|
Post by PCL Driver on May 22, 2007 6:42:03 GMT -8
Another view of the Queen of Victoria on the beach at Alang.
|
|
|
Post by Coastal Canuck on May 22, 2007 7:28:02 GMT -8
So what happened
|
|
|
Post by Northern Exploration on May 22, 2007 7:45:34 GMT -8
Ships don't sit around that place too long so it must have been scrapped. Even before it gets there usually anything of much value is removed such as equipment, radars etc. Often it is just bare steel, wiring, some toxic materials that are expensive to handle in North America etc., and anything which requires a lot of manual labour. I have heard that many local people make use of carpets, drapes and anything like that that can be recycled but has little value compared to metal. Imagine some Indian family sitting in their living room with the famous Dogwood Carpet on the floor.
|
|
|
Post by Mike C on May 22, 2007 15:46:59 GMT -8
Um, no, there aren't any more pictures, because she no longer exists.
|
|
|
Post by Hardy on May 22, 2007 16:37:27 GMT -8
Um, no, there aren't any more pictures, because she no longer exists. Once they beach 'em there, they get pillaged pretty quickly I would think. Beach space would tend to be at a premium and I would assume that the workers tend to 'shred' a ship rather quickly. All this said, and seeing that it is done in a Third World Country where the shipbreaking workers are paid next to nothing, I don't imagine that PHOTOGRAPHY is a big hobby. As well, with "all the environmental controls and safeguards" that they have in place (NOT!) I assume that the beach is not too nice a place to hang out and take pictures (for a visitor, or tourist that is). It ain't Flensburger, that's for sure!
|
|
|
Post by PCL Driver on May 23, 2007 5:07:33 GMT -8
|
|
|
Post by Northern Exploration on May 23, 2007 7:59:50 GMT -8
Especially since one of the newsmagazine shows did that expose on the medical problems that the workers face and accidents that happen while breaking the ship. The angle if I remember correctly was that western companies are unloading their environmental nightmares on the workers there. Clemenceau the asbestos filled French aircraft carrier was mentioned.
|
|
|
Post by Ferryman on May 24, 2007 22:21:40 GMT -8
|
|
|
Post by Northern Exploration on May 25, 2007 4:34:21 GMT -8
Tres bien et merci.
|
|
Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,195
|
Post by Neil on Dec 26, 2007 22:22:32 GMT -8
|
|
|
Post by Ferryman on Dec 27, 2007 8:41:51 GMT -8
Wow, thanks for posting this, Neil. I can remember seeing this story on the News that day. That picture gives you a pretty good close look at the Ferry before she left, and having the portholes on the Lower car deck covered up with plywood. If only we knew exactly what she was up to for the 5 years after she left BC. It's also kind of ironic how she left BC in Mid January 2001, and then we see her on the beach at Alang in January 2006.
|
|
Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,195
|
Post by Neil on Jan 15, 2008 14:41:12 GMT -8
|
|
Mill Bay
Voyager
Long Suffering Bosun
Posts: 2,886
|
Post by Mill Bay on Jan 15, 2008 15:07:10 GMT -8
Neil, you are incredible!!!. Where did you find that?
This is forum history for sure.
|
|
|
Post by Scott on Jan 15, 2008 16:25:02 GMT -8
If you want a copy, you can go to the library and look it up on microfiche from where you can print a copy. When I was a student and at the library all the time, I did this for some noteable ferry events.
|
|
Kam
Voyager
Posts: 926
|
Post by Kam on Jan 15, 2008 16:46:57 GMT -8
What I would love to find is the full length home movie of the collision that was taken from one of the fishing boats (I think).
|
|
|
Post by Scott on Jan 15, 2008 18:03:14 GMT -8
Here's a short clip of the accident happening.
|
|
|
Post by Low Light Mike on Jan 15, 2008 20:23:59 GMT -8
re Neil's posting of the news articles: Wow, very sobering stuff to read. The first 2 pictures of the car-deck carnage were pretty shocking to me. The story of the Hammond family was very sad indeed, and this is the first time that I've seen that story. My oh my, it makes me shake my head in sadness, re the fate of that family. What surprises me from those stories is how quickly the ships were de-tangled, and how quickly the Q-Victoria arrived back at Tsawwassen. I mean this in a relative way. An accident with 3 deaths, and other possible unknown deaths (or so it was thought), and the ship is back at port in 3 hours? Or maybe that's just my unlearned reaction....but it seems that they got moving again pretty quickly. I don't know what I was expecting re that, but it did surprise me a bit. Neil, thanks again for that work of clipping, preserving, scanning and posting.
|
|
Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,195
|
Post by Neil on Jan 15, 2008 20:52:10 GMT -8
I was struck too at the plight of a father seeing his daughter die, and, unknowingly at the time, his wife's last moments. And how awful it must have been for whoever witnessed the other young woman's body fall to the car deck when the ships separated.
Sometimes it's worthwhile for us ferry fans to look past the 'boat story' at the human drama.
I also was thinking about what a surreal scene it would have been to be standing on the shore of Mayne or Galiano that day, and watching as the 'Yesenin and the 'Victoria drifted by on the tide, locked together. Bizarre.
How about the blithe comment from BC Ferries Traffic Manager RJ Innes that no announcements were made to the passengers, because there was 'no need for any instructions'? Seems rather callous, when so many were perhaps unsure of the safety of the ship with a freighter embedded in her.
And then there was the federal Transportation Ministry, saying a preliminary report on the accident would be ready in a 'couple of days', and that it would be made public. Seems that things like that moved a bit faster in those days.
pscurr posted a photo of what he thought was the 'Yesenin, and I thought it couldn't have been, partly because there was so little damage. But you look at the real 'Yesenin, and still, it's amazing how unscathed she was after the slice she gave the 'Victoria. I'm afraid that compared to loaded, ocean going freighters, our ferries are just floating tin cans.
|
|
|
Post by WettCoast on Jan 15, 2008 22:13:34 GMT -8
At that time Transport Canada, I believe, did the investigations. The TSB was put together some years later to be a truly 'independent body' for investigation of serious transportation accidents in Canada. We know they are slow, but they are also very meticulous.
|
|
Mirrlees
Voyager
Bathtub!
Deck Engineer- Queen of Richmond
Posts: 1,013
|
Post by Mirrlees on Jan 16, 2008 0:31:43 GMT -8
Great newspaper clippings there, Neil. That sounds as though it was a horrifying day for everyone onboard.
|
|
|
Post by Northern Exploration on Jan 16, 2008 7:17:49 GMT -8
Thanks for posting the clips Neil. I remember this happening and it was massive news.
|
|
Mill Bay
Voyager
Long Suffering Bosun
Posts: 2,886
|
Post by Mill Bay on Jan 18, 2008 10:30:23 GMT -8
pscurr posted a photo of what he thought was the ' Yesenin, and I thought it couldn't have been, partly because there was so little damage. But you look at the real ' Yesenin, and still, it's amazing how unscathed she was after the slice she gave the ' Victoria. I'm afraid that compared to loaded, ocean going freighters, our ferries are just floating tin cans. I remember I was talking with someone about this idea and apparently there's a very important distinction between ocean going ships such as freighters and the ferries. A ferry is only designated as a 'motor vessel' which is apparently a long way away from being an actual 'ship', and there are also apparently important distinctions in terms of seaworthiness and structural stability.
|
|
|
Post by Northern Exploration on Jan 18, 2008 10:53:35 GMT -8
There is a similar distinction in ships between Ocean going versus the Lakers. I was used to seeing the Ocean going ships of the West Coast and was surprized by the long thin ships used in the Great Lakes. Called Lakers they are long and thin, with vertical sides, relatively flat bottoms, and a vertical to almost vertical bow. Designed for the frequency of the waves in the lakes versus those of the ocean and to carry maximum cargo at the expense of a more efficient hull form, and most of all fit in the locks. My dad had a steamship company as a client so we got a lesson on them at the locks in St. Catharines from someone in the company. He said to us sometime we could ride one up or down a section of the canal. However it never came to pass, much to my disappointment. The Edmund Fitzgerald was a typical Laker. During storms they usually take refuge.
|
|
|
Post by WettCoast on May 25, 2008 17:52:08 GMT -8
I am scanning some post cards from my brother's collection. Tonight the Queen of Victoria c1964. Stan V. Wright Ltd. post card; photographer: W. J. L. Gibbons [DOT collection]
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 29, 2008 15:13:07 GMT -8
Stumbled across this site while searching for info on the Queen of Sidney for someone, and I've been quite enjoying reading through it!
So I have a question for you experts: several years ago, there was an earthquake in some South American country (Guatemala?), and a local group reportedly used a retired BC ferry to shuttle relief supplies and workers to the disaster area. Anyone else remember this, and what ship it was? Could it have been the now-neglected Sidney?
|
|