1 sister who did a trip over to Powell River on the last seniors day(I will be killed by her later for that). She says "I enjoyed the trip including being stuck in the elevator for a bit". The crewmember that got them out 1. didn't seem suprised, 2. didn't take long to do it either. Just interesting little tidbit for you all. She did really enjoy the trip though.

[Low Light Mike]

Nov 16, 2011 20:13:17 GMT -8 Low Light Mike said:

Queen of Chilliwack's storm course today.
- this shows the most southerly point of her course, well below her regular route.
- she's on her way from Westview to Comox.

My wife took the noon sailing on the 'Chilliwack from Westview to Comox on November 16, 2011.
- she said it was rough (and the above image shows the storm-course route), but she says she's seen worse and wasn't uncomfortable or worried. She was sitting in the table-lounge, which is the bow end of the ship.

Why I'm bringing this is now is because I've seen/heard 2 things that allude to November 16th being a bad day on the Chilliwack.
- the Save-our-Ferries facebook page has a passing comment about courage of the crew on that day.
- my wife heard the tail-end of a CBC radio story on some passengers having anxiety issues because of the crossing on Nov.16th.

The Powell River Peak newspaper doesn't publish until next Wednesday Nov.23, and their website doesn't have any breaking-news story on a November 16th bad-sailing.

Has anyone else heard anything about an abnormally bad sailing on the windy November 16th day ?

[WettCoast]

I caught a bit of a report this morning on CBC Radio regional news from Prince George at 8:30 AM. They were talking about the Wack and a rough crossing, but I did not catch the 'when' part. I was hoping to hear more. I would guess that your wife & I heard (sort of) the same report. I was hunting around here and on the internet in general to see if there was any additional information on this, but I have found nothing other than your post.

[Low Light Mike]

....and the Nov.16th rough-crossing story is now on the Powell River Peak's website.

from here:
www.prpeak.com/articles/2011/11/18/news/doc4ec6d86fd2b4d196734820.txt

Rough sailing raises more questions over Chilliwack

BC Ferries maintains ship is safe and suitable
by Kyle Wells | [e-mail]
Published: Friday, November 18, 2011 2:23 PM PST

BREAKING NEWS – Questions over another harrowing sailing of BC Ferries’ Queen of Chilliwack from Comox to Powell River are being raised by politicians and crew.

The 7 pm sailing from Comox to Powell River on the Queen of Chilliwack Wednesday, November 16, apparently sailed in rough weather and left passengers ill and scared.

An email sent by North Coast MLA and New Democratic Party BC Ferries critic Gary Coons contains forwarded emails from a Queen of Chilliwack crew member to Coons that describe the sailing as “like an episode from the show MASH.” The crew member, who remains anonymous, reports there was no discussion with crew before the decision to sail and the flood doors were not used.

The crew member describes being on the car deck for the first half of the trip and watching vehicles “jump” and a “semi with two full tanks of fuel lean over so much it was almost touching the upper ramp deck.” On the passenger deck the crew member describes the scene as “more passengers puking than not,” with at least three passengers having panic attacks and a pregnant passenger “bleeding.”

“I can tell you the look on all the passengers’ faces was fear,” reads the email to Coons. “We need your help up here please, winter has only just begun.”

Earlier in the day BC Ferries cancelled the 2:30 pm from Comox and 4:45 pm from Westview roundtrip sailing of the Chilliwack.

BC Ferries spokesperson Deborah Marshall assured that the weather for that sailing was within safety guidelines and the waves were not high enough to warrant the use of the watertight doors. She wrote that the suspension in tanker trucks is designed to allow swaying and that some passengers did experience sea sickness but not beyond what is occasionally found on other vessels on other routes.

“The Queen of Chilliwack is safe to sail on the Powell River - Comox route,” wrote Marshall. “The sailing in question was within our heavy weather guidelines.”

Coons and Powell River-Sunshine Coast MLA Nicholas Simons have written a joint letter to Blair Lekstrom, minister of transportation and infrastructure, asking for a review of the sailing and questioning BC Ferries’ assertions earlier this year that the vessel is safe and suitable for the route.

“The public was told that the matter was appropriately dealt with,” reads the letter. “Yesterday’s fiasco suggests that some lessons were not learned. Would you please make all necessary inquiries about the decision-making process [Wednesday], and whether such processes need another review?”

Powell River Regional Board chair Colin Palmer and City of Powell River mayor Stewart Alsgard have also written a letter to minister Lekstrom. In it they recommend that he “demand the presence” of BC Ferries executive vice president Mike Corrigan and vice president of fleet operations and training Captain Jamie Marshall for “a full explanation.”

“They should not only explain what has happened,” reads the letter, “but they should keep you informed as to what actions they will be taking for the safety of crew and passengers on sailings over the next few weeks.”

Environment Canada weather reports show wind speeds at the Sisters Island weather station in the north Strait of Georgia at 65 kilometres per hour (km/h) at the time of the sailing. At the time of the cancelled 2:30 pm sailing from Comox the weather station shows a wind speed of 76 km/h. Marshall reported that at the time of sailing winds were at 26 knots (48 km/h) and wave height 1.6 metres. This is consistent with wind speeds recorded at Comox at the time.

Last November the Queen of Chilliwack took eight hours to cross from Powell River to Comox when it set sail in heavy weather. BC Ferries has said since then that new heavy weather procedures have been established for sailing and that the vessel is suitable for the route.

[Kam]

I'm starting to get the feeling that this is getting blown out of proportion. A rough ride does not mean an unsafe ride, even though it may feel like one to the passengers. I've been on many sailings on that route where one person who isn’t comfortable on boats to begin with will have a panic attack or start to puke in rough weather. And all it takes is that one person freaking out to set off a whole bunch more. Its nothing to do with actual safety and everything to do with psychology and people in an unfamiliar environment with the perception of danger.

I think its safe to say that any one of us, with the knowledge of what environment the Chilliwack is built to operate in, would be more apt to ride her in heavy weather than the Barnaby any day. But the general public just sees a “smaller and inferior, or less safe ship”.

[lmtengs]

Nov 18, 2011 21:46:49 GMT -8 Kam said:

I'm starting to get the feeling that this is getting blown out of proportion. A rough ride does not mean an unsafe ride, even though it may feel like one to the passengers. I've been on many sailings on that route where one person who isn’t comfortable on boats to begin with will have a panic attack or start to puke in rough weather. And all it takes is that one person freaking out to set off a whole bunch more. Its nothing to do with actual safety and everything to do with psychology and people in an unfamiliar environment with the perception of danger.

I think its safe to say that any one of us, with the knowledge of what environment the Chilliwack is built to operate in, would be more apt to ride her in heavy weather than the Barnaby any day. But the general public just sees a “smaller and inferior, or less safe ship”.

One person commented on an earlier Powell River Peak news story insisting that there are 'big holes' rusted through in the deck 3 gallery decks.

I'm pretty sure that the Chilli wouldn't be using the gallery decks if there were holes rusted through them.

[Mike C]

All it would take is any one of these individuals doing five minutes of research on the Queen of Chilliwack to note that this vessel is a North Route vessel and is built to operate in heavy weather conditions. For God sakes, I think we've all sailed in poor weather conditions - I've watched people being sick, having panic attacks and even a window get blown out on the Queen of Alberni - considering these incidents were on southern major routes, the operating conditions were accepted by the passengers and crew.

Yes, there comes a point where a vessel should not sail, but it's pretty clear to me that this event was safe, and does not deserve the kind of attention it's getting.

[Low Light Mike]

I think the key issue in understanding the reaction to the Chilliwack's rough-weather sailing is the difference between "Passenger Comfort" and "Passenger Safety".

Comfortable? not really in rough weather. This Chilliwack is a roller, but that doesn't mean that she's unsafe. Just uncomfortable.

Safe? that's why they have regulations to comply with.

[Low Light Mike]

The beloved Queen of Chilliwack, seen on Sunday November 13, 2011, arriving at Little River.
- I was on the beach, at the end of Singing Sands Road.




The RAD glide



Getting things straight for berthing.






Ready to load for her next trip to Westview



A close-up showing the ship's name and the terminal-name, for any doubters who may one day wonder if this ship was indeed on this route.

[Low Light Mike]

Chilliwack on her way from Little River to Westview in the afternoon of November 13, 2011.

[Queen of Nanaimo Teen]

Since there's been all of these trips on the Chilliwack lately, someone should be able to answer this- Has BC Ferries done a Karen recording (for the Welcome Aboard) for the Queen of Chilliwack? or is the chief steward doing one?
Thanks!

[Scott (Former Account)]

Nov 20, 2011 0:35:16 GMT -8 Queen of Nanaimo Teen said:

Since there's been all of these trips on the Chilliwack lately, someone should be able to answer this- Has BC Ferries done a Karen recording (for the Welcome Aboard) for the Queen of Chilliwack? or is the chief steward doing one?
Thanks!

"Karen" is being used for the amenities and safety announcements, not for arrival announcements, though.

This was the case during the three times I have been aboard the Chilliwack this year on Route 17...