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Post by blackshadow on Oct 14, 2015 12:37:48 GMT -8
Heard George is having troubles with his government in regards getting ship register in Fuji. Vessel is going to be moved to the wall soon as need space BCF ships. Thus vessel isn't sailing any time soon. It maybe towed out of Deas and may land up like what happen to certain "V" class vessel from information coming out of Deas.
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Post by Starsteward on Oct 15, 2015 5:22:36 GMT -8
Heard George is having troubles with his government in regards getting ship register in Fuji. Vessel is going to be moved to the wall soon as need space BCF ships. Thus vessel isn't sailing any time soon. It maybe towed out of Deas and may land up like what happen to certain "V" class vessel from information coming out of Deas. Maybe if BC Ferries tossed the BS Connector into the 'Wack' deal, it might be enough of an incentive for the Fiji officials to register both vessels. Then again, a two-fer deal like that may blow up in George's face too.
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FNS
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Post by FNS on Oct 16, 2015 8:11:26 GMT -8
The ship trackers show the MV LOMAIVITI PRINCESS 3 on the move. The tugs PACIFIC FORCE, SMIT CHINOOOK, and SMIT HUNTER did the chores pulling the LP3 out of Deas. Movement started at 0850PDT. We'll see which direction she goes after leaving the Fraser River.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 16, 2015 9:40:22 GMT -8
Scott Tarrant took this photo of her leaving, this morning. - photo used with his kind permission Notice the blue hull paint, and Goundar's name chilly scott tarrant by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr
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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 16, 2015 12:12:05 GMT -8
From what I've seen on AIS this morning, she is doing crew familiarization trials.
I've heard now that she's leaving for good around Oct.20th
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FNS
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Post by FNS on Oct 16, 2015 12:39:03 GMT -8
It looks like the LP3 is doing sea trials today. She's been at this spot the bulk of mid-day. On the other hand, I guess that her Fiji crews are getting trained to handle this vessel as well.
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FNS
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Post by FNS on Oct 16, 2015 15:29:34 GMT -8
She's back on the Fraser. It must have been a sea trials and training day for the ship and her new crew.
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translinkfan
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'Bout them Alcoa's!
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Post by translinkfan on Oct 16, 2015 22:14:14 GMT -8
Nice! If she does leave the 20th, I have the day off! Might be able to finally photograph a retired ferry!!
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FNS
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Post by FNS on Oct 17, 2015 1:29:03 GMT -8
Nice! If she does leave the 20th, I have the day off! Might be able to finally photograph a retired ferry!! Retired? Not quite yet. She's destined to continue her mission in ferrying travelers. In another region on our globe, eagerly awaiting for service improvements.
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Post by Starsteward on Oct 17, 2015 7:45:23 GMT -8
If anyone has the opportunity to get into the Deas complex the day the 'Wack' sails, it would be interesting to get a picture or two of the car deck to see what Mr. Goundar is transporting to Fiji. When the ex-QPR left for her new home, her main car deck and ramp decks were loaded with a few cars, trucks, couple of boats, heavy equipment, as well as loads of miscellaneous bits and bobs. There were a couple of reasons for taking on this miscellaneous freight. Mr. Goundar shipped some spare machinery parts for the ex-QPR as well as other items on his shipping list. He also made a few bucks transporting some heavy equipment bound for Fijian operators. A major benefit of shipping this load is that it added some much needed load weight to the ship for the open seas transit to Fiji. I can't imagine doing that crossing with an empty car deck.
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translinkfan
Oiler (New Member)
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Post by translinkfan on Oct 19, 2015 21:13:04 GMT -8
Any new updates on the Wack's departure tomorrow?
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FNS
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Post by FNS on Oct 19, 2015 22:02:39 GMT -8
Any new updates on the Wack's departure tomorrow? Nothing on the piloting slate tonight. I've been checking that slate at least three times a day. I do see a LODESTAR PRINCESS, but that doesn't come close to the name of the ship we are saying "Bon Voyage" to. There weren't any spotting of the LP3's name on the slate when she did her trials recently, an indication that she was co-crewed by BCF staff as well as the Fijians. She'll sail when all parties involved are ready. Don't rush the crew as they may forget something that's needed for the long voyage ahead of them. pilot.kleinsystems.com/public/PPA/PPA_CurrentTraffic.aspx
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Mill Bay
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Post by Mill Bay on Oct 27, 2015 18:40:10 GMT -8
Just reading through old postings, but I had a thought: has anyone yet considered the irony of an icebreaker running in Fiji? One good hurricane would probably designate it as a new artificial reef, not to mention the question of how GSL imagines to cover the extra fuel costs of operating a ship with an icebreaker hull.
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FNS
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Post by FNS on Oct 30, 2015 22:48:48 GMT -8
Here are a couple of good news stories from the Fiji Times: *** *** *** www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=323905Goundar's newest ship in NovemberMavuku Tokona Wednesday, September 30, 2015 Goundar Shipping owner George Goundar has revealed major challenges from his company fleet to Fiji's maritime sector. THE long-term goal for Goundar Shipping should see the company with three more fleets and a major increase in labour in the next three years, says owner George Goundar. "We have very close to 200 staff now, in the next three years we're looking at three more ships which is another 150 staff," Mr Goundar said. "All we're saying is that, is the country ready for us?" Mr Gounder, who established his shipping company in Walu Bay after observing the unimpressive shipping standards in 2010 during a holiday from Canada, is planning on introducing Fiji to a vessel that could blow competition out of the water. Mr Gounder explained that they were also looking at upgrading their vessels with the latest technology. "The vessel we're getting is of the latest technology, it's all computerised so it's a big challenge for the seafarers, it's a state-of-the art vessel and nothing in Fiji can come close to it." A promise that will eventually be tested, the vessel called the Queen of Chilliwack should be in the country at the end of November. According to Mr Gounder the Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama visited the vessel in Canada a month ago and was very impressed. The new ship will head down to Natovi in Tailevu and transport passengers to Nabowalu, Vanua Levu. *** *** *** www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=325815Goundar's birthday and farewell partyMavuku Tokona Wednesday, October 14, 2015 GOUNDAR Shipping last month celebrated their fourth anniversary and big farewell to a handful of their crew members on board the Lomaiviti Princess 2. Shipping company owner George Goundar said the success of the company, which was established in 2011, could be credited to his hardworking 200-plus staff and the good Lord. "We had a small gathering just to thank the crew and staff of Goundar Shipping and also to wish safe passage to the crew that's going out for the new vessel. We are hoping it should be here by November, that's also a farewell for them," Mr Goundar said. Looking back at his recent experience, Mr Goundar said: "I was out of the country for 27 years and came in and invested in this government that gave me the opportunity to come back and I'm thankful to this government for allowing me, the expatriates to come back into Fiji and invest, this industry is my industry." Mr Goundar said when he came back to the island paradise in 2010 he saw the standard of shipping was not the standard the people of Fiji deserved so he decided to challenge the shipping competition by providing quality vessels with excellent standards. "I brought a vessel and brought up a standard. As you can see now, the service and competition for mariners is really up there now, the shipping industry has a bright future now," he said. *** *** *** I wish the crew and the LP3 well if and whenever the lines are cut from her Canadian dock for the last time to chart a new course to eagerly awaiting customers in Fiji. Still watching the pilot order site for any assignments to this ship. It's so neat to see a word not commonly used in Fiji media on a daily basis. The word is: Chilliwack! Nice little BC town as well.
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FNS
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Post by FNS on Nov 9, 2015 14:01:35 GMT -8
There's tug activity at Deas again:
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FNS
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Post by FNS on Nov 9, 2015 16:15:57 GMT -8
They had to move the LOMAIVITI PRINCESS 3 to the north side of the Deas VMC as the QUEEN OF COWICHAN has arrived on the scene as seen below: Earlier, they had to move an invisible ferry over to make room for the LP3. I'll let you guess which one that was.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 10, 2015 11:12:56 GMT -8
There is now an FOI request out asking about the sale price of the Chilliwack. I'm not holding my breath... -That person could have also waited for the second quarter results, to be released next week.
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Post by Starsteward on Nov 10, 2015 16:20:18 GMT -8
There is now an FOI request out asking about the sale price of the Chilliwack. I'm not holding my breath... -That person could have also waited for the second quarter results, to be released next week. A couple of curiosities come to mind here. First of all, the 'L.M. 3' has obviously been re-named but has not been re-flagged. Such was not the case when the 'QPR' became the 'Lomaiviti Princess'. Secondly, the F.O. I. request seems a bit mis-timed as I would think Goundar Shipping has already signed the deal. So why is the question of selling price arising now? Is it a related question or merely someone doing some digging around? Judging from the 'party' that was advertised in the Fiji Sun, and the announcement that the new 'L.M. 3' would be in Fiji by the end of November, wouldn't it seem that the transit time window for a month-end arrival is getting shorter and shorter?
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FNS
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Post by FNS on Nov 14, 2015 14:30:59 GMT -8
It looks like the LOMAIVITI PRINCESS 3 (formerly QUEEN OF CHILLIWACK) has her new flag as we see on SiiTech, Marinetraffic, and others. We'll soon look for any official confirmation of her re-flagging. So, she's another step towards her sailing to Fiji. To our colleagues up in the lower mainland, you should get one last photo of her before she sails. The latest photo of her on this thread doesn't show her new name. It should be showing by now. The Main Deck structure shows more black than blue as mentioned with white near the top and the BCF blue trim. The blue funnel is slug-free!
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FNS
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Post by FNS on Dec 4, 2015 15:51:43 GMT -8
The QUEEN OF COWICHAN has vacated Deas VMC and the LP3 (QUEEN OF CHILLIWACK) is back in the service slip. I guess she'll be readied soon for the sailing to her new home.
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Post by minstrel on Dec 9, 2015 16:35:22 GMT -8
L.P. 3 Sails Friday PPA has pilot order
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FNS
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Post by FNS on Dec 9, 2015 23:09:07 GMT -8
L.P. 3 Sails Friday PPA has pilot order This confirms the order: The LOMAIVITI PRINCESS III is highlighted by yours truly. This slate also shows the ship having her new Fiji flag. I believe she'll continue to fly the Maple Leaf (on another mast) until sundown Friday, then stowed for good. I wish the ship and her crew well on their voyage to her new home.
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grk
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Post by grk on Dec 11, 2015 11:19:22 GMT -8
Today, Friday Dec 11, she sails just after noon. The pilot order was processed Thursday afternoon and will be on the PPA website
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Post by Low Light Mike on Dec 11, 2015 11:39:48 GMT -8
Today, Friday Dec 11, she sails just after noon. The pilot order was processed Thursday afternoon and will be on the PPA website Smit Chinook, Smit Pride, Smit Hunter and Smit Wolf are now on the scene at Deas.
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FNS
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Post by FNS on Dec 11, 2015 12:04:29 GMT -8
Today, Friday Dec 11, she sails just after noon. The pilot order was processed Thursday afternoon and will be on the PPA website Smit Chinook, Smit Pride, Smit Hunter and Smit Wolf are now on the scene at Deas. This sets the scene. The MV LOMAIVITI PRINCESS III is about to sail from Lulu Island to Viti Levu Island.
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