Mill Bay
Voyager 
Long Suffering Bosun
Posts: 2,887 
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Post by Mill Bay on Sept 7, 2009 20:49:39 GMT -8
I agree. And, a ship like this one looks better with little or no rust at all!That depends: in the Expo sheme, that was definitely true. However, in the slug scheme, she needed the rust because it actually helped add some color to that poorly thought out paint scheme. These Expo scheme photos are great, though, and she even still had the extra raised wind-screen type railing around the bow promenade area. Just another added touch of class which she once had but which was removed even before the era of the slugs for reasons unknown. Now, I'm just trying to figure out at what point she went from two lifeboats per side to one. |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Sept 8, 2009 14:28:03 GMT -8
I just returned from a 48-hour trip on the Chilliwack, which included 12 hours with a load of 215 passengers during the overnight. I'll be posting my photos and commentary and armchair-analysis on this thread, in the next few days: ferriesbc.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=gt&action=display&thread=3777&page=2You may find some of my photos and stories relevant to this here discussion. Or maybe it just sucked and cost a bunch of money.... ;D |
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Post by Kahloke on Sept 8, 2009 14:46:01 GMT -8
All of this talk about Route 40 makes me more and more curious about what the future Northern Discovery will look like.
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rt1commuter
Chief Steward
JP - Overworked grad student
Posts: 167
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Post by rt1commuter on Sept 8, 2009 20:37:32 GMT -8
How about an enclosed version of the Island Sky? Start an ugly ferry tradition on the route.
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Post by Curtis on Sept 8, 2009 21:43:19 GMT -8
How about an enclosed version of the Island Sky? Start an ugly ferry tradition on the route.  That is all... |
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Post by lmtengs on Oct 21, 2009 20:07:42 GMT -8
This is a postcard that my mother bought in the summer of '76.  The text says: " From the wide, roomy decks to the sparkling dining room and cafeteria, this new ship is brimful of features that will enhance the pleasure of your 330 mile cruise between Kelsey Bay, B.C. and Prince Rupert, B.C. "Drive" the Inside Passage to the Fabulous North! "  fullsize: farm3.static.flickr.com/2447/4033244887_e992f3ac23_b.jpg |
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Post by hullnumbers on Oct 25, 2009 22:26:43 GMT -8
I don't now where to put this but I have an issue with all these retired vessels. Since the QoPR is the latest I will put my comment here.
With all these ferries that stick around why dont BC Ferries keep them retired but keep them in service to show their manuvers to buyers. This is what the company should do instead of just leaving them to rust. I am happy the ships are around bout i would like them to be used.
For example why don't BC Ferries use them as homes or museums maybe.since QoPR is the latest retired vessel, I have an issue with all these retired vessels. With all these ferries that stick around retired why dont BC Ferries keep them retired but keep them in service to show their manuvers to buyers. This is what the company should do instead of just leaving them to rust. I am happy the ships are around bout i would like them to be used properly.
For example why don't BC Ferries use them as homes or museums maybe.
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Post by Northern Exploration on Oct 26, 2009 5:25:57 GMT -8
Someone (perhaps Hahn) was asked that recently when the fire happened in the Spook, causing massive line-ups. The response was that it would take about a $1 million dollars a year to keep an extra ship around as backup. So keeping a ship sailing as you suggest might not quite cost that much but it would add up tremendously.
Previously this was also raised on the forum and it was decided that the work up to get a ship ready to sail, full of stores for the gift shop etc, and perishables moved on board would be too time consuming for short notice replacements. You can't keep fresh or dated materials on board. Even if the crews were cross trained, which BC Ferries doesn't seem to do, you have to get a crew called in and repositioned.
Ships are not like cars that lots of people need to test drive to determine their worth. There would be lots of documentation available as to the seakeeping of the ship. The biggest valuation is the hull condition and state of the engines and other major mechanicals. Companies that are serious about laying out that kind of cash for a ship, send a marine surveyor on board to do a very detailed report. BC Ferries likely has done the same and has that information available. Once a buyer is very serious and about to sign they might take the ship out, but even then the commentary about how the ship handled storms and the detailed engine logs will always be more important.
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Quatchi
Voyager
Engineering Officer - CCG
Posts: 930
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Post by Quatchi on Oct 26, 2009 16:55:07 GMT -8
I think that considering the value of these ships potential buyers probably don't care how they preform in actual trials. They know that when these ships were laid up they had just finished a sailing and made it safely, so any thoughts of trials or test runs would just cost money that considering the value of the ship wouldn't make the sale worth it.
Back tot he car analogy, you don't buy a 50+ year old vehicle based on how it preforms in a test drive. You would be happy if the thing runs.
Cheers,
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Post by Retrovision on Nov 12, 2009 2:30:48 GMT -8
I was quite fortunate in April when I was able to get myself up to Port Hardy for the final in-service trip of the Queen of Prince Rupert on her way to Prince Rupert and then stick around for her public decommissioning up north, but unfortunately - between my not being much involved in the forum at the time because of other obligations and procrastinating getting back involved here when I have had the time ever since - am only now getting around to bringing the experience here through my photography and some video capture. Better late than never I guess. To begin, and I don't think it's been shown but I'm still catching up with old postings from the last 6 months or so, here is the QPR's starboard side 'Bella Bella door':  www.flickr.com/photos/bctransit/4098001512/ www.flickr.com/photos/bctransit/4097244609/...It's taking quite some time, but currently I'm working on uploading and you can look forward to seeing some youtube clips that I captured of the actual decommissioning ceremony. |
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Post by Retrovision on Nov 12, 2009 9:22:46 GMT -8
As promised, a series of youtube clips documenting much of the QPR's Prince Rupert decommissioning, and then some...
(Apologies for the lack of focus in some of these clips, I was still getting used to my D90, and as the D90 is the first DSLR to have video capture capability the technology hadn't advanced to the point of being able to autofocus)
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And a bonus that ties these all together and acts as a bridge to my next clips to come of the vererable lady, in broken wing formation presumably to aknowledge our sunken northern flagship, a trio of horns from the Northern Expedition, Northern Adventure and the retiring lady herself, the Queen of Prince Rupert (Thanks to the QPR crew on the way up for giving me a heads up about this event taking place relatively soon after arriving at Prince Rupert, the day before the decom)...
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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 12, 2009 10:02:56 GMT -8
wow, thanks again for posting these! I sure wished I could of made it up there for the decomissioning. That horn trio was really cool too!
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Post by Retrovision on Nov 12, 2009 11:26:32 GMT -8
wow, thanks again for posting these! I sure wished I could of made it up there for the decomissioning. That horn trio was really cool too! Quite welcome. I'm glad that I was there to capture some of it for others to live it vicariously through my lens. |
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Post by kevins on Nov 12, 2009 17:52:06 GMT -8
Excellent videos,
one of the first ships I worked on in 1969
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Post by Retrovision on Nov 12, 2009 18:13:06 GMT -8
Excellent videos, one of the first ships I worked on in 1969 Thank you, kevins. She's always been near the top of my list of favourite vessels in the fleet. How did you find working aboard? |
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Post by Retrovision on Nov 13, 2009 2:49:16 GMT -8
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Post by Low Light Mike on Nov 14, 2009 18:55:47 GMT -8
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Post by Low Light Mike on Nov 15, 2009 17:24:57 GMT -8
Acquired in a batch of slides off eBay--Queen of Prince Rupert, with a process date of 1974. Any guesses where this might be? |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Nov 15, 2009 18:25:27 GMT -8
Forum member, ferryfrequenter asked me to post this photo for him, which he took of the launch of the QUEEN OF PRINCE RUPERT: |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Nov 18, 2009 20:02:26 GMT -8
Here are some photos of the CuePeeArrrrrrr taken by a colleague of mine. She was on a pleasure-boat trip up inside passage, during July 2006. Enjoy these action shots. =================================    |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Nov 18, 2009 21:41:33 GMT -8
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Post by WettCoast on Dec 1, 2009 21:51:15 GMT -8
Here is a QPR photo from July 1984 taken at Skidegate, Haida Gwaii, by someone on Flickr who goes by the name 'subarcticmike'. This photo is another beauty. farm4.static.flickr.com/3474/3402872580_5b68806ee1_o.jpgMy brother (Mr. DOT) found this while surfing through various Flickr marine group sites. |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Dec 3, 2009 12:20:10 GMT -8
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Post by Starsteward on Jan 16, 2010 9:25:35 GMT -8
Hi kevins, what watch were you on in 1969 on the 'Rupert'?
I had the good fortune of working B watch, under Captain Gerald Ruddick and Chief Steward John Post.
Gerry Ruddick was one of the best Masters and finest gentleman that ever graced the QPR in her many years of service.
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Post by Starsteward on Jan 16, 2010 10:07:46 GMT -8
i719.photobucket.com/albums/ww192/StarSteward/img022.jpgCaptain Ruddick and then 4th Officer Willie McKechnie on the bridge heading up Johnstone Strait after leaving Kelsey Bay, northbound to Prince Rupert. ============ [moderator edit to change overwidth picture from IMG to a link]
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That is all...
