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Post by Retrovision on May 9, 2011 12:09:19 GMT -8
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FNS
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The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
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Post by FNS on May 9, 2011 14:30:59 GMT -8
This is confirmed on both ship tracking sites as I can see. It's going to be quite interesting to learn how her new endeavor fares. I'm scratching my head again. This is the second time this "Queen" is being demoted to a "Princess". You all know about the first demotion that took place in 1980. I ask again: How can a "Queen" be demoted to a "Princess"? ;D
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Post by lmtengs on May 9, 2011 14:38:58 GMT -8
This is confirmed on both ship tracking sites as I can see. It's going to be quite interesting to learn how her new endeavor fares. I'm scratching my head again. This is the second time this "Queen" is being demoted to a "Princess". You all know about the first demotion that took place in 1980. I ask again: How can a "Queen" be demoted to a "Princess"? ;D Third. Remember the Princess Jacqueline?
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FNS
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The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
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Post by FNS on May 9, 2011 14:59:11 GMT -8
This is confirmed on both ship tracking sites as I can see. It's going to be quite interesting to learn how her new endeavor fares. I'm scratching my head again. This is the second time this "Queen" is being demoted to a "Princess". You all know about the first demotion that took place in 1980. I ask again: How can a "Queen" be demoted to a "Princess"? ;D Third. Remember the Princess Jacqueline? That one is a different ship. The former QUEEN OF ESQUIMALT. Her first demotion. ;D QPR has two now.
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Post by lmtengs on May 9, 2011 16:07:02 GMT -8
Third. Remember the Princess Jacqueline? That one is a different ship. The former QUEEN OF ESQUIMALT. Her first demotion. ;D QPR has two now. Oh, didn't get you the first time. To add to the direction I was going in, which other Queen vessels from our fleet have been demoted over the years? There's of course our Princess Jacqueline, and Victoria Princess, Princess Marguerite III, ...any others? Dogwood Princess I and II don't count, because they never were Queens.
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mrdot
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Post by mrdot on May 9, 2011 21:53:01 GMT -8
:)I will always remember my trip to Victoria's inner harbour to view my first ship, QPR, now sailing as Victoria Princess, thanks to a very low intelegence move by the then Bill Bennett gov't which thought my old Rupert more safe and suitable than the Margurete for the Seattle run! My brother has a good shot I took on that occasion, and I even wrote the times,colonist on the stupidity of this move, at the time. all brands of gov't have meddled in ferry policy over the years, with dubvious results! :'(mrdot.
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FNS
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The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
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Post by FNS on May 13, 2011 9:34:38 GMT -8
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Post by Scott (Former Account) on May 13, 2011 9:43:47 GMT -8
That's an absolutely awesome find, John!
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Neil
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Post by Neil on May 13, 2011 10:33:41 GMT -8
I was thinking this might be the first instance of an ex-BC Ferries vessel going to work as a passenger ferry elsewhere, but we don't know if the Queen of Victoria in the Caribbean, or the Princess of Vancouver in China, carried passengers there. And I recall someone posting pictures of either the Saltspring Queen or Vesuvius Queen somewhere in Central America or the Caribbean as well. So the 'Rupert could be the first, or maybe the fourth, unless someone can recall others.
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Mirrlees
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Post by Mirrlees on May 13, 2011 10:46:21 GMT -8
Neil, You're right the Vesuvius Queen did operate as a passenger/car ferry in the Dominican Republic. As far as I know the Princess of Vancouver still runs as a car ferry in China. Salty, is still in B.C. now known as Golden Queen somewhere on the Fraser although she isn't running any longer, her car deck is being used for a business of some-sort.
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Post by Retrovision on May 13, 2011 12:38:51 GMT -8
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Neil
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Post by Neil on May 13, 2011 15:23:14 GMT -8
As much as I wish our old 'Rupert a successful, safe career in Fiji, this really illustrates the difference between shipping standards here and in the developing world.
There's nowhere in North America or Europe where the 'Rupert could have been bought as an operating passenger ferry. Pretending for a moment that Transport Canada would ever countenance such a thing, could you imagine the hue and cry if BC Ferries ever tried to go cheap by importing a rusty, bargain basement 46 year old ferry to transport customers across open ocean waters?
I doubt that the Queen of Prince Rupert would come close to the mark on a whole raft of modern day SOLAS standards. Hopefully there are no concerns with hull integrity or other safety issues that the Fijian buyers aren't aware of, but we've read of too many ferry mishaps in the third world to be overly confident about the due diligence of operators in those parts.
That being said, I hope the Lomaiviti Princess has a safe journey to her new home and a safe, uneventful twilight to her seagoing career.
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Post by lmtengs on May 13, 2011 16:38:10 GMT -8
This device is actually being removed. It is now located in the QPR's vehicle deck for maintenance.
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Post by lmtengs on May 13, 2011 17:32:42 GMT -8
Okay, so some information for you all: The Lomaiviti Princess will be leaving Canada on or around June 1st. She will be brought to North Vancouver prior to her departure for a hull inspection. She is leaving with a crew of 44.
All lifejackets and lifeboats/liferafts from her previous life are being brought to Fiji with her.
She is, as we all know, leaving under her own power.
She will be serving in Fiji as a vehicle-passenger ferry just as she has been here.
If there are any other questions regarding her leaving, please ask, and depending on confidentiality I will gladly answer.
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Post by SS Shasta on May 13, 2011 17:33:03 GMT -8
I was thinking this might be the first instance of an ex-BC Ferries vessel going to work as a passenger ferry elsewhere, but we don't know if the Queen of Victoria in the Caribbean, or the Princess of Vancouver in China, carried passengers there. And I recall someone posting pictures of either the Saltspring Queen or Vesuvius Queen somewhere in Central America or the Caribbean as well. So the ' Rupert could be the first, or maybe the fourth, unless someone can recall others. Perhaps you should consider MV Crosline in this group? She was purchased in 1942 from US interests for BC service. After becoming surplus, she was repurchased by US interests in 1947. She was rebuilt as a double ender car/passenger ferry and became a part of the original WSF fleet. Folks here in SE Alaska will also be sad to see MV Queen of Prince Rupert leave too. She was a wonderful way to travel to the lower 48. Glad that she still has some years of good work ahead.
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mrdot
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Post by mrdot on May 13, 2011 19:51:21 GMT -8
:)perhaps Bill Bennett, or mini wac, as some called him back then, knew something when he pulled Princess Margurete, and substituded the much safer QPR/Victoria Princess, but all joking aside, the QPR when refitted, would be a much safer bet in a Pacific howler, than the Greek piece of garbage crossing Hecate strait at present! ???mrdot.
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FNS
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The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
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Post by FNS on May 13, 2011 21:04:34 GMT -8
:)perhaps Bill Bennett, or mini wac, as some called him back then, knew something when he pulled Princess Margurete, and substituded the much safer QPR/Victoria Princess, but all joking aside, the QPR when refitted, would be a much safer bet in a Pacific howler, than the Greek piece of garbage crossing Hecate strait at present! ???mrdot. Or, you can call that one a "Greek rowboat". With all those portholes, you could stick out lots of oars and you've got yourself a modern version of a Viking ship! Just turn off the engines and let the passengers row to their destination. ;D
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FNS
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The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
Posts: 4,952
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Post by FNS on May 13, 2011 22:31:04 GMT -8
Okay, so some information for you all: The Lomaiviti Princess will be leaving Canada on or around June 1st. She will be brought to North Vancouver prior to her departure for a hull inspection. She is leaving with a crew of 44. All lifejackets and lifeboats/liferafts from her previous life are being brought to Fiji with her. She is, as we all know, leaving under her own power. She will be serving in Fiji as a vehicle-passenger ferry just as she has been here. If there are any other questions regarding her leaving, please ask, and depending on confidentiality I will gladly answer. Thanks for the good information. I have an interesting question. Are former members of her crew going along with with the Fiji crew (to the new destination) to train them on the operations of this ship?
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Post by lmtengs on May 14, 2011 10:30:58 GMT -8
Okay, so some information for you all: The Lomaiviti Princess will be leaving Canada on or around June 1st. She will be brought to North Vancouver prior to her departure for a hull inspection. She is leaving with a crew of 44. All lifejackets and lifeboats/liferafts from her previous life are being brought to Fiji with her. She is, as we all know, leaving under her own power. She will be serving in Fiji as a vehicle-passenger ferry just as she has been here. If there are any other questions regarding her leaving, please ask, and depending on confidentiality I will gladly answer. Thanks for the good information. I have an interesting question. Are former members of her crew going along with with the Fiji crew (to the new destination) to train them on the operations of this ship? It is believed that there will be at least seven Canadian crew members aboard, but if they'd worked aboard the QPR in past years was not specified.
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Post by Starsteward on May 14, 2011 11:53:26 GMT -8
If they need another hand, I'd gladly take the trip. Sail on her one last time, awesone!
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Post by lmtengs on May 14, 2011 12:14:10 GMT -8
If they need another hand, I'd gladly take the trip. Sail on her one last time, awesone! I was thinking that too, I should sign-on as a deck-hand. As a bonus, I won't demand wages for the trip! ;D Anyways, here are some pics of the Lomaiviti Princess from yesterday. It turns out that she's going to be bringing two Sat-com devices down to Fiji with her, as there's one on her car deck, and there's the one that Retro saw being mounted yesterday on her mast. Let's put it nicely. She's not rusty, she's 'blushing'. A dead-centre pic. She's hiding; she doesn't want us to see her bad make-up job ;D Having tea with the Queen of Chilliwack. This will be the last time these two ships are together. Farewell to the Lomaiviti Princess, ex Queen of Prince Rupert. You served us for 43 great years, and we hope you serve in Fiji for another 43, or more!
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mrdot
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Post by mrdot on May 14, 2011 14:59:46 GMT -8
:)gosh, golly, do these interior shots and mamoth photolouge take me down memory lane, even to 1966! but once again the exterior shots in her deplorable rust, maginifing her horrible last livery, with the high boot toping line, allowing for the horrible slugs, which have been mercifily removed! but what a memory lane trip thru, from the long ago! :)mrdot.
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Post by Starsteward on May 14, 2011 23:04:08 GMT -8
Thanks to The Canuckian Viking for getting those shots of the ex-QPR now the Lomaiviti Princess and posting them here for us. Thanks for the departure information etc etc. You don't know how much an old hand appreciates someome taking the time to get information, pictures and post to the site here. A big piece of my heart will sail as the Lomaiviti Princess, Westward to Fiji to begin her new life. I truly hope the Goundar Shipping Company follows through and gets the ex-QPR to Fiji and that she doesn't meet the same fate as the Queen of Esquimalt. It has been hard knowing that the 'Rupert' has been sitting idle at Deas Marine Pacific, and not knowing what would become of her. If I had won a big Lotto Max, I would have bought the old girl and then worried about what the heck I was going to do with her and where I would moor her. The only problem with signing on as a free crew-mate for the trip to Fiji, Canuckian Viking, is we'd have to wrangle a trip home somehow. Second thought, one can still work freighters iff you've got your 'papers' and a valid passport. I can see the opportunity of getting video or pictures of the Lomaiviti Princess when she comes round to Burrard Inlet to Vancouver Shipyards for that hull inspection. AND, I certainly want to be "on deck" when the 'love of my life' sails under the Lions Gate Bridge for the last time, and that's when we end the day emptying a box of "Kleenex".
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Post by Starsteward on May 15, 2011 12:02:53 GMT -8
My thanks also to FerryNutSeattle for digging up the Fiji Sun newspaper article about the ex-QPR. Great work and gave me some information that I can use to do a follow up as well as some more research.
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Post by Low Light Mike on May 15, 2011 14:43:51 GMT -8
from the book "Alaska's Ocean Highways". - I couldn't find a photo credit in the book.
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