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Post by Scott (Former Account) on Sept 19, 2008 21:57:43 GMT -8
I wonder why they took the Wack off the southern gulf islands route? For Route 40 (Discovery Coast). |
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Post by WettCoast on Sept 19, 2008 22:28:13 GMT -8
Unfortunately, for the Kathleen, her fate precluded any possibilities of preservation, but the fate of her sister Princess Marguerite is a telling tale, as she passed from one owner-operator to the next, each one selling out on her once she couldn't make them any more money. Yes, the Kathleen had a sister named the Marguerite, but not the vessel that you refer to. The first P Marguerite was torpedoed and sank during WW II. She, and the Kathleen were twins, and entered service in 1925 and were the main day boats on the Triangle Service until the war began. The 1949 P Marguerite II was named to commemorate the war time loss. It is a real pity that P Marguerite II was not preserved in Victoria to commemorate the long line of fine steam ships that once served the BC coast so well. |
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Mill Bay
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Post by Mill Bay on Sept 19, 2008 22:45:46 GMT -8
Unfortunately, for the Kathleen, her fate precluded any possibilities of preservation, but the fate of her sister Princess Marguerite is a telling tale, as she passed from one owner-operator to the next, each one selling out on her once she couldn't make them any more money. Yes, the Kathleen had a sister named the Marguerite, but not the vessel that you refer to. The first P Marguerite was torpedoed and sank during WW II. She, and the Kathleen were twins, and entered service in 1925 and were the main day boats on the Triangle Service until the war began. The 1949 P Marguerite II was named to commemorate the war time loss. It is a real pity that P Marguerite II was not preserved in Victoria to commemorate the long line of fine steam ships that once served the BC coast so well. I did know that... I was rereading her history today, actually. I meant sister-ship in the more general sense that they both served in the CP coastal fleet. Note, i didn't say identical. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2008 7:37:24 GMT -8
Here's some more information on the Tsawwassen.
Official Number 312277
IMO Number 5288023
Her certificate expires on 2009 04 30. That is still a little while from now.
May I mention that her draft is very deep.
Moderator Edited
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Post by chinook2 on Sept 20, 2008 10:35:20 GMT -8
I wonder why they took the Wack off the southern gulf islands route? For Route 40 (Discovery Coast). Wack's first duty was route 6, but wound up full time at Earl's Cove by 1993 when the Capilano moved to Snug Cove and the Cumbie took over the Gulf Islands spot. During this period (1991-1993/4) Tsawwassen was second ship on Route 9, basing from Tsawwassen. By 1994 or 1995 The Nanny was running alone on the summer schedule, so Tsawwassen was restricted to backup duties through the summer. She was used twice that I know of in summer 1995--replaced the Victoria on route 1A when the Vicky had to sub on another route for a week or two, then later in same year filled in for the Cumbie back on route 6. The availability of the Tsawwassen in the summer for route 4 IMHO was what led BCF to create route 40 specifically for the Wack, But not until 1996. |
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Post by ferrytraveller on Sept 20, 2008 11:31:59 GMT -8
well a few things about the Queen of Tsawwassen:
Yes she has been sold to a large logging company here in BC !
No she will not be having her Wheel House Removed.
The galley is still operational due to the fact, it will be the mess for the logging camp.
Her props and rudders are being removed and the heads of her main engines are also be REMOVED!
Now her AIS, GPS, Radios, telephones, cell phones, Gyro repeater, VHF have all been removed. All but 300 life jackets have been removed, rescue boat is gone. Other engine room parts and such are being taken off, most manuals have been removed.
The company that bought her got one hell of a deal !
They got ALL her rafts and life boats, all firefighting equipment except 2 fire suits and BA's.
They got the 3 CAT generators (they will still be in use)
And lots of cleaning stuff. She will be towed around and will not be much of the former Queen of Tsawwassen anymore.
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Post by Retrovision on Sept 20, 2008 12:01:22 GMT -8
Yes she has been sold to a large logging company here in BC ! I'm more greatful than words can describe, thanks for the info eh! |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2008 12:03:53 GMT -8
I wish they would keep her intact and still have her run under her own power. The modifications do not sound as bad as I thought it would be, though.
How did you find that out that information?
Moderator Edited.
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Post by ferrytraveller on Sept 20, 2008 12:49:25 GMT -8
i was working on her for the last 3 days!
I found out a bit of other stuff, but can't share that
On a side note: Talked to one of the ch. officers from the queen of tsawwassen, and he said Island Sky still isn't quite ready to go, No crewing has started yet.
So it seems to be delay, after Delay for her!
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Post by Northern Exploration on Sept 20, 2008 13:37:56 GMT -8
Thanks for what you can share ferrytraveler. Good to hear the Tswwassen won't be decapitated yet at least. As long as she is minimally maintained there always is some hope of preserving some of her. I would think that health and safety and other workplace rules will have to come to play at least and the hull etc. maintained to at least a certain level. I don't know what Transport Canada rules are or even what federal/provincial agencies get involved with barges.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2008 13:55:02 GMT -8
Will they be building rooms for the loggers to sleep in? Like a floating bunk house.
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Post by Hardy on Sept 20, 2008 17:34:24 GMT -8
i was working on her for the last 3 days! I found out a bit of other stuff, but can't share that Thanks much for the update on her! I would imagine that it turned out to be a good deal for BCFS also, insofar as they didn't have to do much prep for the sale, and that they moved her quickly; as for the cheap sale price, I imagine that is what you get for an OLD boat. Curious -- was it really bargain basement fire sale prices? Low enough that she went for about 50% of her scrapping value? I have heard rumour that it was about 50-60% of the estimated scrapping value, although that DOES NOT include any re-hab work that BCFS would have had to do, such as asbestos abatement or anything like that to prep her for scrapping. So when you look deeper than the numbers, it may not be so "cheap" a sale as it would appear. |
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Post by Hardy on Sept 20, 2008 17:36:07 GMT -8
Off-topic (slightly): I notice a few mod-edits -- is this to keep us mini-mods from potentially not being able to resist the urge to mini-moderate our favourite mini-moderating target??  |
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Post by Scott (Former Account) on Sept 20, 2008 22:29:34 GMT -8
Off-topic (slightly): I notice a few mod-edits -- is this to keep us mini-mods from potentially not being able to resist the urge to mini-moderate our favourite mini-moderating target?? You're half right, Hardy!  Not only are staff trying to prevent off-topic posts that follow a post that is not legible, but we are also trying to show the individual how to properly create structured sentences from his written thoughts. |
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Post by Hardy on Sept 20, 2008 23:52:04 GMT -8
You're half right, Hardy! Not only are staff trying to prevent off-topic posts that follow a post that is not legible, but we are also trying to show the individual how to properly create structured sentences from his written thoughts. You can do that from the random fragmented words which constitute half-complete thoughts/opinions? Wow!! Why do I take the time to reason out what I am saying when I could have you guys do it all for me?  As in ... [newpost] snarf y Twasen no [/newpost] [mod-edit] With regards to the proposed re-engining, it was deemed to be financially non-feasible by 2 separate independently contracted studies.[/mod-edit]  |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Sept 21, 2008 13:42:35 GMT -8
You're half right, Hardy! Not only are staff trying to prevent off-topic posts that follow a post that is not legible, but we are also trying to show the individual how to properly create structured sentences from his written thoughts. You can do that from the random fragmented words which constitute half-complete thoughts/opinions? Wow!! Why do I take the time to reason out what I am saying when I could have you guys do it all for me? As in ... [newpost] snarf y Twasen no [/newpost] [mod-edit] With regards to the proposed re-engining, it was deemed to be financially non-feasible by 2 separate independently contracted studies.[/mod-edit] ....and I can see Russia from my house. --------------- Translation: re Tsawwassen, I'm wondering how similar she will be operationally to the Queen of the Islands. Other than one ship being a fishing lodge and the other being a logging camp, both will be towed to various locations. Both will utilize the galleys, and both have (and will likely) modify the car-deck space for other use. I wonder if 5-10 years from now we'll be having unique photo-opportunities when she may be moored at Menzies Bay or some other location? |
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Mill Bay
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Long Suffering Bosun
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Post by Mill Bay on Sept 25, 2008 13:05:38 GMT -8
One more addition to the photo-tributes... This is just a single photo that was taken by a friend of the family in Agnew Passage (Jervis Inlet) in 2006, long before rumors of the Tsawwassen's demise had begun to be exagerrated. I also had a little bit of fun with the photo effects, so I'll post two different versions of it. If only the Tsawwassen was going to be in service for one more summer, I'd make sure I was parked in Jervis Inlet in a boat to see her go back and forth for a couple days.   |
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Mill Bay
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Post by Mill Bay on Sept 25, 2008 21:59:47 GMT -8
One more photo composition to commemorate the decommissioning...  |
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Post by Mike C on Sept 26, 2008 19:59:36 GMT -8
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Post by Ferryman on Sept 26, 2008 21:39:11 GMT -8
Beautiful photo, NewFlyer. Here's a few more of my photos of her that I'll treasure for years to come. My favourite:  At Long Harbour:  As seen from the deck of the Mayne Queen at Village Bay, Mayne Island.   Following the wake of the Queen of Vancouver  Active Pass   The first and last time I ever saw a skywalk land on her bow deck.  |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Sept 27, 2008 17:12:49 GMT -8
I attended the BCFS de-commissioning ceremony for the Queen of Tsawwassen, today at Deas Dock.
The ceremony was very similar to a funeral. Especially with all the various guests/visitors/attendees, where you were able to learn what various people's connections to the ship were. The various people's connections were:
- Official BCFS brass
- recent Q-Tsawwassen crew/officers, including her last senior Master.
- other historical crew/officers.
- Some members of the original 1960 crews of the Q-Tsawwassen
- A group of enthusiastic ferry enthusiasts.
We were able to roam the ship for an hour or so, before the ceremony. This roaming included the bridge, bridge-wings, monkey-island, the Funnel area, the raised forward-lounge, the Forecastle, etc etc.
Each attendee was able to sign the "guest book" which was the actual ship's log record.
The ceremony was presided by Capt. George Capacci, BCFS' VP of Fleet Operations. Capt. Capacci was very personable, and spent time talking with us forum members before/after the ceremony.
The BCFMW-Union acting-president gave a heartfelt address, covering the various groups of people who built and sailed the ship. He was the eulogizer for the ceremony, de-facto.
The most recent Q-Tsawwassen Master gave a short speech, and later read a benedictionary prayer of thanks for the ship.
There was the ringing of 8-bells on her polished bell (really 4 segments of quick double-rings), and the lowering of the company flag.
After the ceremony, we had nearly 90 more minutes on the ship, to roam and savour the moment.
We sat in the wood-paneled cafeteria, and ate some company food (including a mating-slugs decorated cake), and this is where I had my best time of the day.
- We talked with 2 or 3 retired crew from the Q-Tsawwassen, the kind who started work on day-1 in 1960.
- One fellow explained how all the original new-hires needed to pass a lifeboat safety course first, before their hiring was finalized. He had worked in the tug-boat industry previously. He later worked at Deas, working on crews that moved refit-ships from their home-ports to Deas.....and had some good stories to tell.
- Another fellow explained that his pre-1960's job was with Union Steamships. You know that this got our attention..... He rattled off the list of Union ships he worked on (they all started with a "C", big surprise there.. ;D..).
- There was another original crew-member who was a bit more elderly and was in a wheelchair. I later had the honour of helping him leave the ship over the narrow gangway. (there was a definite "respect your elders" vibe that I felt re these wonderful original crew members, and it felt much like a veterans day parade re the respect that I felt for those wonderful guys).
- Earlier in the day, before the ceremony, we met another former Q-Tsawwassen crew member on board, who was a Steward on various ships, including Sechelt Queen, Q-Alberni, and Q-Tsawwassen. Among his various stories was a bit about him working on the Alberni on August 9, 1979........
Lots of forum members took pictures, and some BCFS people took a group-picture (a few) of our forum-group.
It was a great day, melancholy but wonderful nonetheless. I'm glad that I met those 1960 original-workers; that made the trip worthwhile for me (besides the opportunity to see my ferry buds once again... ;D)
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Post by Ferryman on Sept 27, 2008 20:51:48 GMT -8
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Post by Mac Write on Sept 27, 2008 21:17:55 GMT -8
Great photos. I hope there's allot more coming.
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Post by Canucks on Sept 27, 2008 22:25:51 GMT -8
Awesome photos and stories guys! I'm not sure where I have been for the last few weeks but I didn't even know about this ceremony. Would have liked to been there but, oh well, I think the pictures are enough to give me a good idea about what happened.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 27, 2008 22:29:47 GMT -8
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