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Post by bcferryfan87 on Jan 23, 2009 11:21:01 GMT -8
This is not meant to kick sand at anyone that may not have got on her yet (as in wanting to get on her for one more run kinda thing), but I'm glad I went last weekend.
This is more a cheer for me, as I often put off what I can do today, and last weekend I just after procrastinating, decided to do it. I hope she does run the couple more weekends as planned.
Side note, I'm sure glad for youtube and all that, as I found a neat video (maybe a WCF member ?) that someone took of the queen of Tsaw near retirement time; that is, they went around on her with camera , taking all types of video. I will have to get mine up (procrastination shows it's head, lol) of the Van last week. I took the idea I guess from others, who like the Tsaw Video that was done by whomever, I tried to capture as much of the ship feel as I could - especially for those (like my Dad) who couldn't get on it again, but wanted a feel of it.
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Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
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Post by Koastal Karl on Jan 23, 2009 11:28:07 GMT -8
Does anyone know when her cerfificates expire?? I have been on her recently and I saw on one them it says Feb 2, 2010 Can anyone confirm??
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Nick
Voyager
Chief Engineer - Queen of Richmond
Posts: 2,078
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Post by Nick on Jan 23, 2009 11:46:03 GMT -8
Apparently she is "fixed" at Swartz Bay and ready to run today. RBI is showing a 4:00 scheduled as usual.
I have no idea when her certificate expires. I forgot to look last time I was on board.
bcferryfan, can you post a link to the video you mentioned? It sounds like it could be one of "Ferryman's".
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Post by DENelson83 on Jan 23, 2009 13:15:34 GMT -8
bcferryfan, can you post a link to the video you mentioned? It sounds like it could be one of "Ferryman's". It's not. It's one of Ship-Rider 16's videos. ca.youtube.com/watch?v=mDH3GuC9G60
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Quatchi
Voyager
Engineering Officer - CCG
Posts: 930
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Post by Quatchi on Jan 23, 2009 14:57:16 GMT -8
Her ticket expires April 30th.
I really hope she can make it these last few sailings. It would be nice to be on her last sailing ever.
Cheers,
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Nick
Voyager
Chief Engineer - Queen of Richmond
Posts: 2,078
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Post by Nick on Jan 23, 2009 16:05:59 GMT -8
She just departed for her 4:00 from Swartz, so she must be feeling a bit better.
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Mill Bay
Voyager
Long Suffering Bosun
Posts: 2,886
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Post by Mill Bay on Jan 23, 2009 20:03:35 GMT -8
She's back at Swartz now, and was pretty much on time for both her sailings today. The 4:00 pm out of Swartz also showed having pretty much committed a full load as well.
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Post by bcferryfan87 on Jan 23, 2009 23:39:08 GMT -8
yah the video above with narration is the one I was thinking of (with his modified HNIC -err TSN hockey tonight theme on it)
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Post by bcferryfan87 on Jan 23, 2009 23:41:19 GMT -8
a question about the q of van: when I went on it last week, I saw a note posted over what I think was the control box for the ramps on the car deck, and it said something like "do not use ramps"; is there a problem with them - that is, have they not been used in some time?
Also, I read somewhere I believe that they don't use on them on the Spirits now. IS there a reason why on this - aka can they be used or is there some kind of safety issue with them?
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D'Elete BC in NJ
Voyager
Dispensing gallons of useless information daily...
Posts: 1,671
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Post by D'Elete BC in NJ on Jan 24, 2009 4:48:58 GMT -8
a question about the q of van: when I went on it last week, I saw a note posted over what I think was the control box for the ramps on the car deck, and it said something like "do not use ramps"; is there a problem with them - that is, have they not been used in some time? Also, I read somewhere I believe that they don't use on them on the Spirits now. IS there a reason why on this - aka can they be used or is there some kind of safety issue with them? Dig deep young Jedi ferry fan...the answers all lie within... ;D Actually, the question you have asked has come up a few times in different threads and the answer is there are issues with the lifting mechanisms...in particular, the cables...mostly due to lack of use/maintenance and they are no longer considered safe to handle a load of cars.
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Post by Esquimalt Queen on Jan 24, 2009 14:16:56 GMT -8
Apparently she is "fixed" at Swartz Bay and ready to run today. "Fixed"? Do you mean spayed? Is that why there are no more V-Class ships being conceived?
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Post by DENelson83 on Jan 24, 2009 14:27:02 GMT -8
Apparently she is "fixed" at Swartz Bay and ready to run today. "Fixed"? Do you mean spayed? Is that why there are no more V-Class ships being conceived? Now that gave me a deep laugh!!! ;D ;D ;D Of course, she'd need to mate with a Mexican ship to produce a child. ;D
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rt1commuter
Chief Steward
JP - Overworked grad student
Posts: 167
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Post by rt1commuter on Jan 24, 2009 16:55:53 GMT -8
I rode the QofV on Friday the 23rd. It was my goodbye trip. The dude in the gift shop told me that this was the third to last sailing. I guess that means there's one more sailing out of Victoria and that's it.
It was very nice to sail on her one last time. I'm glad she was never coastalized, and I loved the 70s decor in the cafeteria. The sundeck lounge (where the buffet use to be) is my favorite place to sit on any BC ferry, and I'm really said I won't have another chance on Rt1.
Also, nothing quite smells like an old, pre-coastlized V-class. I'll miss that weird smell! Gonna take the 9:00PM celebration tomorrow. It's sort of a shame.
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Post by Scott on Jan 25, 2009 16:01:58 GMT -8
One of her "last sailings" has been cancelled today after a car fire at Tsawwassen. The ferry had to be evacuated and the 2PM from Tsawwassen and 4PM from Swartz Bay have been cancelled so far. Story here: www.news1130.com/news/local/more.jsp?content=20090125_182646_49880I imagine there's a good chance that one or more of our forum members were planning to be on the Queen of Vancouver this weekend.
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Post by Kahloke on Jan 25, 2009 16:09:23 GMT -8
Well, I've heard the expression "going out in a blaze of glory", but I'm not sure this is what BCF had in mind regarding the old gal!
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Post by Ferryman on Jan 25, 2009 17:14:24 GMT -8
Two forum members were aboard the Vancouver as it happened. I'd hope they're willing to share their experiences and photos when they return home. I've been keeping in touch with Mill Bay all afternoon via text message since the minute it happened
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,150
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Post by Neil on Jan 25, 2009 18:06:55 GMT -8
So which boat did I see leaving Tsawwassen around 4:30? Was that the 'Vancouver, or was the Queen of New Westminster pressed into early service? No mention on their webpage.
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Post by Scott on Jan 25, 2009 18:12:32 GMT -8
I take it the Vancouver deadheaded back to Swartz Bay since the last sailing from Tsawwassen was cancelled as well. I'm not sure how serious the fire was but maybe there was a big mess or some damage?
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Post by Ferryman on Jan 25, 2009 18:32:06 GMT -8
Hey Neil, the vessel you would have see was the Vancouver. I watched her enter Active Pass on Siitech around 5:15pm sailing at about 16.3 knots.
I really hope the damage isn't bad enough for her to never run again. Apparently Tsawwassen was full of fire trucks, and there was stretchers brought on board the vessel.
Foot passengers were transferred on to the 3:00pm SoBC, and the passengers with vehicles were put on standby and travel to Swartz Bay with the Vancouver. I guess we'll soon find out whether or not that those passengers ended up sailing on the Vancouver soon enough.
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Post by Dane on Jan 25, 2009 18:34:53 GMT -8
BCTV, the world's most accurate newscast, just told me damage to the vessel itself was minimal. Then they showed a picture of the car. Although images can be deceiving, even damage to the car wasn't extreme considering the thing was on fire.
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Post by ferryfanyvr on Jan 25, 2009 18:55:20 GMT -8
I travelled from Tsawwassen to SB today on the CC at 1300, planning to make my return trip on the Van at 1600 from SB. Had my camera with me, was going to get pics of her making the turn as she approached berth 1 then take lots of interior photos as part of my farewell trip aboard her. While I was waiting for the CC to depart on her 1500 sailing from SB I overheard the news about the fire and the cancelled 1600 sailing. Managed to get back on the CC to Tsawwassen but am very disappointed since I don't think I can make any trips on her final weekend.
She did sail with a full load leaving Tsawwassen about 1630...she was finishing loading at berth 5 as we were arriving at berth 3 (!) on the CC. For some reason, this departure is not shown on the arrivals/departures page on the BCF website, but she definitely had a full load
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jan 25, 2009 18:56:46 GMT -8
Did the fire happen during loading at Tsawwassen, or did it happen after the trip was underway?
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Post by SS San Mateo on Jan 25, 2009 19:32:43 GMT -8
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Post by Ferryman on Jan 25, 2009 19:46:02 GMT -8
Just recieved a message from a source of mine.
Apparently it was an electrical fire with a the car on the upper car deck at the aft end, while vehicle loading was underway at Tsawwassen. The Deluge system and crew fire fighting to put the fire out, and 4 fire trucks arrived on scene to put out any embers. The mess was soon mopped up. She did in fact sail to Swartz Bay with a full load, and dumped everyone off in Berth 2. After unloading, she moved back over to Berth 3 for tie up. Damage is reported to be minimal.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jan 25, 2009 20:07:29 GMT -8
I suppose that the "best" time for a car fire onboard a ferry would be during loading or unloading. That time would have lots of crew on the car decks supervising the loading / unloading process, and would allow for quicker reaction time by the crew.
Of course, this is countered by having more passengers on the car decks at that time too, to get in the way or to be in danger re possible explosions.
But it sounds like an in-port, while loading car-fire was the best of the worst re this type of incident.
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