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Post by Curtis on May 22, 2013 14:15:31 GMT -8
In hindsight, BC Ferries will likely regret this decision should they go through with it. They made the same error with the Queen of Tsawwassen: Replacing a vessel with one not of equal capability. (e.g. Open Deck Vessel instead of Enclosed Deck. In this case, a level hull instead of a raised hull.)
Personally, I think the Tenaka would be better suited to replace the Nimpkish based on size rather than age. It would be a modest increase, but could be necessary depending on the future of Route 40 service. I'm sure passengers would prefer having an overhead lounge along with the two saddle lounges. Put in some reclined seats and tables (instead of cheese graters) and we'd have a winning combination.
Realistically though, keep the Tenaka mothballed and use her for refit replacement until we build the NIP's replacement. I can't picture the Quinitsa or Kahloke handling well in open waters, even with weather doors. Same can be said for the Island Sky running Route 17.
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Post by compdude787 on May 22, 2013 15:04:33 GMT -8
Tenaka was here at Hornby for several months recently. Its capacity is 21 or 22 cars... 24 if everything is small. In the fleet profile, BC Ferries says 30, and yet, in the notice about Tenaka replacing Tachek at Cortes, they warn about its smaller capacity. What I don't get is why BC Ferries has the incorrect capacities for many of its vessels on its fleet webpage. How hard is it for them to update their webpages?
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on May 22, 2013 19:16:05 GMT -8
I hope BC Ferries will not retire the Tenaka until they replace the North Island Princess.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jun 4, 2013 18:57:20 GMT -8
Here's a photo essay from summer 2012 by Neil, re the changeover of the Hornby vessels. It's from the "not in service movements" thread, but it also goes great here in the Tenaka thread. ------------------- Tenaka has arrived at Blubber Bay 21h23. There was a crew supposed to come aboard on Hornby around seven, but Tenaka had to do a medical emergency run over to Denman, so I'm assuming she left Shingle Spit around eight. That would make the new Hornby to Texada route (very useful when the two islands' ball teams are playing) about eighty minutes. This morning, the Hornby radio station's on air guy mentioned that the 'big ferry' was coming back tomorrow, so people could expect three hour waits instead of four. It was a topic of conversation outside the Ford's Cove store this evening as well. Any Hornbyites who looked in on BC Ferries' website yesterday would have gotten a chuckle to see the service notice advising that the Tenaka was shuttling. With Tenaka on this route in the summer, a service notice is only needed when the vessel isn't shuttling. ( Attention BC Ferries customers: The Hornby ferry is NOT shuttling. Those passengers taking extended naps in their cars in the lineups may miss the third available sailing.) I had an entertaining late afternoon watching the manoeuvres in Lambert Channel. Kahloke arrived at the islands around four, and first docked at Gravelly Bay. Then she crossed in tandem with Tenaka, and checked out the Shingle Spit dock, with the crew having a look at the ramp apron for some reason. The boats did a graceful pas de deux at one point, the Kahloke spinning, while Tenaka did a tight turn, for what reason, I'm not quite sure. Fun to watch, anyway. Kahloke also pulled out from the Hornby dock and cut her engines, drifting while Tenaka was loading. Kahloke had seven vehicles on board, and I saw at least that many people. I don't know what the whole arrangement is for transporting one vessel up, and bringing another back, especially when they don't seem to be synchronised exactly. I imagine it's an expensive procedure. I was enjoying the show so much, I almost didn't want to drive down to the pub for a burger. The disappointment was when Kahloke headed south around Denman; I was hoping for some sort of interesting dual docking at Shingle Spit where the boats exchanged crew, but it looked like she was headed for Buckley Bay. Now I see on Siitech that she's supposedly underway (as of 9:30) and headed for Hornby... but at this time of night, I'm not about to drive down to check it out. Anyway... a fun bout of ferry watching, after an early afternoon of clambering around on crumbly cliffs trying to find a way between the two trails that traverse the west side of Mt Geoffrey. Being a ferry fan is safer than being a mountain goat, as I found out. Kahloke first appears, south of Ford's Cove. Finally... two boat service in peak season! Naah... Dance of the Faerie Queens. Kahloke heading around the south end of Denman, I suppose to Buckley Bay.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jul 22, 2013 15:09:46 GMT -8
Tenaka in the early afternoon on July 22, 2013. - always looking beautiful, especially with Mt. Doogie Dowler in the background.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jul 23, 2013 10:40:32 GMT -8
Fresh photos of Tenaka from this morning, taken from the tip of Rebecca Spit. - July 23, 2013 on her first round-trip of the day. Heading for Heriot Bay, dodging the large accumulation of driftwood which had not yet been dispersed by the waves from the morning boats in the area. - this driftwood accumulation is a big problem at Heriot Bay and Drew Harbour, on the east side of Quadra Island. ------------------------ In the berth at Hertiot Bay: Leaving Heriot Bay: --------------- At the same time as I've been taking these Tenaka photos this week, I've been shooting video of her at a number of vantage points. My intent is to make a movie of the various clips, showing a nearly-complete round trip from a series of vantage points.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jul 24, 2013 19:38:12 GMT -8
It is not often that we see forum photos of a familiar ship on her regular route, but from a rare (for our forum) vantage point. I think this is such a case. Tenaka approaching and then leaving Whaletown, as seen from the Government wharf across the cove at Whaletown. I think that the only other Whaletown photos we've seen on this forum are taken from the ship or from the terminal property. - Noon on July 24, 2013. Arriving: Departure spin:
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jul 25, 2013 6:57:58 GMT -8
I believe that that the Vancouver Island peak shown in the right-side background is "Victoria Peak" which is the 3rd tallest mountain on Vancouver Island. (the tallest peak on Vancouver Island is named for who's ship? - just a trivia question for you all)
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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 Jul 27, 2013 8:17:16 GMT -8
Here's a photo of the TENAKA when she was the COMOX QUEEN in April of 1965:
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Post by Mike C on Jul 27, 2013 9:12:06 GMT -8
Here's a photo of the TENAKA when she was the COMOX QUEEN in April of 1965: This is awesome. Was this taken in Westview?
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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 Jul 27, 2013 9:38:49 GMT -8
Here's a photo of the TENAKA when she was the COMOX QUEEN in April of 1965: This is awesome. Was this taken in Westview? Not sure where this was taken. She was a new ferry then. Wasted no time in posting this purchased photo to this thread. I still don't understand why she's being retired soon. She should be on the northern winter feeder service instead of the NIMPKISH. The TENAKA is much better than the "little imp".
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mrdot
Voyager
Mr. DOT
Posts: 1,252
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Post by mrdot on Jul 27, 2013 14:38:28 GMT -8
:)this old highways livery was not her best, and she actually looks better in her present 'slug garb' but she sure has stood the test of time and is another well built BC vessel! :)mrdot.
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Post by Mike C on Jul 27, 2013 14:48:31 GMT -8
This is awesome. Was this taken in Westview? Not sure where this was taken. She was a new ferry then. Wasted no time in posting this purchased photo to this thread. Now that I am on my PC and can have a closer look, the condition of the vehicle deck indicates to me that she had not yet entered service. This leads me to believe that the photo was taken somewhere in the vicinity of the shipyard, perhaps going through periods of sea trials.
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Mill Bay
Voyager
Long Suffering Bosun
Posts: 2,886
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Post by Mill Bay on Jul 27, 2013 15:50:06 GMT -8
I took a second look, and it can't have been Westview for the location because the land visible ahead of the ship is far too close for it to be in Westview. From the pier in Westview you might see either Texada or Harwood Island, and both are much father out into the strait.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jul 29, 2013 4:30:51 GMT -8
When I was on Quadra and Cortes Islands last week, I shot lots of video footage of MV Tenaka from various vantage points. With her upcoming retirement on my mind, my intent was to create a few Tenaka legacy videos.
- I have multiple views of Tenaka at/near Whaletown - I have multiple views of Tenaka at/near Heriot Bay - I have plenty of on-board video, including the camera on the dashboard as I was boarding and disembarking. - I have plenty of video from Rebecca Spit area of her passing by.
Here is my first instalment: Enjoy the Tenaka at Whaletown:
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jul 30, 2013 4:26:22 GMT -8
The 2nd instalment in my Tenaka legacy series of videos. - this is Tenaka at Heriot Bay.
Multiple views of her at and near Heriot Bay terminal, in July 2013.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Aug 2, 2013 5:59:02 GMT -8
The 3rd in my series of Tenaka legacy videos. - this is Tenaka onboard.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Aug 3, 2013 19:38:23 GMT -8
The fourth instalment in my series of Tenaka legacy videos: - this is Tenaka route-24 round trip
It's shot from various shore locations, and attempts to show an almost complete round-trip from Whaletown to Heriot Bay, return.
I had a lot of fun doing the fine detail editing, and I think this might be my best piece of editing work, in this video hobby of mine.
It was shot on July 22-25, 2013.
Enjoy ! The intention is for this to be a legacy resource in the coming years after the ship's retirement, where we can go back and see her in service.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Aug 13, 2013 18:24:57 GMT -8
One of annoyances on the Cortes ferry route is the patches of driftwood that accumulate overnight, and need to be dispersed by ship wakes the next morning. - Here is Tenaka doing some of that work on July 23, 2013.
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,187
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Post by Neil on Aug 13, 2013 19:53:12 GMT -8
One of annoyances on the Cortes ferry route is the patches of driftwood that accumulate overnight, and need to be dispersed by ship wakes the next morning. - Here is Tenaka doing some of that work on July 23, 2013. You were shooting from Rebecca Spit? Because I've seen that huge patch of driftwood mid-route as well, in the afternoon. I think it's a tidal thing. ----------------- (Flugel edit just because I clicked "edit" instead of "quote" in replying to Neil)
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Post by Low Light Mike on Aug 13, 2013 20:00:50 GMT -8
You were shooting from Rebecca Spit? Because I've seen that huge patch of driftwood mid-route as well, in the afternoon. I think it's a tidal thing. I was at the tip of Rebecca Spit, and the floating patch of wood was between the tip of the spit and Heriot Bay. - the morning accumulation thing was just my theory, based on the overnight having little marine traffic, and so fewer wakes to move the wood around.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Aug 16, 2013 9:33:56 GMT -8
If Tachek returns to the Cortes route on time (which is supposed to be mid September 2013), then this means that the end of Tenaka's regular service on the Cortes route and any other route is just a few weeks away. Tenaka might appear in various temporary refit-replacement tenures during 2014, but I think it's pretty clear that her days for being a regular assigned ship are coming to an end. With that in mind, my recent vacation trip to Quadra Island (with a day-trip to Cortes) gave me opportunity to take plenty of legacy photos from various thought-out locations and with carefully selected lighting (I'm such a non-tourist photographer, haha). So here is the first in a few sets of my recent photos of Tenaka. Forgive the large number of pics being posted; I'm doing it for the legacy aspect of this thread. ---------------------------- Her arrival at Heriot Bay: Seen from the end of the new Gov't public float, which is accessed from Antler Rd (not from the Heriot Bay Inn). This public float gives the best view of the ship arriving at the berth. - July 23, 2013 in the nice evening light. Her approach: With the ever-present driftwood Lining up to touch the dolphin with her bow Engage engines to reverse into the berth Backing straight into the berth All done: ============================ July 23, 2013, same time of evening. This set is from the Heriot Bay Inn's float. - this angle shows her coming straight at you as she approaches the dolphin. Beautiful profile --------------------------- July 24, 2013, arriving in the morning. - this shot was pre-planned and used a tripod (so it's a good thing that it was taken from the side of West Rd.)
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Post by Low Light Mike on Aug 16, 2013 10:11:35 GMT -8
A July 2013 set of Tenaka photos taken from the grounds of Taku Resort on Quadra Island. - Mrs. Horn & I love this resort, and highly recommend it (cabins, some suites, campground and marina) Photo framed by Mt. Doogie Dowler on the left, and the tip of Rebecca Spit on the right Lots of kayakers in the summertime at Drew Harbour & Heriot Bay She is beside the green-marker entrance to Heriot Bay ------------------- Heading to Cortes with Dangerous Cargo (flammables, not photographers) Seen behind the gap in Rebecca Spit
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Post by Low Light Mike on Aug 16, 2013 10:47:25 GMT -8
Tenaka seen from the Government wharf at Whaletown, Cortes Island. Across the cove from the ferry landing. - July 24, 2013. Between the navigational markers, making her turn into the cove -Quadra Island in the near background, Vancouver Island in the far background Unloading traffic at Whaletown landing
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Post by Low Light Mike on Aug 20, 2013 18:36:05 GMT -8
Some more photos of Tenaka from July 2013. - seen at Heriot Bay on Quadra Island. Her anchors shine in the evening sun The view of her departure turn out of the berth, seen from 2 different (but close by) vantage points, on successive evenings: Heading towards Rebecca Spit, with lovely Mt. Doogie Dowler in the background: At the tip of the spit (which is a great place to photograph this route's ship)
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