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Post by Mike C on Feb 7, 2024 10:45:09 GMT -8
It’s good to see them develop a policy. The fees are surprisingly high though, and in alignment with some air carriers. I believe that if you are to charge for things like this, there should be some way around it through loyalty (like most airlines, again with similar fees), or a higher tier ticket or something else.
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QoNW Fan
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Queen of New Westminster fan!
Posts: 263
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Post by QoNW Fan on Feb 7, 2024 12:56:05 GMT -8
I am going to be taking my first Hullo ferry sailings next week! Any recommendations on good seats for Comfort class?
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Feb 7, 2024 13:33:12 GMT -8
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QoNW Fan
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Queen of New Westminster fan!
Posts: 263
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Post by QoNW Fan on Feb 17, 2024 13:09:17 GMT -8
I did my first roundtrip on Hullo Ferries the other day. I went to see the Vancouver Canucks vs. Detroit Red Wings game and used their special late night sailing to make it back to the island that night/next morning.
Main issue: Our sailings had to stop on three separate occasions due to "debris stuck in the engine". The ship not only had to stop, but had to then had to start reversing to flush out the debris. Sometimes it took a few minutes of reversing to finally dislodge the debris. The ship started vibrating and got really loud when they tried moving forward before the debris was dislodged. We thought we were gonna miss the game as this happens twice on our first sailing.
The first sailing was VERY rocky. I now know that I do not get seasick, as that sailing REALLY put me to the test. I now understand why they have cancelled sailings so easily.
On our way home the water was very calm, but that didn't stop the ship from getting debris stuck in the engine and having to reverse to dislodge it. I was giving them the benefit of the doubt since the first sailing was super rocky, but it still happened with calm water, so I wonder how often this issue happens.
Staff were all very friendly! And the terminals were nice. Parking was a disaster, it was unclear how you were supposed to pay, we realized when we got back that you pay afterwards. The parking lot took like 15-20 minutes to get out of. Cars were having a lot of trouble exiting out the parking lot due to the security gate "arms" that need to approve your car before raising to let you free. I think the staff may have had to come and manually let everyone out..
Overall it was an interesting experience. It allowed me to watch a regular 7:00pm Canucks home game and get home for work the next day, and it was nice avoiding so much travelling as it took as right to downtown Vancouver. I hope they can get some issues fixed as they have a lot of potential.
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grk2
Deckhand
Posts: 93
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Post by grk2 on Feb 17, 2024 16:45:52 GMT -8
Re: water jet getting plugged. There are 6 vessels in the fleet I am familiar with equipped with water jets. Kelp and plastic bags are the most common items getting lodged in the inlet screens. Back flushing is the quickest remedy.
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QoNW Fan
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Queen of New Westminster fan!
Posts: 263
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Post by QoNW Fan on Feb 17, 2024 18:20:46 GMT -8
Re: water jet getting plugged. There are 6 vessels in the fleet I am familiar with equipped with water jets. Kelp and plastic bags are the most common items getting lodged in the inlet screens. Back flushing is the quickest remedy. It sounded a lot like logs getting stuck inside. Each time, there was a loud bang, followed by the ship slowing down and then reversing.
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,196
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Post by Neil on Feb 17, 2024 21:29:34 GMT -8
Unless I'm missing something, every time Hullo does a late sailing from Vancouver after a concert or sporting match, there's no earlier departure on the schedule from Nanaimo. So, they're deadheading across the strait, with zero revenue. I guess time will tell if that's a viable venture.
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QoNW Fan
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Queen of New Westminster fan!
Posts: 263
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Post by QoNW Fan on Feb 18, 2024 0:05:19 GMT -8
Unless I'm missing something, every time Hullo does a late sailing from Vancouver after a concert or sporting match, there's no earlier departure on the schedule from Nanaimo. So, they're deadheading across the strait, with zero revenue. I guess time will tell if that's a viable venture. Yeah there weren't a lot of people on that late sailing, maybe half full at best, but maybe not even that much.
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Post by Dane on Feb 18, 2024 15:45:21 GMT -8
I think they're just not running the 930pm where there is an 1130pm Vancouver departure?
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Feb 18, 2024 16:13:02 GMT -8
I think they're just not running the 930pm where there is an 1130pm Vancouver departure? I think that is case.
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,196
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Post by Neil on Feb 18, 2024 16:16:12 GMT -8
I think they're just not running the 930pm where there is an 1130pm Vancouver departure? Now that you mention it, I see an asterisk beside the 9:30 pm sailing... that's not explained on the schedule page, but I guess when you go to book, you'll see that the departure is changed for the particular event date.
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grk2
Deckhand
Posts: 93
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Post by grk2 on Feb 19, 2024 11:14:45 GMT -8
QoNW fan: The water inlet area is only about 2 ft square for each of the hulls. Each screen with fine steel mesh. There are no gaps through which even a stick would fit, let alone a log. A log though could bounce along either of the hulls making a lot of noise. You have probably witnessed a common occurrence on our coast. When the tide pushes one piece of water against another you often see a “tide line” where the 2 meet. Seaweed, garbage and pieces of wood delineate that line. In daylight hours Captains try to pick a clear area to cross over, but at night……. A common area to get clogged inlet screens.
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QoNW Fan
Voyager
Queen of New Westminster fan!
Posts: 263
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Post by QoNW Fan on Feb 19, 2024 21:25:02 GMT -8
QoNW fan: The water inlet area is only about 2 ft square for each of the hulls. Each screen with fine steel mesh. There are no gaps through which even a stick would fit, let alone a log. A log though could bounce along either of the hulls making a lot of noise. You have probably witnessed a common occurrence on our coast. When the tide pushes one piece of water against another you often see a “tide line” where the 2 meet. Seaweed, garbage and pieces of wood delineate that line. In daylight hours Captains try to pick a clear area to cross over, but at night……. A common area to get clogged inlet screens. Interesting! When the ship had debris stuck inside, sometimes it would take them a few tries before they could continue moving along. During a failed attempt, the ship would start rumbling and become quite loud, as if something was blocking the propellers. We thought maybe we would have to turn back or something, it was a little nerving. But yeah all I know is there was a loud bang before each stoppage.
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Feb 19, 2024 21:53:37 GMT -8
QoNW fan: The water inlet area is only about 2 ft square for each of the hulls. Each screen with fine steel mesh. There are no gaps through which even a stick would fit, let alone a log. A log though could bounce along either of the hulls making a lot of noise. You have probably witnessed a common occurrence on our coast. When the tide pushes one piece of water against another you often see a “tide line” where the 2 meet. Seaweed, garbage and pieces of wood delineate that line. In daylight hours Captains try to pick a clear area to cross over, but at night……. A common area to get clogged inlet screens. Interesting! When the ship had debris stuck inside, sometimes it would take them a few tries before they could continue moving along. During a failed attempt, the ship would start rumbling and become quite loud, as if something was blocking the propellers. We thought maybe we would have to turn back or something, it was a little nerving. But yeah all I know is there was a loud bang before each stoppage. This also happened to me on October 12, 2023 but it didn’t affect the sailing time that much in my opinion, which is kinda shocked me.
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Post by Ollie on Feb 19, 2024 21:58:18 GMT -8
This clogging issue with Hullo seems very frequent. BC Ferries has problems with logs but it doesn't seem to happen very much compared to Hullo's plastic bags.
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Feb 19, 2024 22:41:54 GMT -8
This clogging issue with Hullo seems very frequent. BC Ferries has problems with logs but it doesn't seem to happen very much compared to Hullo's plastic bags. Hopefully that the plastic bag issue can be resolved in good way.
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Post by paulvanb on Feb 21, 2024 10:55:08 GMT -8
Re: water jet getting plugged. There are 6 vessels in the fleet I am familiar with equipped with water jets. Kelp and plastic bags are the most common items getting lodged in the inlet screens. Back flushing is the quickest remedy. It sounded a lot like logs getting stuck inside. Each time, there was a loud bang, followed by the ship slowing down and then reversing. Unless they have some sort of illumination system, it is tough to see what is directly ahead of you in the dark. Kind of like parking by touch.
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grk2
Deckhand
Posts: 93
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Post by grk2 on Feb 21, 2024 11:07:18 GMT -8
I just spotted a Hullo vessel in dry dock at Point Hope. Not sure which one, nor when it arrived. (I was crossing the country on VIA Rail and sampling Porter Airlines-both amazing)
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Post by Ollie on Mar 6, 2024 14:31:11 GMT -8
Spuhel arriving and departing Vancouver, March 5 2024.
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,196
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Post by Neil on Mar 6, 2024 22:20:32 GMT -8
Spuhel arriving and departing Vancouver, March 5 2024.
I have to say that the second shot isn't quite on the scale of those photos of the grand old CPR Princesses and Empresses passing under the Lions Gate Bridge, but, Ollie... there's nothing your excellent composition could do to change that.
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grk2
Deckhand
Posts: 93
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Post by grk2 on Mar 7, 2024 9:34:15 GMT -8
The vessel at Point Hope shipyards was lowered back into the water this morning. Now alongside.
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Post by princessofvanfan on Mar 8, 2024 2:48:43 GMT -8
Spuhel arriving and departing Vancouver, March 5 2024.
I have to say that the second shot isn't quite on the scale of those photos of the grand old CPR Princesses and Empresses passing under the Lions Gate Bridge, but, Ollie... there's nothing your excellent composition could do to change that. Attachments:
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grk2
Deckhand
Posts: 93
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Post by grk2 on Mar 13, 2024 14:57:27 GMT -8
Another outlet has said Xander France Director of Marketing at HULLO says that 6 vessels would allow them to add Victoria to their operation.
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Post by 1foot2ships on Apr 6, 2024 2:27:29 GMT -8
My wife, Elizabeth, took the 11 AM Hullo sailing (Spuhéls) from Nanaimo to Vancouver today. She said it was around 95% full. Not bad for a mid day, mid week sailing I think... hey wettcoast.... i dunno why, but this observation caught my eye back in december. before i begin, i must apologise b/c this is going to be personal. all im out for is the truth and i would like to present something ive discovered. please please dont interpret my words as an accusation of being untruthful, misleading, or anything either positive or negative. im just trying to present a scenario where it gives somebody the chance to just say hmmmmm... i finally was able to show my contact the observations your wife made back in december. this contact is the same person who informed me the teething problems last sumer was a log strike. upon reading it, he simply laughed and shook his head. he told me that they had never even come close to this mark. he said that a good day would be something like 40% per sailing. i didnt think to quantify at the time, but doing the math now, that roughly matches the data the co. has released in the past www.mycoastnow.com/76263/news/hullo-ferries-celebrates-six-months-of-service-between-nanaimo-and-vancouver/opening 6 mths (2023 aug to 2024 feb) 150,000 passengers = 25,000/mth = 833/day 354 (capacity) *6 sailings per day = 2124/day capacity 833/2124 = 40% (exactly like he said) 833/6 =138/sailing for comparison, count for day1, sailing #1 was 189 again, im NOT trying to imply or suggest anything. all im trying to do is create a hmmmmm moment. if u guys will allow, theres a pt. ii to my "research"
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,196
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Post by Neil on Apr 6, 2024 17:06:22 GMT -8
My wife, Elizabeth, took the 11 AM Hullo sailing (Spuhéls) from Nanaimo to Vancouver today. She said it was around 95% full. Not bad for a mid day, mid week sailing I think... hey wettcoast.... i dunno why, but this observation caught my eye back in december. before i begin, i must apologise b/c this is going to personal. all im out for is the truth and i would like to present something ive discovered. please please dont interpret my words as an accusation of being untruthful, misleading, or anything either positive or negative. im just trying to present a scenario where it gives somebody the chance to just say hmmmmm... i finally was able to show my contact the observations your wife made back in december. this contact is the same person who informed me the teething problems last sumer was a log strike. upon reading it, he simply laughed and shook his head. he told me that they had never even come close to this mark. he said that a good day would be something like 40% per sailing. i didnt think to quantify at the time, but doing the math now, that roughly matches the data the co. has released in the past www.mycoastnow.com/76263/news/hullo-ferries-celebrates-six-months-of-service-between-nanaimo-and-vancouver/opening 6 mths (2023 aug to 2024 feb) 150,000 passengers = 25,000/mth = 833/day 354 (capacity) *6 sailings per day = 2124/day capacity 833/2124 = 40% (exactly like he said) 833/6 =138/sailing for comparison, count for day1, sailing #1 was 189 again, im NOT trying to imply or suggest anything. all im trying to do is create a hmmmmm moment. if u guys will allow, theres a pt. ii to my "research" I'm sure that Jim (Wettcoast) can affirm or deny his wife's ability to tell an occupied seat from an empty one, but there are enough posts on here to substantiate sailings where the boats are close to full, despite your 'contact' laughing and shaking his head at the notion. This being a service that mainly appeals to Islanders, no doubt there are going to be sailings that are low in the pax count. I'm guessing that BC Ferries' evening sailing from Powell River back to Comox is pretty empty, given the small number of Islanders coming back from a day on the mainland. it's just the nature of most transit systems, land or marine based.
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