6319 replies to this topic

[Holden West]

Like most in the village, Marven Robinson can remember every detail of the night the Queen of the North went down -- except the part at the beginning: "I was in bed, sleeping."

Marven leaves his VHF radio on all the time, as is common in Hartley Bay, about 140 kilometres south of Prince Rupert. He doesn't remember hearing the ferry captain's emergency transmission, but he must have, because suddenly he was scrambling out of the covers. "There's something wrong," he told his wife. [url=http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/story.html?id=94612735-7ff5-4a69-a1d1-e427e7ce6624&k=44195:5c0ea]Cite[/url:5c0ea]

[gumgum]

My in-laws live in rural PEI and they leave their radio on all night.

[VicHockeyFan]

Nobody has been fired over sinking

Times Colonist

Published: Wednesday, March 28, 2007

The Queen of the North sank more than one year ago, and still not one employee has lost their job due to the sinking.

The inquiry has determined human error. The replacement vessel cost nearly $70 million. Two people are presumed dead.

In most jurisdictions, not only would those responsible be fired, but they would be facing criminal charges.

Not in Canada though. That's a shame.

Barry Hobbis,

Victoria.

[m0nkyman]

Thanks Barry!

(I"m guessing he's reading this, so I'll thank him directly)

[G-Man]

I agree.

[Holden West]

If you can't get fired for [url=http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2006/10/17/bc-ldb.html:1d91a]getting drunk and abusive in front of your bosses at Government House[/url:1d91a] I guess you can't get fired for anything these days.

I bet those ferry employees would have been fired had they been caught stealing belongings from the passengers' cabins. But actually causing their deaths and sinking a $70 million ship doesn't quite make it.

[bcradio]

Or maybe we should just wait until the official TSB report comes in before we make up our minds about blame and punishment.

[Caramia]

/agree BCRadio

[Icebergalley]

/agree BC Radio and Caramia...

Let's remember to use our analytical skills on the actual reports as opposed to responding to the stakeholders communication consultant's spin..

[VicHockeyFan]

^ and ^^ and ^^^ How come this whole process takes over a year?

[bcradio]

In an accident investigation of this magnitude, there are so many facts and bits of information that needs to be collected, analyzed and put together.

Check out the report on Swiss Air 111, and you'll get an idea of what the TSB folks have been doing:

http://www.tsb.gc.ca... ... ection=ALL

^ and ^^ and ^^^ How come this whole process takes over a year?

[obscurantist]

[url=http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2007/04/04/bc-ferries.html:c418c]CBC[/url:c418c]

Tougher security measures will start to take effect at BC Ferries terminals next year — including random screening of passengers and vehicles, says a senior company official.

As a result, passengers may have to arrive 40 minutes to an hour before sailing, depending on the level of security in place, said Manuel Achadinha, the corporation's vice-president of terminal operations. ...

[url=http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=1dcb94ca-4ce4-432d-80f9-a9c370369c77&k=51869:c418c]Times-Colonist story[/url:c418c]

[m0nkyman]

This is officially crossing the line into stupidity.

[Icebergalley]

You sure it isn't just paralleling the up-coming federal "law and order" election being staged?

[VicHockeyFan]

It's insane. 1/2 hour to get to the ferry, and hour wait, 1.5 hour sailing and an hour into Vancouver. 4 hours during non-rush times. Time for a bridge.

[Holden West]

Stooopid. As if Bin Laden is plotting his mastermind attack on the Queen of Surrey. If he's alive he's laughing at our chicken-little attitude.

This "security" check will only annoy the drug traffickers that use the ferry every day. Yeah, more jittery armed drug dealers--that makes me feel "secure".

[VicHockeyFan]

From todays TC article on the 3 new C-class ferries, found this quite interesting..

For those looking for creature comforts, the new ferries will have seating for 90 per cent of passengers, up from 65 per cent, and 40 per cent more washrooms than their predecessors.

I don't know that I've ever been unable to find a seat. Finding 3 or 4 together might be tough on a packed ship, but singles, no problem. Washroom never been a problem either.

[Holden West]

^Same here.

The reason they need twice as many seats is because everyone sprawls out and puts their dirty old feet up on the seat opposite them like they were halfway through a London-Auckland flight or something.

I remember when the upstairs lounge was a quiet, peaceful (and smoke-free) oasis, then they installed the kiddie playrooms there and now there's no escape unless you upgrade to the executive club or whatever it is.

[VicHockeyFan]

^Same here.

The reason they need twice as many seats is because everyone sprawls out and puts their dirty old feet up on the seat opposite them like they were halfway through a London-Auckland flight or something.

I remember when the upstairs lounge was a quiet, peaceful (and smoke-free) oasis, then they installed the kiddie playrooms there and now there's no escape unless you upgrade to the executive club or whatever it is.

That upgrade is cheap, I do it all the time. $7 and you get a newspaper and all-you-can-eat cheese, veggys, cake etc. A good deal if you ask me.

[m0nkyman]

And the best view in the house if you get there early enough to snag a table at a window.