mrdot
Voyager
Mr. DOT
Posts: 1,252
|
Post by mrdot on May 15, 2011 17:15:30 GMT -8
:)as my QPR days go all the way back to 66, and the senior moments have set in, I think my trip to Fiji should only be in my imaginations! maybe I will get down to the Lions Gate, but my best memories are in my shots and sketches in her original trim, not the present gastly exterior look. :)mrdot.
|
|
|
Post by Starsteward on May 16, 2011 8:50:34 GMT -8
The black and white picture, (photo # 4 of a group) of the QPR 'going to the rescue' of the M.V. Taku, which Flugel Horne posted was taken by a Canadian Coast Guard photographer and his prints ended up in the hands of Wrathall's Photo Printing, Prince Rupert, B.C. This company is no longer in existance. I was given a copy of the same picture by a B-watch Busboy whose father was the photograher, proudly framed and hanging on my den wall as it was during one of B- watches 2 week stints that we ended up having quite the eventful day with the rescue!
|
|
|
Post by Starsteward on May 16, 2011 9:01:03 GMT -8
Half of me agrees with mrdot about leaving well enough alone with the QPR what with her present ghastly exterior appearance, however I submit that the other half of me will willingly be seduced by the 'Rupert' - pale blue and white blood that still runs strongly through the viens of my body.
|
|
FNS
Voyager
The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
Posts: 4,952
|
Post by FNS on May 16, 2011 9:16:41 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. My pleasure! Meanwhile, is the crew planning on making a port stop in Hawaii for refueling and fresh pineapples for the LP's galley on her way to Fiji?
|
|
|
Post by Starsteward on May 16, 2011 9:31:23 GMT -8
Given that the QPR has never ventured into 'deep-sea' territory at any time in her career, I just hope that her trans-Pacific crossing is relatively uneventful and if all goes well, hey, why not stop in for a fresh supply of pineapple and other goodies ;D There were quite a few times crossing Queen Charlotte Sound and Millbank Sound during stormy weather that we had to tie everything down on the ship as the old girl could heave and toss like a bronco bull at a rodeo, so weathering those storms bodes well for taking on some reasonably rough seas on the crossing to Fiji.
|
|
|
Post by Name Omitted on May 16, 2011 13:47:25 GMT -8
Given that the QPR has never ventured into 'deep-sea' territory at any time in her career, I just hope that her trans-Pacific crossing is relatively uneventful and if all goes well How do you prepair a ship for such crossings? Our Aurora and Le Conte were built in Wisconsin, and traveled a lot of unprotected coast to get here, if memory serves, we sent Taku to the Gulf of Mexico for some major upgrade, are there any short term modifications (such as specifically placed ballast) that are made to inside vessels when they venture outside waters?
|
|
grk
Chief Steward
Posts: 227
|
Post by grk on May 16, 2011 15:17:24 GMT -8
|
|
|
Post by Low Light Mike on May 16, 2011 15:34:02 GMT -8
Sorry for posting the "news" last February 28, which was deemed to be "rumour" and posted contrary to the rules of this site. It would seem that silence on such tidbits, 2 1/2 months earlier than the latest "rumours" is preferential to letting you know what is going on behind the scene!! Still no offical announcement. Hey, it's all in how you present it and word it. - semantics, but it does make a difference. Thanks for that early-word though, much appreciated.
|
|
|
Post by markkarj on May 17, 2011 13:05:26 GMT -8
How do you prepair a ship for such crossings? Our Aurora and Le Conte were built in Wisconsin, and traveled a lot of unprotected coast to get here, if memory serves, we sent Taku to the Gulf of Mexico for some major upgrade, are there any short term modifications (such as specifically placed ballast) that are made to inside vessels when they venture outside waters? Also, what happens when the ship gets down to Fiji? Does BC Ferries sell the ship with any spare parts it has on hand? With engines that old, how easy/difficult is it to get replacement parts when something goes wrong?
|
|
|
Post by Scott (Former Account) on May 17, 2011 14:12:59 GMT -8
Also, what happens when the ship gets down to Fiji? Does BC Ferries sell the ship with any spare parts it has on hand? With engines that old, how easy/difficult is it to get replacement parts when something goes wrong? Spare parts that BC Ferries possessed for the QPR would likely have been included in the sale. Parts for her Mirrlees M/E's are still available through MAN B&W.
|
|
|
Post by lmtengs on May 17, 2011 14:31:42 GMT -8
Also, what happens when the ship gets down to Fiji? Does BC Ferries sell the ship with any spare parts it has on hand? With engines that old, how easy/difficult is it to get replacement parts when something goes wrong? Spare parts that BC Ferries possessed for the QPR would likely have been included in the sale. Parts for her Mirrlees M/E's are still available through MAN B&W. When I was talking to her ex-Chief Engineer, he said they had to get all the parts custom-built and custom-ordered, and as much as they could, they use the facilities at Deas to make spare parts.
|
|
|
Post by Scott (Former Account) on May 17, 2011 15:37:25 GMT -8
When I was talking to her ex-Chief Engineer, he said they had to get all the parts custom-built and custom-ordered, and as much as they could, they use the facilities at Deas to make spare parts. That would be the case as the engines have been long discontinued. There are other companies that will custom fabricate parts to OEM specification rather than ordering them through the OEM. What I am getting at is that the engines are still supported by the manufacturer, which is MAN B&W.
|
|
|
Post by Starsteward on May 29, 2011 14:43:10 GMT -8
Does anyone have information on when the QPR might be going over to Vancouver Shipyards for the hull inspection prior to leaving for Fiji?
|
|
|
Post by lmtengs on May 29, 2011 15:53:43 GMT -8
Does anyone have information on when the QPR might be going over to Vancouver Shipyards for the hull inspection prior to leaving for Fiji? Well, they wanted to take her to Fiji or or around tomorrow as of my visit on the 13th of May, but since then I've heard nothing. EDIT: Her AIS is turned on, and she's showing up at Deas Dock as the Lomaiviti Princess. They should be moving her within the next few days, I guess.
|
|
FNS
Voyager
The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
Posts: 4,952
|
Post by FNS on May 29, 2011 16:44:29 GMT -8
Does anyone have information on when the QPR might be going over to Vancouver Shipyards for the hull inspection prior to leaving for Fiji? Well, they wanted to take her to Fiji or or around tomorrow as of my visit on the 13th of May, but since then I've heard nothing. EDIT: Her AIS is turned on, and she's showing up at Deas Dock as the Lomaiviti Princess. They should be moving her within the next few days, I guess. Siitech has been showing her plot ever since her transponders showed her new name. I've been watching the LP's plot several times a day as of lately. Now, I have the tug ALAN G to watch for (with the former QUEEN OF ESQUIMALT in a possible move situation) as well as our beautiful new SALISH as she begins crew training. And, besides all of this, the final landing of OV ENDEAVOUR. Her final undocking from the ISS is forthcoming tonight. Knowing the prudence of the LP's crew, she will not leave until she and all parties are ready. Patience, folks!
|
|
|
Post by Low Light Mike on May 29, 2011 17:26:50 GMT -8
Knowing the prudence of the LP's crew, she will not leave until she and all parties are ready. Patience, folks! It's a tradition of this forum that if anyone asks "when" a ship is leaving, even if asked with relaxed patience, the presumption is always that the person is rushing things, and the Guns'n Roses song "Patience" is always prescribed as the remedy for what's not really ailing us. But since we know the LP crew even though we have not met them (we have those special powers as forum members), we have all the more reason to believe Axl Rose when he crooned that "All we need is just a little patience". If Truman Burbank (as played by Jim Carey) could patiently dream of Fiji, then so can I. And without pop culture to calm my inner storms, I'm sure that I'd be swept away in panic, only to be cooled by a cold November rain.
|
|
|
Post by Jacob on May 30, 2011 18:08:02 GMT -8
I stopped at Deas yesterday to peer through the fence, And I noticed there was no name or Port of registry on the QPR/ Lomaviti Princess. But it did look like the lifeboats were shining and clean, so I guess that's a good sign that they are getting ready... Also, just swung by Port Alberni a few hours ago and saw action on and around the Princess Jaqualine (ex Q of Esquimalt). There was a tug at the bow and men seeming to attach heavy steel towlines around the little cowl thing they put on her to protect the welded up bow doors. Interesting... That much I saw with my eyes, but I will not post more than that as the other things I heard from locals were rumors.
|
|
|
Post by Scott (Former Account) on Jun 10, 2011 21:03:53 GMT -8
|
|
mrdot
Voyager
Mr. DOT
Posts: 1,252
|
Post by mrdot on Jun 11, 2011 10:22:19 GMT -8
:)while it will be sad to see the QPR leave for Fiji, I am ever so glad that the vessel that was my home briefly in 1966, when brand new, will now be beginning a new chapter, forty years on, unlike the Esquimalt, which I also had a brief working encounter with, when she became BC ferries first stretched vessel, all those years ago! mrdot.
|
|
|
Post by markkarj on Jun 12, 2011 4:29:16 GMT -8
What route would the ship take to get to Fiji? Would it be to go south to LA, cross to Hawaii, and then go to its new home?
|
|
|
Post by lmtengs on Jun 12, 2011 6:33:34 GMT -8
What route would the ship take to get to Fiji? Would it be to go south to LA, cross to Hawaii, and then go to its new home? They said they're going direct, so I guess you should take out a chart, find Vancouver, find Fiji, and draw a line between them. There's your route.
|
|
piglet
Chief Steward
Posts: 138
|
Post by piglet on Jun 12, 2011 9:09:35 GMT -8
Not knowing this little point but I would expect she stops at Hawaii for fuel. I don't know the fuel range on our dear QPR, as my only pilfered manual is from the QKB from the april trip.
|
|
|
Post by Northern Exploration on Jun 12, 2011 14:39:53 GMT -8
A tank can be purchased and kept secured on the car deck for extra fuel if need be. Same with good old oil barrels. So a refueling stop may or may not happen. Hawaii would necessitate customs, Coast Guard and other clearances that the owners might wish to avoid.
Most aircraft are hopscotched to airports but many also make use of temporary fuel bladders in the cabin. A la Cessna etc.
|
|
|
Post by Scott on Jun 12, 2011 15:03:04 GMT -8
What route would the ship take to get to Fiji? Would it be to go south to LA, cross to Hawaii, and then go to its new home? They said they're going direct, so I guess you should take out a chart, find Vancouver, find Fiji, and draw a line between them. There's your route. That being said, Hawaii is pretty much in the middle of that straight line to Fiji.
|
|
|
Post by Starsteward on Jul 9, 2011 14:14:56 GMT -8
As of today's date, Sii Tech is still showing the ex-QPR, now Lomaitiviti Princess, securely moored at Deas. Does anyone know if the Goundar Shipping company is any closer to getting the necessary visas etc. for their crew together for the trip over to Fiji? Let it be known, vaild passport, seaman's medical and ruck bag ready to go, should they need ex-QPR crew to make the Fiji trip
|
|