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Post by Nickfro on Mar 17, 2011 9:08:35 GMT -8
Thanks for letting us know. I found the snippit on the Chek TV website. I'm happy for Point Hope, and it sounds like this is only the beginning of their minor vessel overhaul contract.
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Post by Retrovision on Mar 21, 2011 1:07:10 GMT -8
I only have enough time at the moment to give a preview pic of others I'll soon-enough upload and share with you all, but (long story short) I was fortunate enough to witness our Quadra Queen II departing Victoria this past Saturday fresh from her massive asset betterment refit at Point Hope Maritime... BC Ferry Quadra Queen II Fresh From Refit by indyinsane, on Flickr Side Note: Obviously I will be posting further uploads to the appropriate ferry photography thread, but figured that this preview would be appropriate to post here for the time being atleast.
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Post by EGfleet on Mar 24, 2011 7:40:10 GMT -8
Highlighted the relevant bits...I'm surprised they're not concerned about the San Mateo, which undoubtedly has asbestos in that flooded engine room. Then again, no one is working on that boat...
Work Safe BC cracks down on asbestos removal in demolitions By Larry Pynn, Vancouver Sun March 24, 2011 WorkSafeBC has shut down 30 job sites in the Lower Mainland so far this year for violations related to the improper removal of asbestos from older homes undergoing renovation or demolition. "It's a big issue," said Al Johnson, regional director of construction for WorkSafeBC. "If you don't remove hazardous materials, including asbestos, before you demolish, people can be exposed." WorkSafeBC has a newly dedicated team of about 10 inspectors who are tackling the problem in the region, working with municipalities issuing demolition permits. "We go to those sites to make sure the asbestos is taken out first," said Johnson, noting both workers and homeowners are potentially at risk. WorkSafeBC statistics from last year show the problem of asbestos is not exclusive to home demolition. Corporate offenders included the Salvation Army in Mission, fined $28,946 for infractions such as failing to investigate a worker's suspicions that the mechanical room contained loose asbestos, and BC Ferries in Port McNeill, fined $15,000 for failure to post signs identifying asbestos-containing materials on one of its vessels.A $2,500 fine to Nystar Developments Corp. in Vancouver included the comment: "Ten of this firm's workers were removing asbestos-containing materials from a demolition site without following the proper procedures and without using appropriate personal protective equipment. The firm failed to ensure that the asbestos-containing materials identified in the work site's hazardous materials survey were safely contained and removed." B h u p i n d e r C h a h a l / B C Hazmat Inspections Ltd., in Coquitlam, was fined $1,750. The report states: "This firm repeatedly provided clearance certificates indicating that hazardous materials had been safely removed when it did not know who had removed the materials or how the work had been carried out. It did not conduct any sampling to confirm that the work site was free of asbestos contamination before certifying that it was safe for workers to enter." Asbestos has been used over the years for fire protection, insulation against heat or noise, and to give more strength to material such as cement and plaster. It can lurk in a wide variety of places in a home, such as vermiculite insulation, flooring adhesives in vinyl tiles and linoleum, boiler and furnace insulation, roof gutters, roof felt and shingles, and stucco. Exposure to asbestos fibres is linked to asbestosis (which scars the lungs and impairs breathing), mesothelioma (a rare cancer of the lining of the chest or abdominal cavity), and lung cancer (which can be more difficult to link directly to asbestos). "You don't die today or tomorrow; it takes 30 or so years for the disease to show up," Johnson said. WorkSafeBC accepted 60 asbestosrelated claims in 2009 compared to less than 10 annually in the 1970s. More than 50 workers die from asbestos exposure every year, making it B.C.'s No. 1 occupational killer. "We believe that if you eliminate the exposure to asbestos, you'll eradicate the [lung] disease in years to come," Johnson said. "We're really pushing on this. We want to eliminate this disease." Much of the problem of industrial asbestos has been resolved over the years, he said. The focus now is the improper surveying and removal of asbestos from homes built into the 1980s and now undergoing renovation or demolition. "It starts with the homeowner saying, 'Before I demolish my house or renovate, I need to look for asbestos.' " Johnson cautioned residents against hiring the cheapest contractors, noting they may lack the skills necessary to detect and safely remove the asbestos. "You have to find a reputable contractor," he said, noting there is no certification process for asbestos removal. "It's buyer beware. They may not be able to do that work effectively. "When we show up, they're removing it incorrectly -if they're removing it at all. We shut down the site until they get a proper survey done. Then the asbestos has to be removed correctly." He urged people to demand references from companies and to be wary of unreasonably low quotes that may suggest the company is illegally disposing of asbestos-laced material. A special WorkSafeBC website on asbestos should be online in April to further educate the public on the issue. In the meantime, search for asbestos at www.WorkSafeBC.com. Read more: www.vancouversun.com/health/Work+Safe+cracks+down+asbestos+removal+demolitions/4494882/story.html#ixzz1HX2RXUUw
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Post by Mike C on Mar 24, 2011 11:20:59 GMT -8
Is there more passenger lounge in the rear of the Quadra Queen's cabin, or is it crew space? When I took a trip on her some time ago ('05), it was an additional aft passenger lounge. This may have changed in the recent MLU.
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Post by timmyboy on Mar 25, 2011 15:13:24 GMT -8
A very interesting topic to find here today. I hadnt seen this story yet but it is very near and dear to my heart as I work for a Restoration company and this is something we deal with on a daily basis. Worksafe is difficult but the protocol with the appropriate training is very easy to follow. Yes it is expensive but lives are at risk and liability is huge.
One of my coworkers is working Hand in Hand with Worksafe right now to iron out new rules in regards to the identifiying, handling, remoaval and disposal of Asbestos. There should be some interesting developements in these stories in the future.
If anyone has any questions please PM me and I can get you in touch with the appropriate people to discuss this with wether it is a removal issue or a exposure issue.
Timmyboy
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FNS
Voyager
The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
Posts: 4,948
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Post by FNS on Mar 25, 2011 16:35:28 GMT -8
www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_north/northislandgazette/news/118535674.htmlQuadra Queen II resumes servicemedia.bclocalnews.com/images/91354porthardyQQIIphotos-Mar16001.jpgBy Staff Writer - North Island Gazette Published: March 24, 2011 6:00 AM Updated: March 24, 2011 11:37 AM Following an 11-month, $15 million refit and upgrade, the new-look Quadra Queen II resumed service on the Port McNeill, Sointula, Alert Bay route this morning. "The Quadra Queen II is conducting crew training the next three days. The ship will re-enter service on our Port McNeill - Alert Bay - Sointula route on Thursday morning," said Deborah Marshall, Director of Media Relations and Corporate Development for B.C. Ferries, in an email to the Gazette Monday morning. On Tuesday, an open house was held for the refitted ship at the Alert Bay ferry dock. Chief Bill Cranmer blessed the ship, and Mayor Michael Berry and BC Ferries senior captain Brian Hunt each made a statement. The Quadra Queen II spent approximately eight months at Point Hope Maritime in Victoria, undergoing the majority of the life extension work at this local shipyard, as well as three months at BC Ferries’ Fleet Maintenance Unit, which has prepared the 41-year old vessel for another 20 years of service. An open house was held in Victoria last week to show off the fruits of the refit and upgrade. With files from Robin Quirk.
The TACHEK, the QUADRA QUEEN II's replacement, was seen on the ship trackers relocating to Texada Island yesterday. The reporters call these events "Open Houses". We ship fans call them "Open Ships".
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Post by Retrovision on Apr 21, 2011 2:52:24 GMT -8
Beauty' shots, everyone, I thank you for contributing. - Here is our Quadra Queen II, captured travelling between Victoria's Inner Harbour and Active pass, on her way to her Alert Bay home up on northern Vancouver Island. BC Ferry Quadra Queen II @ Victoria's Johnson Street 'Blue Bridge' by indyinsane, on Flickr BC Ferry Quadra Queen II @ Victoria's Johnson Street 'Blue Bridge' by indyinsane, on Flickr Fresh From Refit, BC Ferry Quadra Queen II @ Victoria by indyinsane, on Flickr Fresh From Refit, BC Ferry Quadra Queen II @ Victoria by indyinsane, on Flickr Here comes a pickle boat. Can you tell that at this point I had shifted to the public dock at the Songhees? Fresh From Refit, BC Ferry Quadra Queen II & Victoria Harbour Ferry @ Victoria's Inner Harbour by indyinsane, on Flickr Fresh From Refit, BC Ferry Quadra Queen II & Victoria Harbour Ferry @ Victoria's Inner Harbour by indyinsane, on Flickr Fresh From Refit, BC Ferry Quadra Queen II Departing Victoria by indyinsane, on Flickr
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Post by Retrovision on May 1, 2011 6:15:46 GMT -8
Here's our Quadra Queen II again, this time in the Gulf Islands as I was trying my best to chase her aboard our Bowen Queen on Route 5, including - captured from a distance and unfortunately into the sun, requiring fairly heavy post (editing) - a pit stop at Swartz Bay (I would have been better off staying at the terminal to capture her rare arrival from there, but was quite happy with my luck seeing her passing under the Johnson Street Bridge at Victoria - under blue skies to boot - earlier that day. If it wasn't for the North Arm Furious delaying us at Active Pass, we would have met her head-on, but I certainly wasn't furious after my luck that day ): Fresh From Refit, BC Ferry Quadra Queen II Heading Back Home to Northern Vancouver Island by indyinsane, on Flickr Fresh From Refit, BC Ferry Quadra Queen II Heading Back Home to Northern Vancouver Island by indyinsane, on Flickr Fresh From Refit, BC Ferry Quadra Queen II Makes a Pit Stop @ Swartz Bay by indyinsane, on Flickr Fresh From Refit, BC Ferry Quadra Queen II & Spirit of B.C. by indyinsane, on Flickr Fresh From Refit, BC Ferry Quadra Queen II & Spirit of V.I. by indyinsane, on Flickr Fresh From Refit, BC Ferry Quadra Queen II Heading Back Home to Northern Vancouver Island by indyinsane, on Flickr ...And into Active Pass she goes... Fresh From Refit, BC Ferry Quadra Queen II Heading Back Home to Northern Vancouver Island by indyinsane, on Flickr
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jul 13, 2011 22:22:36 GMT -8
Quadra Queen II arriving at Port McNeill on a foggy July 12, 2011 morning.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jul 14, 2011 18:23:02 GMT -8
QQII leaving Port McNeill on a dangerous-cargo run to Alert Bay, on a foggy July 12, 2011. -------------- 2 trucks: a gasoline truck and a yellow propane truck. Forum sticklers (you know you you are, John & Graham ) will be happy to see that the red flag is flying for dangerous-cargo. Thats's some fog over near Sointula. ----------------- And from near the same spot just 3 days earlier, on a sunny Saturday.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jul 14, 2011 19:48:51 GMT -8
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jul 15, 2011 22:23:02 GMT -8
Passenger areas on the QQII. - photos taken July 12, 2011. Standing at the end of one of the 2 corridors. The door outside to the stairs up to the sun-deck is behind me. - the seating lounge is at the end of the view in front of me. - in the hallway are doors for washroom and for crew areas. If I'd turned around and gone outside and up the stairs, I'd have gotten to this nice sun-deck, aft of the bridge and funnels. - the benches are white, not the old grey colour and style. The various design, build and upgrade plaques. ----------- One of the 2 interior stairways, leading from the car-deck to the passenger lounge. - looking up, from part-way up the stairs. - looking down from the top. - the door to the lounge at the top. ------------ - seating area photos to come in a later post.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jul 15, 2011 22:31:35 GMT -8
While aboard the QQII this week, I asked a couple of workers about how the refit changes had turned out and whether the Tachek will be getting the same types of work done.
They said that they think the Tachek will get the same type of work done (didn't know when) and that they hope that the minor details are "gotten right" this next time for the 2nd ship. - they said that the 2nd ship usually turns out better for the first, re unforeseen problems and results. (not sure what the problems were with QQII, but I suspect it's re the simple functionality of the new bridge and locations of things).
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,171
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Post by Neil on Jul 15, 2011 23:02:35 GMT -8
I was going to ask you about that sun deck. That's another difference between the Quadra Queen and Tachek, the latter having a smaller version of that upper deck, which is never open, although I believe it has benches. I suppose on the Quadra Queen the outer deck on the passenger lounge level is very small- basically just access to the sun deck?
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jul 15, 2011 23:14:59 GMT -8
I suppose on the Quadra Queen the outer deck on the passenger lounge level is very small- basically just access to the sun deck? Yes, very small indeed: just a step-off from the door to the stairs to get up to the sundeck. - you can see it at the very-end of the deck-tour video that I posted here, a couple of days ago. I'm riding Tachek next week, so I'll be able to see the contrast.
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Post by Kahloke on Jul 16, 2011 7:07:41 GMT -8
Thanks for posting pics of the newly refurbished QQII. One of these days (probably years at this point) I would like to take a ride on that little vessel.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jul 17, 2011 20:00:21 GMT -8
Passenger lounge of MV Quadra Queen II, as seem by me on July 12, 2011. - pardon the over-exposures from the sunlight. Looking forward from the life-jacket, vending machines area: - port side - starboard side Looking aft from near the front of the lounge From the forward-port corner of the lounge. In the event of an emergency, grab a life-jacket and a coke, then run downstairs to use the chute from the car-deck.
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Post by lmtengs on Jul 18, 2011 6:54:08 GMT -8
Looking forward from the life-jacket, vending machines area: I didn't see the comma at first and read it as life-jacket vending machines! There's another way for BCF to make a pretty penny in any emergency! ;D
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jul 18, 2011 13:23:58 GMT -8
Car-deck photos of MV Quadra Queen II, from July 12, 2011. Empty 4 lanes Full 4 lanes - view from stern Stern gate Raised flap at the bow DBC chute - I think this is the only one.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jul 18, 2011 13:30:04 GMT -8
More Quadra Queen II from July 12, 2011. Stern view of stairs up to sundeck. - both stairs start from end of each of the 2 interior hallways in the passenger lounge, and the both go to the centre of the sundeck and VIDEO of the sundeck. www.facebook.com/v/10150253077983647----------- View of the crew-area sheltered walkway, up the side of the ship (there is one of these on each side)
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jul 21, 2011 22:08:59 GMT -8
Regarding northern minor vessels:
- Tachek's life-extension renovations (similar to what was done with QQII) will maybe be done 2 years from now.
- Tenaka is currently in refit, and will take longer than expected due to some unforeseen items.
(above per chat with Tachek crew today and is subject to my clarity of recalling the conversation).
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jul 24, 2011 17:01:13 GMT -8
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Post by Nucksrule on Jul 24, 2011 19:40:53 GMT -8
Is this the first minor vessel to receive a refit of this caliber?
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jul 25, 2011 8:19:23 GMT -8
Is this the first minor vessel to receive a refit of this caliber? Quinsam and Quinitsa both had significant refits a couple of years ago. For Quinsam (and maybe also for Quinitsa) the refit took place over 2 separate off-season periods. Klitsa just had a fairly extensive refit, mainly to make her suitable for regular service on her new route. North Island Princess of course had a very significant refit/rebuild, years ago when she was changed to a catamaran. But the Tachek/Quadra-Queen twins are their own class, and the QQII's upgrade will likely be duplicated and improved-upon for the Tachek.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Nov 4, 2011 15:01:56 GMT -8
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