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Post by paulvanb on Mar 16, 2020 21:35:21 GMT -8
I would love to ride her one last time. Just to date myself, the last time I rode her was 1969!She was still in Coast Ferries livery, but a baby blue funnel.
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Post by WettCoast on Mar 16, 2020 21:40:26 GMT -8
I would love to ride her one last time. Just to date myself, the last time I rode her was 1969!She was still in Coast Ferries livery, but a baby blue funnel. Two years before her big as they would say nowadays 'MLU'.
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Post by Starsteward on Mar 17, 2020 13:57:54 GMT -8
I would love to ride her one last time. Just to date myself, the last time I rode her was 1969!She was still in Coast Ferries livery, but a baby blue funnel. Two years before her big as they would say nowadays 'MLU'. My first sighting of the North Island Princess came quite by chance as I emerged from the Prom deck out onto the aft deck of the Queen of Prince Rupert.
Being the first day aboard my 'deployment upgrade' from route 2, I had no idea that we shared Kelsey Bay with anyone else. The ' NIP' was tied up at a wharf in front of the general store off to the port side of the QPR and my first impression was what was that rust-streaked little boat doing there? Actually what caught my eye was an obvious newly deployed red and white Canadian flag, flapping in a stiff breeze from her main-mast. I would see this little vessel many more times during our years at Kelsey Bay, including her return as a new boat after her major 'MLU'. A vast improvement to be sure. In the meantime, it was back to work, get those bags to the staterooms, get cleaned up and get ready to serve lunch in our very elegant dining room.
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Post by timmyboy on Apr 2, 2020 22:38:57 GMT -8
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Post by articulated on Apr 5, 2020 16:26:40 GMT -8
Being stuck at home for the past few weeks, I was going through some old photos, including ones from my trip to BC and Vancouver Island last June. The original go-through I didn't like this photo very much due to being taken against the setting sun (and taken with my now-old camera), but upon further reflection it isn't too bad. North Island Princess, sailing from Texada Island to Powell River. Photo taken from the deck of the Salish Orca on June 11, 2019.
North Island Princess by Andrew Crawford, on Flickr
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Post by princessofvanfan on Apr 5, 2020 19:51:09 GMT -8
Being stuck at home for the past few weeks, I was going through some old photos, including ones from my trip to BC and Vancouver Island last June. The original go-through I didn't like this photo very much due to being taken against the setting sun (and taken with my now-old camera), but upon further reflection it isn't too bad. North Island Princess, sailing from Texada Island to Powell River. Photo taken from the deck of the Salish Orca on June 11, 2019.
North Island Princess by Andrew Crawford, on Flickr Beautiful pic, but this old girl is well past her prime. I remember when she was on Campbell River - Q Cove during the winter of 1987-88, her lack of horsepower and flat sided inner catamaran hull made maneuvering in the heavy tidal currents a challenge. Her upward sloped bow was a definite advantage in rough seas, and the views from her wraparound windows reminded me of Queen of the Islands.
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Post by Shane on Apr 6, 2020 21:45:14 GMT -8
The NIP was on the Quadra Island run? Never heard of that before! Wonder if there are any pics out there of this. I was often curious as to what routes she served other than Kelsey Bay to Beaver Cove route and Powell River to Texada route (with brief stints on the Jervis Inlet & Comox routes). As I grew up in Powell River and Texada, I have sailed on the NIP more than any other ferry in the fleet by far, will certainly be sad to see her go next month.
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Neil
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Post by Neil on Apr 6, 2020 21:59:40 GMT -8
The NIP was on the Quadra Island run? Never heard of that before! Wonder if there are any pics out there of this. I was often curious as to what routes she served other than Kelsey Bay to Beaver Cove route and Powell River to Texada route (with brief stints on the Jervis Inlet & Comox routes). As I grew up in Powell River and Texada, I have sailed on the NIP more than any other ferry in the fleet by far, will certainly be sad to see her go next month. I seem to recall reading a post from Quadra's FAC chair on a different forum about the NIP being there. I suspect it might have been a refit assignment rather than as a regular vessel, and several decades ago.
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Post by Kahn_C on Apr 7, 2020 10:00:27 GMT -8
The NIP was on the Quadra Island run? Never heard of that before! Wonder if there are any pics out there of this. I was often curious as to what routes she served other than Kelsey Bay to Beaver Cove route and Powell River to Texada route (with brief stints on the Jervis Inlet & Comox routes). As I grew up in Powell River and Texada, I have sailed on the NIP more than any other ferry in the fleet by far, will certainly be sad to see her go next month. I seem to recall reading a post from Quadra's FAC chair on a different forum about the NIP being there. I suspect it might have been a refit assignment rather than as a regular vessel, and several decades ago. It was a regular assignment for a while I think just prior to the Powell River Queen heading up there, but I don't remember the date range off the top of my head. I vaguely remember Texada being upset when it left and was replaced with the Tachek. Watching it (try to) fight the tide to get across to Quadra was amusing.
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Post by princessofvanfan on Apr 7, 2020 15:25:03 GMT -8
I seem to recall reading a post from Quadra's FAC chair on a different forum about the NIP being there. I suspect it might have been a refit assignment rather than as a regular vessel, and several decades ago. It was a regular assignment for a while I think just prior to the Powell River Queen heading up there, but I don't remember the date range off the top of my head. I vaguely remember Texada being upset when it left and was replaced with the Tachek. Watching it (try to) fight the tide to get across to Quadra was amusing. The NIP replaced Tachek and Quadra Queen 2 on CR-Q Cove in the fall of 1987 and served on that route that winter, but was found to be unsuitable and replaced.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 7, 2020 16:30:22 GMT -8
I do remember hearing she was placed on the Quadra Island route and if I recalled correctly, Powell River Queen went off the Saltery Bay route to replace her thereafter. The NIP was supposed to be the regular ferry on the route but she couldn't handle the tides. I am thinking 1987 sounds correct. I am now trying to recall what ferry replaced the PRQ at Saltery Bay? The Queen of Chilliwack wasn't around yet.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Apr 7, 2020 16:47:41 GMT -8
I do remember hearing she was placed on the Quadra Island route and if I recalled correctly, Powell River Queen went off the Saltery Bay route to replace her thereafter. The NIP was supposed to be the regular ferry on the route but she couldn't handle the tides. I am thinking 1987 sounds correct. I am now trying to recall what ferry replaced the PRQ at Saltery Bay? The Queen of Chilliwack wasn't around yet. Queen of Capilano came online in 1991 and was placed on the Jervis Inlet route, freeing the PRQ to go to Quadra.
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Post by Mike C on Apr 7, 2020 17:52:56 GMT -8
I do remember hearing she was placed on the Quadra Island route and if I recalled correctly, Powell River Queen went off the Saltery Bay route to replace her thereafter. The NIP was supposed to be the regular ferry on the route but she couldn't handle the tides. I am thinking 1987 sounds correct. I am now trying to recall what ferry replaced the PRQ at Saltery Bay? The Queen of Chilliwack wasn't around yet. There is a history of ferries being placed on the Campbell River-Quadra route being unable to navigate Discovery Channel with tides and currents. There was a time when the Quinsam was assigned to the route to provide refit relief, however only lasted a few days and ended up requiring tug assist to make the crossing, as she was too underpowered to fight the strong currents.
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Post by Curtis on Apr 17, 2020 17:33:27 GMT -8
Hard to believe we're down to weeks before the North Island Princess hits retirement. Here's some shots of her at work from just over a month ago. All Photos are © CS16 Photography and may only be used with Permission from the Owner.
Making the crossing to Westview.
Approaching Westview she meets the Salish Eagle. You could almost mistake the Eagle for a steamship with that plume coming from the mill behind it.
With the berth cleared she glides right in.
While she sat the the berth, I decided to get a little closer and take some shots from the side of the highway. A challenge with all those masts in front of her.
Back at the viewpoint I watched her depart from Westview.
We conclude this set with the picturesque mountains on Vancouver Island as her backdrop.
That's all for now.
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Post by paulvanb on Apr 17, 2020 19:20:33 GMT -8
Hard to believe we're down to weeks before the North Island Princess hits retirement. Here's some shots of her at work from just over a month ago. I would love the opportunity to ride on her one last time. The last time was 1969 - 51 years ago!
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Jess
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Post by Jess on Apr 18, 2020 17:15:55 GMT -8
Hard to believe we're down to weeks before the North Island Princess hits retirement. Here's some shots of her at work from just over a month ago. I would love the opportunity to ride on her one last time. The last time was 1969 - 51 years ago! Unfortunatly for me I wasn't able to ride it this Spring break because of Covid 19 and I never actually got to ride at all but I did get a picture of it when I was in Powell River in August 2019. I just realized though that after the North Island Princess is retired, the Queen of New Westminster will be the oldest BC Ferry. I will probably still go to Powell River next time I go to Nanaimo (Whenever that happens) and instead I will ride the Island Discovery.
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Post by Deleted on May 2, 2020 14:25:18 GMT -8
I have never been on this old girl but shes a real simple reliable workhorse and that's really awesome.
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Post by Mike on Jun 3, 2020 18:29:33 GMT -8
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Post by Starsteward on Jun 4, 2020 12:12:30 GMT -8
It is hard to believe that this old girl has been around for such a long time. I first saw her tied up at the secondary dock in Kelsey Bay the first day I joined the 'Queen of Prince Rupert' in May 1967. The 'N.I.P.' at that time hadn't been widened and her machinery components greatly enhanced. She has been a most reliable, utilitarian fleet-member of BCFS, serving in on many different routes and having the distinction of being Miss Reliable. No majestic 'Queen' of the inland waters but undoubtedly could tell many human 'stories' over her illustrious tenure serving the people of B.C. and beyond. It will be a sad day when the 'finished with engines' is rung down below.
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Neil
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Post by Neil on Jun 8, 2020 20:10:07 GMT -8
As posted elsewhere by Curtis, the North Island Princess is retired, as of Wednesday, June 10th, 2020. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wow. Sad day. Well, I guess, sad and happy, since Texada gets a brand new ferry, with a bit more capacity than their present one.
But, my goodness, it's a milestone on our path from a fleet full of quirky, sometimes unique vessels toward a much more homogenized one. Just a few classes, with multiple interchangeable ships. At one point in the last couple of years, Mark Collins remarked that the only way you'll know you're on a different ferry in some cases is because the name is different. And he said that as if it was a good thing. Which I guess it is, from an operations standpoint. From a ship lover's viewpoint, however...
So many minor reasons to hate this virus crisis, aside from the ones that really matter, and one of them is that most of us won't get a chance to ride the North Island Princess for a last time. At the end of last year, I had that mentally marked on my calendar for the late spring. Couple of nights in Powell River, and at least one round trip to Blubber Bay. Very much regret not being able to do that.
She started off as the much smaller Island Princess, sailing from Steveston to the Gulf Islands, and I believe, to Sidney, for Coast Ferries. She's the last remnant of that company still in operation. She had staterooms and food service. I believe they also tried her up to Comox and Powell River, but my memory might be faulty. Then on to Kelsey Bay, sailing to Beaver Cove, Alert Bay, and Sointula. She was bought by the province and catamaranized while on that run. Don't know if she saw regular service anywhere else before she began her long tenure at Blubber Bay.
I wonder how Texada's going to feel when she sails away for the very last time. Mixed feelings at least, I would think. Replaced by a new and hopefully dependable vessel for the long term, slightly bigger, and faster as well, which could mean another round trip or two a day if warranted, down the road.
I don't want to think about her ultimate fate, because I know it won't be good. She's old and tired. Such a cool little vessel.
More than sixty years of service, from Sidney to Sointula. Sorry to see you go, North Island Princess.
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Post by Shane on Jun 9, 2020 8:56:57 GMT -8
I will definitely be sad to see the good old NIP retire. Having lived in Powell River and Texada for most of my life, I’ve taken more sailings on her than any other ferry over the last 30 years of my life. I was lucky to be able to sail on her at the end of March just before the whole COVID thing really started, she has definitely started to show her age. Her unique & quirky design plus reliability over the years will certainly not be forgotten. RIP NIP!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2020 17:47:17 GMT -8
RIP North Island Princess I never got a chance to ride you but I have seen you twice,you may have not been the best looking ship,but you were the most stable,the time to bid you farewell is here and we will miss you nonetheless,rest in peace North Island Princess
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2020 18:03:53 GMT -8
P.S if that is a poem I should go give myself a pat on the back because I completely thought it up on my own.
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Post by paulvanb on Jun 9, 2020 20:47:53 GMT -8
I was going to postpone a shoot to try and make a last pilgrimage, but I would arrive to watch her sail away on her 12:15 sailing.
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Post by paulvanb on Jun 10, 2020 11:28:35 GMT -8
Final trip to Texada.
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