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Post by WettCoast on Aug 6, 2023 13:14:45 GMT -8
Seems like they've been doing a round trip to Vancouver and back at least once a day with one of the boats. When they initially started these trial runs, they were doing around 30kts each way. Today, I noticed they've been running at about 40kts. I thinks this 70 minute crossing time is a tough one to achieve, even at 40kts since it seems to be about 75-80 mins, dock to dock. I don't want to be too critical of them because I'd like to see them succeed. 75 -80 mins is still much faster than the conventional route. The schedule that I have seen indicates a that each round trip will take 4 hours which means long layovers in terminals and also, perhaps, voyage times of more than 70 minutes. I had thought that they could make a 3 hour round trip time fairly easily, and do 5 or even 6 round trips daily with only one boat in service. We'll see what happens over the coming months.
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,180
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Post by Neil on Aug 6, 2023 17:31:07 GMT -8
Seems like they've been doing a round trip to Vancouver and back at least once a day with one of the boats. When they initially started these trial runs, they were doing around 30kts each way. Today, I noticed they've been running at about 40kts. I thinks this 70 minute crossing time is a tough one to achieve, even at 40kts since it seems to be about 75-80 mins, dock to dock. I don't want to be too critical of them because I'd like to see them succeed. 75 -80 mins is still much faster than the conventional route. The schedule that I have seen indicates a that each round trip will take 4 hours which means long layovers in terminals and also, perhaps, voyage times of more than 70 minutes. I had thought that they could make a 3 hour round trip time fairly easily, and do 5 or even 6 round trips daily with only one boat in service. We'll see what happens over the coming months. The Princess of Vancouver used to do the Nanaimo to Vancouver run in two hours and forty five minutes. She wasn't very fast; maybe no better than the Coho, at fifteen knots. At least one CPR boat did the run a half hour faster. Hullo's schedule shows a crossing time of 75 minutes... if they can do 35 knots, I would think that's realistic, taking into account much slower speeds in the harbours. Even if it takes 85 minutes, that still leaves them 35 minutes for loading and unloading. I imagine it might be a while before we see some figures about how much of a market there is for this. I really don't have a clue.
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Post by WettCoast on Aug 6, 2023 20:06:57 GMT -8
Even if it takes 85 minutes, that still leaves them 35 minutes for loading and unloading. 35 minutes to unload/load is way longer than what is needed for a passenger only ferry. Should easily be able to make the turnaround in 10 minutes. Seabus exchanges up to 400? passengers in 3 minutes.
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FNS
Voyager
The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
Posts: 4,948
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Post by FNS on Aug 6, 2023 22:58:06 GMT -8
Even if it takes 85 minutes, that still leaves them 35 minutes for loading and unloading. 35 minutes to unload/load is way longer than what is needed for a passenger only ferry. Should easily be able to make the turnaround in 10 minutes. Seabus exchanges up to 400? passengers in 3 minutes. Include the time in handling of checked baggage if offered. Also, galley storage may need to be replenished. Toidy cleanup as well. Refueling if needed. It's sorta like an airline operation. Yes, it's a very short turnaround for the SeaBus. That's because of the high number of doors and planks at each side. Out the arriving passengers go at one side. Doors close. Entry doors open for boarding passengers. ALL ABOARD! Doors close. Captain turns around and sounds the whistle at the outbound end. And away she goes! Excuse me if I'm going off topic. If you think the SeaBus is busy, take a look at the Great Northern and Cascade Railway Museum in historic Skykomish WA. Weekends are busy with lots of riders getting on and off the miniature trains. I'm a volunteer engineer there. Rides are free and you can ride as many times as you wish. I'm never satisfied unless I see everyone leaves the museum happy with smiles on their faces.
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Post by whalebreath on Aug 8, 2023 18:58:33 GMT -8
Hitting a log @ 40kts should be 'interesting' and it's only a matter of time.....
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Post by paulvanb on Aug 10, 2023 8:34:20 GMT -8
Has anyone booked a random for a sailing yet?
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Post by WettCoast on Aug 10, 2023 8:48:12 GMT -8
Has anyone booked a random for a sailing yet? Not me, but I am thinking about a test flight ...
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Post by whalebreath on Aug 11, 2023 16:15:28 GMT -8
The thing is there's exactly zip to see/do in Nanaimo- take a cab to a fish & chip place is about it.
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Post by Ollie on Aug 11, 2023 17:57:36 GMT -8
The thing is there's exactly zip to see/do in Nanaimo- take a cab to a fish & chip place is about it. There's plenty of other ferries to see in Nanaimo
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Post by paulvanb on Aug 12, 2023 7:54:03 GMT -8
The thing is there's exactly zip to see/do in Nanaimo- take a cab to a fish & chip place is about it. There's plenty of other ferries to see in Nanaimo I agree. A couple of Island class vessels awaiting a random for some intrepid voyagers.
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Post by WettCoast on Aug 12, 2023 17:21:56 GMT -8
The thing is there's exactly zip to see/do in Nanaimo- take a cab to a fish & chip place is about it. You could easily spend a day on Saysutshun (Newcastle Island). Once upon a time people paid good coin to the CPR to stay at their resort there.
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Post by Scott on Aug 14, 2023 4:57:22 GMT -8
The first round trip with passengers has been canceled...
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Post by paulvanb on Aug 14, 2023 9:10:45 GMT -8
The first round trip with passengers has been canceled... The 10am has also been scrubbed. Not a good start for them. However, I see some good trip possibilities from here in Vancouver. Just bring your camera and your experience card! Message me for details.
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Post by Dane on Aug 14, 2023 9:49:06 GMT -8
I can understand the first round trip being canceled, there was a power outage that would have affected the terminal. Additionally, the Strait yesterday was surprisingly bumpy. Notwithstanding that, it didn't seem like anything particularly outlandish and even more so when compared to what they will deal with in the fall.
I had the first Vancouver departing round trip booked, which obviously was canceled which is very disappointing.
The emails were relatively prompt, so no real fault there. The website was slow to update and a bit inaccurate at times, but again I will give them some room for first day struggles. In my opinion they need better messaging on social media though, to make it clear what is going on with cancellations as the noon sailing showed as a go for 3 hours when it was abundantly clear it wouldn't be.
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Post by WettCoast on Aug 14, 2023 10:55:36 GMT -8
I can understand the first round trip being canceled, there was a power outage that would have affected the terminal. Additionally, the Strait yesterday was surprisingly bumpy. Notwithstanding that, it didn't seem like anything particularly outlandish and even more so when compared to what they will deal with in the fall. I had the first Vancouver departing round trip booked, which obviously was canceled which is very disappointing. The emails were relatively prompt, so no real fault there. The website was slow to update and a bit inaccurate at times, but again I will give them some room for first day struggles. In my opinion they need better messaging on social media though, to make it clear what is going on with cancellations as the noon sailing showed as a go for 3 hours when it was abundantly clear it wouldn't be. I think many are trusting that Hullo will prove to be more reliable than BCF. But, as far as weather cancellations go, I expect that their much smaller boats will have a harder time of it in fall/winter wind & sea conditions. Nevertheless I hope to see them succeed.
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Post by Nickfro on Aug 14, 2023 12:08:06 GMT -8
There were whale watching boats out in the strait this morning, so I'd like to think wind and bumpy seas had no impact on these cancelled sailings. I can understand being cautious in the beginning and not wanting to encounter a negative passenger experience due to mother nature. That said, if 40km gusts (current conditions) are too much to sail, then I don't see the future of this company being a long term one. I hope I'm wrong. . .
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grk2
Deckhand
Posts: 91
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Post by grk2 on Aug 14, 2023 13:38:53 GMT -8
I sense another failure in the making. 1- If Hullo can not make the crossing in August weather, what will happen come winter. 2-Reliability is a must in order for success. A shore side power disruption results in cancellation? Could not the vessel’s electrical system provide the power to reboot the electronics? It sure should. 3- Another bureaucratic organization overseen by non mariners all wrapped up in Public Relation image presentation. Captains should run the show, while it lasts.
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Post by paulvanb on Aug 14, 2023 14:43:14 GMT -8
I sense another failure in the making. 1- If Hullo can not make the crossing in August weather, what will happen come winter. 2-Reliability is a must in order for success. A shore side power disruption results in cancellation? Could not the vessel’s electrical system provide the power to reboot the electronics? It sure should. 3- Another bureaucratic organization overseen by non mariners all wrapped up in Public Relation image presentation. Captains should run the show, while it lasts. Just went through their Facebook page now. No updates regarding today. A posting from July 27th states that you cannot bring luggage (a suitecase) with you, but a carry-on item only. People are already bent out shape on this one.
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Aug 14, 2023 14:53:22 GMT -8
Hullo seems like failure waiting to happen with first day of service complete cancelled and no suit cases. I hope Hullo can recover from these embarrassing events today and start to show reliability in coming months.
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QoNW Fan
Voyager
Queen of New Westminster fan!
Posts: 263
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Post by QoNW Fan on Aug 14, 2023 15:24:09 GMT -8
Impressive, 100% cancellation rate so far.
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Post by paulvanb on Aug 14, 2023 15:53:36 GMT -8
Hullo seems like failure waiting to happen with first day of service complete cancelled and no suit cases. I hope Hullo can recover from these embarrassing events today and start to show reliability in coming months. I would say weeks, especially with the luggage issue.
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QoNW Fan
Voyager
Queen of New Westminster fan!
Posts: 263
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Post by QoNW Fan on Aug 14, 2023 17:24:30 GMT -8
Hullo seems like failure waiting to happen with first day of service complete cancelled and no suit cases. I hope Hullo can recover from these embarrassing events today and start to show reliability in coming months. I would say weeks, especially with the luggage issue. How can they even be in service when they've cancelled-literally every single sailing they've ever had scheduled?? I'm just teasing them, I hope this service works out.
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Post by northwesterner on Aug 14, 2023 18:33:01 GMT -8
2-Reliability is a must in order for success. A shore side power disruption results in cancellation? Could not the vessel’s electrical system provide the power to reboot the electronics? It sure should. I can understand cxl'ing the first round trip if there was concern about shore power being available - to power the berth, etc. But this overly cautious language about how they have to check on board systems because shore power went out? Give me a break. The vessel is entirely a self-contained system. Who is running the show?
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Post by whalebreath on Aug 14, 2023 20:49:50 GMT -8
Sounds like people looking for excuses not to work and I agree that today's winds weren't in any way critically dangerous the PoW whale watching catamaran went out/I saw it coming back in after dinner throwing a helluva spray which I think is part of the show people getting their money's worth.
Also quite agree about the Captain running the vessel not mealy mouthed corporate dorks.
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Post by Ferryman on Aug 14, 2023 21:13:28 GMT -8
Sounds like people looking for excuses not to work and I agree that today's winds weren't in any way critically dangerous the PoW whale watching catamaran went out/I saw it coming back in after dinner throwing a helluva spray which I think is part of the show people getting their money's worth. Also quite agree about the Captain running the vessel not mealy mouthed corporate dorks. Believe it or not, Transport Canada may have been part of the equation. Vessel Captain's are required to report defects to Transport Canada, and if severe enough, Transport Canada can essentially put the vessel under arrest until the issues are corrected. As for the wind parameters, that boils down to insurance. Insurance policy might state, "do not operate in 30+ knot winds and/or greater than 3 foot waves, or you won't be covered if something goes wrong out there. I don't blame them for erring on the side of caution, especially on their first scheduled day with passengers. I get that optics don't look promising on day 1, but you have to out yourself in their shoes- clearly it's was a lose/lose situation for them. Tie up due to weather and technical issues, or blast off into rough weather and make a bunch of people sea sick, or risk of injuring them on day 1. I'm sure details of what happened will come to light in due time while they cope with whatever is happening.
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