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Post by Starsteward on Apr 5, 2017 13:09:30 GMT -8
Let the rampant used boat speculation and internet searching begin... We're looking for things like this. More. I realize that's not likely to be the vessel, but it's an internet treasure hunt (plus that one's close). Edit: For the professionally curious, after more internetting, I believe that particular vessel is the Greek ferry Aqua Spirit, not currently listed for sale, but also not currently included in the fleet profile for her current owner, Sea Jets Ferry (formerly operated by NEL Lines). Marine Traffic Link Good investigative searching there, Kahn C you may well be onto something. It wouldn't be the first time we've bought a ship from a Greek company. If it is indeed the 'used candidate', it's not a bad looking vessel either. Nice bow and profile. Congrats. for sourcing the winning vessel for the mid-coast run. Just a thought, maybe you should send your photo-shopped picture of the "Northern Election" to BC Ferries and the Premier? Second thought maybe send a photo to John Horgan and he could dangle the photo at rallies once the election is officially underway? Good sleuthing there Kahn _C!
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Post by Dane on Apr 5, 2017 13:18:12 GMT -8
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Post by Low Light Mike on Apr 5, 2017 14:09:41 GMT -8
...and here's the ship HERE
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Kam
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Post by Kam on Apr 5, 2017 15:08:08 GMT -8
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Post by tigbc2001 on Apr 5, 2017 16:08:02 GMT -8
What a Weird looking boat
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Post by WettCoast on Apr 5, 2017 16:56:32 GMT -8
I vote that BC Ferries restores one of this vessel's earlier names, Mr Shoppy One (see the Shipspotters links below. www.shipspotting.com/photos/big/5/7/6/970675.jpgwww.shipspotting.com/photos/big/4/9/7/2015794.jpgwww.shipspotting.com/photos/big/2/1/0/2016012.jpgwww.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=2479853This vessel has some similarities with the NorAd: These are: Greek built, stern only loading, a chequered history of ownership/ leases. Whereas the NorAd has a less than optimal viewing lounge, this vessel appears to have no view lounge at all. As others have stated, its capacity is too small, and it apparently has no overnight accommodation. Looking at some of the photos it is clear that the car deck is only inches higher than the water line. It is probably just as well that there is no bow loading. I assume that a bunch of money will need to be spent to make mid coast berths compatible with this vessel. BC Ferries goal of vessel standardization will take a big step backwards with this purchase. Overall, though it will be a better 'fit' than the Nimpkish, to me this looks like a mistake.
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Post by Kahn_C on Apr 5, 2017 18:52:28 GMT -8
Good investigative searching there, Kahn C you may well be onto something. It wouldn't be the first time we've bought a ship from a Greek company. If it is indeed the 'used candidate', it's not a bad looking vessel either. Nice bow and profile. Congrats. for sourcing the winning vessel for the mid-coast run. Just a thought, maybe you should send your photo-shopped picture of the "Northern Election" to BC Ferries and the Premier? Second thought maybe send a photo to John Horgan and he could dangle the photo at rallies once the election is officially underway? Good sleuthing there Kahn _C! A lot of credit needs to go to BC Ferries for all the very specific details in the report to the Ferry Commission. That really helped narrow the field. I still like the looks of her, it'll be interesting to see if any of the refit work improves the view from her lounge.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 5, 2017 19:39:27 GMT -8
Here we go again! It's good that the Ferry Commisioner approves (Ha Ha!***! )... he will probably never have to ride it! Looking at some of the interior pictures, it looks like the inside of a movie theater, maybe they will live stream pictures of the trip on big screens and charge extra for being able to sit near one of the few windows. It might hold a few more cars, campers and motorhomes than the Nimpkish but unless they build a 'greenhouse' on the upper deck it will probably give new meaning to the "inside"passage." Desperate people do desperate things ... BC Ferries new motto?
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Post by Mike on Apr 5, 2017 20:11:27 GMT -8
Just need to put the transportation minister's face on the funnels!
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Neil
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Post by Neil on Apr 5, 2017 20:29:58 GMT -8
I know that the Queen of Chilliwack was a very expensive boat to run, but this vessel, with its small capacity (35 AEQ, 150 passengers) is going to cost a lot as well. Unless it has a bare bones galley and no other facilities, it will probably have the highest crew to passenger ratio outside of the NorAd and NorEx. I'm also a bit surprised they went with a vessel that will already be eighteen years old by the time she enters service.
No foresight shown with regard to future growth of the route, and only slightly more than twice the capacity of the Nimpkish. One might cut them some slack by acknowledging that this vessel will also be serving the central coast in winter, when traffic is very light. Looks like the service speed is higher than the 'Chilliwack's, and I imagine she'll be a fuel miser in comparison. On the other hand, the rebuilding of all the docks just to handle one 35 car ferry is going to cost a fortune.
Like WettCoast, I noticed the lack of windows. No forward viewing at all. I like the general profile of the vessel... looks something like a yacht on steroids. The continuing fiction about this being some kind of new service, with no acknowledgement that the government killed the same route four years ago, is nauseating. But that's Christy as usual.
I'm sure the central coast will feel the benefit even from this too small ferry, and from a fan standpoint, she'll be an intriguing addition to the fleet, adding variety to what looks like an increasingly standardized operating model.
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Post by WettCoast on Apr 5, 2017 20:43:04 GMT -8
I'm also a bit surprised they went with a vessel that will already be eighteen years old by the time she enters service. Just for comparison purposes, the Wack was 12 years old when it joined the fleet in 1991. I assume they will also add crew accommodation on this vessel. That will cost a fair bit too. BC Ferries has made one too many 'forced' or 'desperation' purchases, this one the direct result of government bungling. Wasn't the 'private BCFS model' supposed to end that, once & for all?
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Post by Kahn_C on Apr 5, 2017 20:57:43 GMT -8
Supposedly the Aqua Spirit already has crew accommodations. I imagine they'll get updated tho.
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Post by roeco on Apr 6, 2017 6:52:22 GMT -8
Aqua Spirit in her current configuration holds 60 cars/400 pass and has I believe I counted 33 cabins, which I assume would be all crew cabins. She also seems to have a good amount of exterior upper deck space, And theirs also a galley but doesnt look too big, and it appears she has some kinda duty free or liqour store on her which will be converted to something else, shes also appear to have a small lounge area. Overall not too bad of a looking vessel.
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Post by roeco on Apr 6, 2017 7:02:04 GMT -8
A name will be an interesting process for this one, Something with Discovery Coast in it would be ideal.
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Post by WettCoast on Apr 6, 2017 7:14:40 GMT -8
Aqua Spirit in her current configuration holds 60 cars/400 pass and has I believe I counted 33 cabins, which I assume would be all crew cabins. She also seems to have a good amount of exterior upper deck space, And theirs also a galley but doesnt look too big, and it appears she has some kinda duty free or liqour store on her which will be converted to something else, shes also appear to have a small lounge area. Overall not too bad of a looking vessel. Those photos you are looking at are pretty old I believe. They date from the time when this vessel was the Mr Shoppy One. As for auto capacity, the 60 cars would be Euro-sized autos with a good mix of Smart cars. The actual capacity of this vessel doing the Port Hardy to Bella Coola run might be two commercial trucks (smaller than 'semis'), five motor homes/ RV's, one tour bus and 20 regular cars/ trucks.
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Post by mybidness459 on Apr 6, 2017 10:51:24 GMT -8
Faktaomfartyg.com has a lot more pictures of her interior and decks see below www.faktaomfartyg.se/agios_andreas_II_2001.htm
Too see pictures of her interior please click on Onbord1 and Onbord2 right under the picts of her exterior.
Neat little Boat though
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Post by Kahn_C on Apr 6, 2017 21:26:38 GMT -8
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Neil
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Post by Neil on Apr 6, 2017 22:27:35 GMT -8
Have to admit that with all the photo links being posted, my fan side is dominating my transportation critic side. This is a really intriguing vessel... something entirely new to BC Ferries, being, apparently, a proper seagoing ship, yet no longer than the Quinitsa. Too small for the potential of the route and sorely lacking windows, but hopefully the latter can be remedied.
I never had much desire to ride the 'Chilliwack to Bella Coola, but I might have to plan a trip on the Coastal Great Bear Sky, or whatever inane name they give her, summer after next.
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Post by Kahn_C on Apr 6, 2017 23:05:05 GMT -8
In a lot of ways, she makes no sense. But I can't wait to take a trip on such a weird little boat. I liked the 'Wack, for all her faults; I'm really curious to see how the MV Northern Stone works out.
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Post by Dane on Apr 6, 2017 23:34:18 GMT -8
Hypothetically isn't this already named the Northern Discovery? I realize that's from an announcement likely over a decade old now, though!
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Post by Starsteward on Apr 7, 2017 7:09:07 GMT -8
In a lot of ways, she makes no sense. But I can't wait to take a trip on such a weird little boat. I liked the 'Wack, for all her faults; I'm really curious to see how the MV Northern Stone works out. During our forum members sleuthing the world-wide used ferry boat market, on which there is an absolute hull-kicking glut of vessels out there, the choice of "Mr. Shoppy", as the 'One' with which to resurrect the Mid-Coast route is mind numbing! Our learned members have correctly discovered that for a myriad of reasons this used vessel has some serious shortcomings IF BC Ferries is remotely interested in growing the business on this route. Our European friends love the vast beautiful expanse of B.C. in particular, and Canada in general and take millions of photos and videos of the splendors they witness, and we give them the window/view challenged excuse with the laughable but appropriate former vessel 'Mr. Shoppy'? Yup, "shop" the world for an appropriate vessel and we get "Mr. Shoppy" ! Punch my ticket to the padded room, this whole exercise makes me crazy! However, now that the ink is drying on the bill of sale, we can all get excited about doodling the possible names BC Ferries can paint on the hull. My choices aside, Kahn_C's choice is formidable but a teeny bit incomplete, to which I submit: if I was playing the 'Wheel of Fortune', I would be asking Pat Sajak: " could I please buy a "d"?
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Post by mybidness459 on Apr 7, 2017 14:57:47 GMT -8
Must see!
Now hear is a neat little video of our new to be BC Ferry trying to make a landing in rough weather. When you watch this keep your eye on the people on the dock. Yes, try doing this here in BC and you will get a serious rebuke from the authorities. Now Ferry service here in BC is cancelled this pm due to what? WHATCH the guy who tries to reach for the bag tossed from the ramp. The ship is not even secured to the dock and the passenger gets on. After watching this I am greatful for our highly trained professional crews and for TC safety standards.
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Post by WettCoast on Apr 7, 2017 18:35:47 GMT -8
Most of the interior photos that we have seen date from when this vessel was the Mr Shoppy One, & customers would come aboard to buy booze & 'duty free' type stuff. I believe that is all long gone. More recent photos show the 'view-challenged' main lounge to be fitted with a raft of airline style seating; something which will go (I hope) when she comes here. The size of that lounge, and the car deck below is comparable, I think, to Alaska's 'fast ferries'. If the lounge is modified to look & feel more like the lounge on those AMHS boats that will be good. But they also need to do something about the lack of windows. In that BCFS has never seen fit to do anything about the NorAd's lack of forward viewing window I am not holding out a lot of hope for that happening with this vessel. View toward the starboard side in passenger cabin aft of snack bar aboard AMHS's FVF Fairweather - 27 July 2014 © WCK-JST by Jim Thorne, on Flickr
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Neil
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Posts: 7,272
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Post by Neil on Apr 7, 2017 21:22:45 GMT -8
BC Ferries' website has an introductory page for the new vessel... www.bcferries.com/about/projects/port-hardy-bella-coola.htmlNo mention of a news stand/gift shop, but they do say 'hot food'. The 35 AEQ capacity is based on their new definition, which is skewed, so the figure will be around 40, in reality. I don't understand when they say five direct trips per week, all during daylight hours. At ten hours each way, that cannot be five round trips, if it's all during the day. And does 'direct' mean no Ocean Falls, Shearwater, or Bella Bella? The map also shows a 'connector service'... by what vessel? And one other niggling point... on a stated ten hour crossing, is a washroom really something to be listed under 'amenities'?
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Post by Starsteward on Apr 8, 2017 6:18:41 GMT -8
BC Ferries' website has an introductory page for the new vessel... www.bcferries.com/about/projects/port-hardy-bella-coola.htmlNo mention of a news stand/gift shop, but they do say 'hot food'. The 35 AEQ capacity is based on their new definition, which is skewed, so the figure will be around 40, in reality. I don't understand when they say five direct trips per week, all during daylight hours. At ten hours each way, that cannot be five round trips, if it's all during the day. And does 'direct' mean no Ocean Falls, Shearwater, or Bella Bella? The map also shows a 'connector service'... by what vessel? And one other niggling point... on a stated ten hour crossing, is a washroom really something to be listed under 'amenities'? On the BCFS Fleet page, they list washrooms or accessible washrooms as amenities for most of their vessels. They could refine that a bit by stating whether or not washrooms are accessible for handicapped passengers confined to wheelchairs etc. One would 'assume' most ferry boats come equipped with some provision for the disposal of the intake of potable water. If one takes a real hard look at the introductory page for the new vessel, I would like to know what amenities are accented to entice NEW travellers to this boat? BCFS talks about what one can do once one arrives at a destination, but directing passengers to view sea creatures and the rugged coastal features from the vessel is a hollow, and false bit of advertising. So much for the passenger 'experience' whilst aboard the 'Northern Disappointment'. To state that Hot Food Service is available isn't very creatively enticing is it? What an opportunity BCFS has to roll out a menu that features local ingredients in creative menu offerings that could really sell the bounties of our wonderful coastal region, but?... BCFS offers up half-baked drivel for local folks who have come to expect nothing new or innovative from BC Ferries. I'm not sure if it is BCFS's intent to sell the 'sizzle or the 'steak', but my initial conclusion is that they have failed miserably on both counts.
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