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Post by WettCoast on Nov 17, 2008 21:28:39 GMT -8
Some farewell photos for the Queen of Saanich. Q Saanich just off of Swartz Bay, her home port for many years. All photos taken 12 Oct 2008 by JST ©
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Post by PCL Driver on Nov 18, 2008 7:01:55 GMT -8
A nice piece by Jack Knox in the Times Colonist this AM:
Knox column: A farewell toast to the good ship Queen of Asbestos Jack Knox, Times Colonist Published: Tuesday, November 18, 2008
I'm going to miss the Queen of Asbestos. Miss it in the same way I miss the Sunshine Breakfast, Tiger Williams, my old ugly dog of a pickup truck and anything else that's simultaneously familiar, endearing and slightly embarrassing in polite company.
The Queen of Asbestos wasn't any ship in particular, just one of the old ones with that grey fuzzy stuff hanging from the ceiling. Always felt apologetic when tourists would climb that too-narrow stairwell and emerge into what appeared to be a 1960s bus depot waiting room. "Hey, you should see our new ferries," I would wheedle. "They're really nice. Got flush toilets and everything."
But no more. It's the end of the line for four of the oldest of B.C. Ferries' vessels, four aging queens abdicating the throne. Two of those put on the market this year have sold, and the other two are on their way out.
Among them is the Queen of Saanich, which sailed from Tsawwassen one last time on Sunday night.
Yesterday found it docked at Swartz Bay, where workers spent the day hauling out vending machines, unplugging point-of-sale gizmos, that sort of thing. Vans trundled on and off, while a clutch of guys in hardhats lowered big bits with the ship's derrick. Today the crew will slice up a cake, ring the bell and lower the flag one last time, sail her to the Deas Dock refit complex in Richmond, where she'll stay until sold.
The fifth new vessel in the fleet, the Saanich was built at Victoria Machinery Depot in 1962 at a cost of $3.5 million (roughly the return fare for a family of four today). B.C. Ferries stretched the ship in 1972, then lifted the top section by three metres a decade later.
The ship has been a workhorse since the days of Diefenbaker.
Actually, the Saanich looks pretty good for its age, at least a darn sight better than the rustbuckets in Washington state where, as was the case with B.C. Ferries, they found themselves with an aging fleet and no money to replace it. The good thing about B.C. Ferries being severed from government in 2003: The corporation no longer had to line up behind schools and hospitals for capital funding. The bad thing: The cost of the new ships got dumped on the ferry users.
The newest of those replacement vessels, the Coastal Celebration, goes into service on the Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay run this Friday. That's why the Saanich, which along with three other queens -- Esquimalt, Tsawwassen and Vancouver -- was placed for sale in January, is being tied up.
Among other changes:
- The Queen of Esquimalt will remain moored in Port Alberni until May, when it will travel -- either under its own power or with the help of a tug -- to Dalian, in northeast China. "It's our understanding they're going to use it as a cargo ferry," said B.C. Ferries' Deborah Marshall. The new owner, a Chinese company that bought the vessel last summer, has registered it in Cambodia (registration is cheaper there) as the Princess Jacqueline.
- The Queen of Tsawwassen was sold in September to a logging outfit that plans to use it as a floating bunkhouse up the coast.
- The Queen of Vancouver will be kept around, basically as a back-up boat, until early in the new year, when the Queen of New Westminster goes back into service. The New Westminster, eight months into what should have been a six-month upgrade, will be back with B.C. Ferries in mid-December, but it will be the end of January or early in February before the crew has finished training on new lifesaving equipment and other gear.
- The Island Sky, being built in North Vancouver, is behind schedule but should be handed over to B.C. Ferries by the end of the month. It will replace the Queen of Tsawwassen as the regular vessel on the Earls Cove-Saltery Bay run on the Sechelt Peninsula early in the new year.
- The Northern Expedition is scheduled to leave its German shipyard Jan. 30, arriving here in late February or early March. It should be ready in time for the expanded summer service between Prince Rupert and Port Hardy. The arrival of the Northern Expedition will allow the eventual retirement of the Queen of Prince Rupert -- another overworked regal beauty, sailing into the sunset, never missed until gone.
So today is the decommisioning of the Queen of Saanich. I spent many years behind the PCL desk on her that ship.
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Nick
Voyager
Chief Engineer - Queen of Richmond
Posts: 2,078
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Post by Nick on Nov 18, 2008 14:19:54 GMT -8
I just returned from the decommissioning ceremony. For those people on the island, watch A channel news tonight, they had a camera roaming around the ship taking almost as much video as me.
She is now on her way to Deas, so that all the vending machines and stuff can be removed. Entering Active Pass for the last time at 16 knots as I write this.
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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 Nov 18, 2008 14:53:01 GMT -8
I just returned from the decommissioning ceremony. For those people on the island, watch A channel news tonight, they had a camera roaming around the ship taking almost as much video as me. She is now on her way to Deas, so that all the vending machines and stuff can be removed. Entering Active Pass for the last time at 16 knots as I write this. ...And, here is where she was at 1443 PST.
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Quatchi
Voyager
Engineering Officer - CCG
Posts: 930
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Post by Quatchi on Nov 18, 2008 15:36:16 GMT -8
As of October 30th, 2008 the MV Queen of Saanich had no buyer. My source is the Marine Superintendent of Northern Fleet Operations, BC Ferries.
Cheers,
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Nick
Voyager
Chief Engineer - Queen of Richmond
Posts: 2,078
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Post by Nick on Nov 18, 2008 15:40:20 GMT -8
As of today, talking to Captain Cappacci (I hope I spelled his name right....), she still has no buyer. Apparently, there are a couple of companies interested, but there have been no serious bids yet.
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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 Nov 18, 2008 16:52:53 GMT -8
QUEEN OF SAANICH arrives at Deas. Final logbook entry: SAFE ENDING. To a long and successful career of another Spaulding/McLaren ship. Ferry-well, QUEEN OF SAANICH!
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Post by Ferryman on Nov 18, 2008 17:39:07 GMT -8
I was watching A-Channel news tonight, and saw the Queen of Saanich clip. Great to see a few of our forum members lingering in the background amongst the crew.
Even though I wasn't at this ceremony like I was with the Esquimalt and Tsawwassen, I hired Nick to film the ceremony with my camera. So I know we'll have some good footage from today ;D.
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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 Nov 18, 2008 18:55:59 GMT -8
By the way, I think that those decorations on the windows of the QUEEN OF SAANICH were originally installed aboard the QUEEN OF BURNABY to fancy her up a bit for the Seattle - Victoria run in disguised names. I saw these myself in my watchings of the BURNABY here in Seattle. The BURNABY doesn't have these anymore. My guess, is BCF going to transfer these to the QUEEN OF NEW WESTMINSTER?
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Post by Mac Write on Nov 18, 2008 19:18:56 GMT -8
Why didn't anyone post that she was being retired? I would have like allot more trips on her. I thought we were supposed to have her through December.
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Post by Esquimalt Queen on Nov 18, 2008 19:28:35 GMT -8
A good way to find out when ships are sailing is to check through the BCF site. If you go through the reservations section, you can see all the dates that most ships are destined to sail. Although sometimes not accurate, you can still get an idea of how long the ships have until they are retired.
It's been noted for quite some time that the Vs are up for sale. So, since then, I've been keeping an eye on the reservations section of the site, and basically asking bcf employees. If you want to know when the final days are for other ageing vessels, just do some basic research.
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Post by Mac Write on Nov 18, 2008 19:58:12 GMT -8
I know they are up for sale, but the RBI said they were sailing through Christmas.
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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 Nov 18, 2008 20:47:27 GMT -8
The Vancouver is sailing through Christmas with the Coastal Celebration. Keep checking RBI as it changes all the time and you will figure it out.
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Mill Bay
Voyager
Long Suffering Bosun
Posts: 2,886
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Post by Mill Bay on Nov 18, 2008 21:23:07 GMT -8
One quick image of the Saanich from me as part of the tributes... Since she is now retired, I thought a sunset photo would be appropriate. This is the Saanich viewed from astern, sitting in berth 2 at Swarts in the final rays of the sun, May 9th 2007. Also taken at the same time... my current signature in tribute to the Saanich Interestingly enough, these were made at the end of a family trip to Victoria which could be considered my first official forum trip, as I had joined the forum one day before these images.
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Post by Mike C on Nov 18, 2008 22:01:41 GMT -8
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Post by bcferryfan87 on Nov 19, 2008 0:28:46 GMT -8
how do I as a poster on here now somewhat regularly, get included in these de-commissioning ceremonies (e.g. like the one for Saanich)? I don't know if I could have attended (Tuesday's) but it would be nice to be considered : ) Just wondering what it takes. I know there are limits to numbers, but figuring we are ferry nuts here...... replies appreciated.
Thanks
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Post by Mike C on Nov 20, 2008 13:00:11 GMT -8
how do I as a poster on here now somewhat regularly, get included in these de-commissioning ceremonies (e.g. like the one for Saanich)? I don't know if I could have attended (Tuesday's) but it would be nice to be considered : ) Just wondering what it takes. I know there are limits to numbers, but figuring we are ferry nuts here...... replies appreciated. Thanks From the rules...
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,171
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Post by Neil on Nov 20, 2008 23:05:41 GMT -8
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Post by Starsteward on Nov 21, 2008 22:42:25 GMT -8
I read with interest bcferryfan87's question regarding de-commissioning ceremonies etc, and New Flyer's response. While New Flyer did quote from the 'rules', which outlines the procedures for group trips, I would appreciate having answers for the following questions. Is there any general announcement from BC Ferries as to when and where a de-commissioning ceremony will take place for a particular ship? Are these ceremonies open to the general public, special interest groups, former employees or?? .and if the answer is yes to any of the above questions, I assume that there would be an opportunity for one to attend on one's own. In other words is it possible for someone to attend without being part of a group? I do agree that the 'rules' for group trips as laid out in this forum were established with sound practical imlications.
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Post by Scott (Former Account) on Nov 21, 2008 23:24:23 GMT -8
Is there any general announcement from BC Ferries as to when and where a de-commissioning ceremony will take place for a particular ship? I do not understand what you mean by general, but the decommissioning is not made public by BC Ferries. Are these ceremonies open to the general public, special interest groups, former employees or?? Open to BCF employees and retirees. Anyone else inquiring to attend would require special permission from BC Ferries directly.
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Post by Scott on Nov 21, 2008 23:25:56 GMT -8
Although I'm not a frequent attender of group trips, I think I can address this issue.
This discussion board was originally set up to allow for conversation on ferry/maritime matters in British Columbia, and not for the purpose of creating a group. Naturally, people with similar interests want to get together so group trips have sort of evolved from two or three members meeting each other for a trip to several taking "mini vacations" with each other. For privacy and safety concerns, we've set up an informal member category that allows access to group trip planning discussion. Most of the moderators are frequent group-trip attenders and inquiries can be made to them about joining this group.
As for the decommissioning ceremonies (the inaugural voyages are public knowledge), so far it has been by invitation, and not open to the public. I think how it has worked in the past is one person has been invited and allowed to bring friends or else one person has asked permission for a group of ferry fans to attend.
If BC Ferries or any other ferry company wants to extend an open invitation to all ferry fans to attend a ceremony or inaugural sailing, they're free to advertise here:) Otherwise I leave it up to the person who has been invited or has obtained an invitation to determine who they want to come along.
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Post by Starsteward on Nov 22, 2008 0:46:22 GMT -8
Scott: In using the term 'general' I should have used the term 'public'. Is there anyone in particular at BC Ferries one should contact regarding 'special permission' to attend. Otherwise, thanks Scott and John H for some further clarification on the topic. I have some 'thoughts' on how BC Ferries handles the whole process of de-commissioning but will hang onto them until I've done more research on the topic.
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Nick
Voyager
Chief Engineer - Queen of Richmond
Posts: 2,078
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Post by Nick on Nov 22, 2008 16:14:50 GMT -8
I understood from your previous comments that you did at one point work for BCF. When calling to enquire about the decommissioning ceremonies, I would be sure to mention that. You'd probably have a much better chance if you have a connection with the ship in question.
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Post by WettCoast on Nov 22, 2008 17:28:20 GMT -8
My brother received an invitation from BC Ferries to attend the Saanich decommissioning. I understand that he received this on the grounds that he once served as a Swartz Bay based crew member and worked a number of vessels including the Saanich.
He opted not to attend, but says that he definitely will attend the QPR decommissioning which is expected to occur in ~5 months. He served as an original crew member on B watch, under Captain Callan.
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Post by Starsteward on Nov 22, 2008 17:58:30 GMT -8
Hey WCK, was your brother aboard the QPR when we managed to have our wee run-in with Haddington Reef? Would like to know as I was there that day, serving on B-watch. John Post was the Chief Steward, Captain was John Callan. if so I probably sailed with your brother. I am planning to doa video documentary on the last round trip on the QPR, which will also include video and pictures at the de-commissioning ceremony.
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