KE7JFF
Chief Steward
Posts: 106
|
Post by KE7JFF on Nov 25, 2014 21:46:28 GMT -8
I took a trip on board the Columbia this past August from Juneau to Bellingham. I can confirm that everyone has access to the showers that are available. If I remember correctly all the AMHS ferries have public showers the same as the Columbia does? I did "the tent on the deck thing" and it was fun. I think I met more people to talk to because of that. By the last night though the deck was getting pretty hard though. If you do that I would recommend bringing an air mattress to put under your sleeping bag. I am enjoyed it so much I would like to go back and take another route this coming Summer. Good to know! I did actually get some advice from a co-worker who is from Alaska that it might be smarter to get a stateroom since I'm going far as Skagway to go into Whitehorse, however, he mentioned that I could experience both worlds by doing Bellingham-Ketchikan and then getting a stateroom between Ketchikan and Skagway, which he said would be smart as thats only 100 dollars.
|
|
KE7JFF
Chief Steward
Posts: 106
|
Post by KE7JFF on Nov 25, 2014 19:59:31 GMT -8
See, I'm tempted to do the tent on the deck thing as many of my friends have said its worth it, but however, I have also heard from other travellers that the staterooms you can rent pay for themselves pretty well. I do have to ask though does everyone have access to showers on board the ship or is it stateroom passengers only? I am fairly sure that any passenger can access the showers on board the AMHS vessels, not just those holding state rooms. On the Columbia there is also a laundromat available for passenger use. I think that that is the only vessel with that offering. Hmmm....good to know! All the information I could find just said "public showers" which can go either way. That could be the game changer if I want to go the route of tenting it. I'm looking at doing a trip within the next 2 years Bellingham to Skagway as part of a trip to Whitehorse.
|
|
KE7JFF
Chief Steward
Posts: 106
|
Post by KE7JFF on Nov 25, 2014 17:14:53 GMT -8
See, I'm tempted to do the tent on the deck thing as many of my friends have said its worth it, but however, I have also heard from other travellers that the staterooms you can rent pay for themselves pretty well.
I do have to ask though does everyone have access to showers on board the ship or is it stateroom passengers only?
|
|
KE7JFF
Chief Steward
Posts: 106
|
Post by KE7JFF on Nov 25, 2014 16:31:30 GMT -8
Yup, they are big ships alright...a ferry is fine for now due to the fact the only business on the island is the airport. If that were to change since there is plenty of room on the island, I'd say a drawbridge at the location of infamous bridge would be much more practical.
|
|
KE7JFF
Chief Steward
Posts: 106
|
Post by KE7JFF on Nov 6, 2014 16:00:44 GMT -8
Oh, Remontowa is building them? Thats a decent shipyard per my friends in the trade say. They do lots of special vessels...
|
|
KE7JFF
Chief Steward
Posts: 106
|
Post by KE7JFF on Nov 4, 2014 17:26:37 GMT -8
Interesting the article makes more of a deal out of Horseshoe Bay; it makes it sound like that is the choke point of the route...
|
|
KE7JFF
Chief Steward
Posts: 106
|
Post by KE7JFF on Oct 29, 2014 14:08:25 GMT -8
My main observation is that Horseshoe Bay is at or near its limits due to its location and its neighbors. If there is a demand to keep it open, I say lets transfer some of the traffic on Route 2 to end at Duke Point.
|
|
KE7JFF
Chief Steward
Posts: 106
|
Post by KE7JFF on Oct 28, 2014 18:18:49 GMT -8
You know, I never understood why it was called the "Bridge to Nowhere" until one of my coworkers, who is from Alaska explained to me that the bridge would of connected the airport, but the bridge would of had to accommodate marine traffic, which I never realized cruise ships plus the AHMS use the waterway, which explained why the bridge would of been like the Golden Gate Bridge...
|
|
KE7JFF
Chief Steward
Posts: 106
|
Post by KE7JFF on Oct 28, 2014 17:44:37 GMT -8
Yeah, I'm aware of the fact that Duke Point would need at least that 2nd berth to make things work.
I'm interested in hearing the whole story about the environmental issue on building that 2nd berth; as I understand it was due to the limitations of engineering at the time of design to get around the environmental issue. Which if that's the case, I think could be revisited since there has been some advances.
|
|
KE7JFF
Chief Steward
Posts: 106
|
Post by KE7JFF on Oct 27, 2014 16:41:28 GMT -8
What about instead moving Route 2 to end at Duke Point?
|
|
KE7JFF
Chief Steward
Posts: 106
|
Post by KE7JFF on Sept 25, 2014 20:51:54 GMT -8
There is a few exceptions under the Passenger Vessel Services Act...like Canadian vessels CAN operate between ports in SE Alaska...so if BC Ferries ever wants to take over the Prince Rupert Service, it could legally. Huh? A BC Ferries vessel could leave Prince Rupert, pick up a car in Ketchikan and let them off in Wrangell? I don't think so... Under 46 USC 55121, it sounds like they could: §55121. Transportation of merchandise and passengers on Canadian vessels (a) Between Rochester and Alexandria Bay.-Until passenger service is established by vessels of the United States between the port of Rochester, New York, and the port of Alexandria Bay, New York, the Secretary of Homeland Security may issue annually permits to Canadian passenger vessels to transport passengers between those ports. Canadian vessels holding such a permit are not subject to section 55103 of this title. (b) Within Alaska or Between Alaska and Other Points in the United States.-Until the Secretary of Transportation determines that service by vessels of the United States is available to provide the transportation described in paragraph (1) or (2), sections 55102 and 55103 of this title do not apply to the transportation on Canadian vessels of-
(1) passengers between ports in southeastern Alaska; or
(2) passengers or merchandise between Hyder, Alaska, and other points in southeastern Alaska or in the United States outside Alaska.
( Pub. L. 109–304, §8(c), Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1641
However, in that scenario, I think it would require a written statement from AMHS to the Secretary of Transportation. The Jones Act (aka the Merchant Marine Act of 1920) is the one people quote the most here; that applies to mostly cargo vessels while the earlier Passenger Vessel Services Act is used to in conjunction with the Jones Act to clarify what passenger vessels can and cannot pickup/discharge in US waters.
|
|
KE7JFF
Chief Steward
Posts: 106
|
Post by KE7JFF on Sept 23, 2014 19:59:37 GMT -8
There is a few exceptions under the Passenger Vessel Services Act...like Canadian vessels CAN operate between ports in SE Alaska...so if BC Ferries ever wants to take over the Prince Rupert Service, it could legally.
|
|
KE7JFF
Chief Steward
Posts: 106
|
Post by KE7JFF on Sept 23, 2014 16:26:48 GMT -8
Vigor Portland I know right now has the dock space so it would be the easiest; though that would be odd seeing a Spirit go down the Columbia into Swan Island...
|
|
KE7JFF
Chief Steward
Posts: 106
|
Post by KE7JFF on Sept 23, 2014 16:16:17 GMT -8
Whats funny is that those cigarette machines are probably in-service still somewhere else; I know someone who is a vending machine tech and he tells me the vintage cigarette vending machines are still in use from the 50s and 60s because mechanically, they live forever and he has a few on his route he services.
Ryan Vending at one point used to have a small US operation based in Seattle; but later sold that operation to Canteen Vending I think.
And Heinz only recently has ventured into baking products....
|
|
KE7JFF
Chief Steward
Posts: 106
|
Post by KE7JFF on Sept 19, 2014 17:44:50 GMT -8
I actually think its not bad of a vessel design, but I always wondered if more of the Century class could be built?
|
|
KE7JFF
Chief Steward
Posts: 106
|
Post by KE7JFF on Sept 19, 2014 17:25:12 GMT -8
Thanks guys!
Yeah, I'm familiar with the requirements of a soda fountain, which is why I ask; seems like the ships from the start had excellent water and power service so I thought it was odd because otherwise, you wouldn't have regular kitchen and bathroom fixtures. And licensing wise, its more like you enter a service contract with Coke or Pepsi for fountain service if you don't outright buy your equipment. You pay a flat fee for what you need that includes the machine, repairs, parts, and syrup. I'm trying to remember if BC Ferries has the sticker on the side of the soda machine come to think of it that means its a leased unit.
|
|
KE7JFF
Chief Steward
Posts: 106
|
Post by KE7JFF on Sept 17, 2014 16:30:55 GMT -8
Speaking of soda, I once heard that BC Ferries used to serve soda in a can to customers for years because Coca-Cola nor Pepsi had issues with the reliability of power and water for fountain service. Any truth to that? I only started riding the ferries in 2001, so its way before my time.
|
|
KE7JFF
Chief Steward
Posts: 106
|
MV Coho
Sept 3, 2014 15:26:39 GMT -8
Post by KE7JFF on Sept 3, 2014 15:26:39 GMT -8
You'd have to do something about the lack of comfortable seating and outside deck space on those things first. One ride on a PacifiCat was all it took for me to give them a major thumbs down. The speed was cool, though. Good Seats would be easy to fix, however, considering what the Coho has now for seats, I think a seat on the PacifiCat would be an upgrade... Outdoor deck space is a problem on most HSC-registered ships, however with that said, I would put up a solarium type deal instead...
|
|
KE7JFF
Chief Steward
Posts: 106
|
Post by KE7JFF on Aug 29, 2014 20:21:50 GMT -8
(rofl)Buy and restore the Sidney! HA! See, if were running the Black Ball, I would of bought a PacificCat when they were on sale by the BC Gov't. Yes you heard me. The route the Coho takes would of been a much better fit for the monsters and I think down the road if they wanted to do Victoria-Seattle somehow or some other route, it would of fit the bill.
|
|
KE7JFF
Chief Steward
Posts: 106
|
MV Coho
Aug 28, 2014 21:36:11 GMT -8
Post by KE7JFF on Aug 28, 2014 21:36:11 GMT -8
So one of my friends who works in the marine shipping trade tells there was a rumor that Black Ball was looking at acquiring a 2nd ship for its fleet; anyone else hear this? I can't imagine them looking to replace the Coho but I could see them creating a new route...
|
|
KE7JFF
Chief Steward
Posts: 106
|
Post by KE7JFF on Dec 25, 2013 22:42:33 GMT -8
Here's a company in an aptly named Missouri town: This company specializes in kitchen renovations. hmmmm, that's a funny coincidence, considering that kitchen items are a frequent spam item on our ferry forum. MI is Michigan, not Missouri, which is MO
|
|
KE7JFF
Chief Steward
Posts: 106
|
Post by KE7JFF on Nov 4, 2013 23:04:28 GMT -8
I know a employee down at the Portland Vigor yard, who's also a former BC shipworker actually... I just told him of what happened with the Queen of Nanamio and after a good laugh, he said far as he knows, there is space for the ship down here at Swan Island in Portland and it wouldn't be the first time BC Ferries toyed with the idea; apparently he heard a rumour once that BC Ferries was looking at Vigor in Portland to refit one of the smaller vessels, but this was in 2004. Oh as for hauling the Nanaimo into Portland? Its not that hard going down the Columbia, but I could see the Columbia River Bar Pilots getting very very nervous... Actually many of AMHS' vessels go up and down the Columbia every year on their way to drydock if they're in need of a major refit. There is more space available there than in the PNW and they're not in a urgent schedule or anything in the winter months. Yes they do! However, My understanding is the Columbia Bar Pilots get very squeamish about passenger vessels coming down the Columbia into Portland. I know when Holland America ran that really small vessel that was about the size of the Nanaimo for cruises years ago, they didn't put a bar pilot on...
|
|
KE7JFF
Chief Steward
Posts: 106
|
Post by KE7JFF on Nov 4, 2013 22:26:33 GMT -8
I know a employee down at the Portland Vigor yard, who's also a former BC shipworker actually...
I just told him of what happened with the Queen of Nanamio and after a good laugh, he said far as he knows, there is space for the ship down here at Swan Island in Portland and it wouldn't be the first time BC Ferries toyed with the idea; apparently he heard a rumour once that BC Ferries was looking at Vigor in Portland to refit one of the smaller vessels, but this was in 2004.
Oh as for hauling the Nanaimo into Portland? Its not that hard going down the Columbia, but I could see the Columbia River Bar Pilots getting very very nervous...
|
|
KE7JFF
Chief Steward
Posts: 106
|
Post by KE7JFF on Oct 21, 2013 14:33:38 GMT -8
I could see them putting a passenger only ferry to Nanamio, but anything else beyond that would be crazy...
And my god, traffic would be WORSE around Richmond...
|
|
KE7JFF
Chief Steward
Posts: 106
|
Post by KE7JFF on Jul 17, 2013 11:06:45 GMT -8
Saw on CHEK that apparently that one of the propeller blades came off on the SoBC?
|
|