This sign on the Quinsam reminds me of Alice in Wonderland, in which Alice finds objects bearing commands: a bottle that says drink me! and a cake that says eat me! Alice would be right at home on the Quinsam. I’m sure she would Break Glass For Key, as the sign commands. Though I do [...]
Filed in ferries,Gabriola Island Comments Off
Here we go again! Repair work on ‘Quinsam’ should start by next week, says the Daily News: The Gabriola Island ferry could be fixed soon now that parts ordered to allow the ship’s specialized propulsion system operate properly are expected to arrive as early as next week. [continue]
Filed in ferries,Gabriola Island One Response so far
A couple of statistics caught my attention in a June 7 article in The Daily News and referred to in Gabriolan.ca on the same day – History of Gabriola’s Quinsam ferry. During fiscal 2008-09 the MV Quinsam carried 823,578 passengers and 386,595 vehicles. Was the Quinsam the only vessel on the Gabriola-Nanaimo run during this [...]
Filed in ferries,Gabriola Island,Gabriola people,history One Response so far
Ah! Here’s why the ferry was late yesterday morning. From the Nanaimo Daily News: Gabriola ferry hits shoreline during early Saturday run. B.C. Ferries will launch an investigation into why the MV Quinsam slammed into the rocky shoreline as it came into the Nanaimo harbour during its first sailing early Saturday. There were no reports [...]
Filed in ferries,Gabriola Island 4 Comments so far
You’d rather sleep in than take the ferry to or from Gabriola early tomorrow morning, right? Good. Because BC Ferries has just cancelled two sailings. They say: Please be advised that the MV Quinsam will be canceling the following sailings on Sunday May 30, 2010 to facilitate the RAD replacement on the vessel: 5:25 AM [...]
Filed in ferries,Gabriola Island Comments Off
By now you’ve heard that Gabriola has a new ferry schedule for the summer. (Update, March, 2012: this ferry schedule is still in effect; BC Ferries says the Quinsam will stay on this schedule until further notice.) If you want a printable version it, you might like one of these .pdf files. Gabriola ferry schedule [...]
Filed in ferries 9 Comments so far
Hey, Gabriola, our ferry schedule is changing on Thursday. BC Ferries says that the new Quinsam schedule will help them be on time more often, which will be a fun novelty for us. To see the new schedule, sail over to Nanaimo Harbour — Gabriola Island page at BC Ferries, and use the grey button [...]
Filed in ferries Comments Off
On a post about why the Quinsam is late, posted by Gabriolan on May 20, reader Rick commented on what he thought the reason was for the slowness of the refurbished ferry: I was told (also by a reliable source) that the Dutch company that provided the propellers used the data for the Quinitsa instead [...]
Filed in ferries,Gabriola Island,history Comments Off
So the Quinsam, she has been late quite a bit since she returned to Gabriola. I love the way BC Ferries puts it: BC Ferries is currently experiencing challenges with the on-time performance of the Gabriola Island – Nanaimo Harbour route. Challenges with the on-time performance… hahahaha! Means ferry is late, kids. Oh man. Next [...]
Filed in ferries,Gabriola Island 12 Comments so far
Dear BC Ferries, The Quinsam is back on the Gabriola route, and reports are that the seats in the passenger lounge are quite uncomfortable. So, you like that kind of thing? Then, my dears, let me offer you this for when you next go shopping for seating: Oh Sit! The World’s 13 Most Uncomfortable Chair [...]
Filed in ferries,Gabriola Island 2 Comments so far
Ah, the Quinsam will be back on the Gabriola route at last, starting tomorrow. Here’s the latest press release from BC Ferries: MV Quinsam returns to service after $16 million upgrade:
Filed in ferries,Gabriola Island 11 Comments so far
Did you see the Quinsam today? She came and docked at Gabriola this morning, just after the Bowen Queen pulled out. This photo shows the Quinsam heading towards the dock at Descanso Bay.
Filed in ferries,Gabriola Island Comments Off
From the Nanaimo Daily News: Ferry crews and coast guard lead full-scale evacuation from Gabriola Island ferry. An exercise that brought together more than a dozen emergency and social services agencies Sunday is being hailed as a success. The simulation started with the premise that a car was burning aboard the B.C. Ferry MV Quinsam. [...]
Filed in ferries,Gabriola Island 2 Comments so far
I suppose Gabriola’s Quinsam ferry must be all fixed up now, after her recent upgrade. BC Ferries reports that the Quinsam will be having an adventure without us on Sunday morning: If you notice a BC Ferries vessel on Sunday morning at the Assembly Wharf in Nanaimo being evacuated with emergency vessels standing by, there [...]
Filed in ferries 4 Comments so far
Uh-oh. Here we go again with Gabriola ferry nonsense. From the Daily News: Regulations limit Gabriola ferry passengers. Many Monday-morning commuters on the 7:50 a.m. ferry from Gabriola Island to Nanaimo had to wait for the next crossing due to Transport Canada regulations limiting the number of passengers on the vessel. The Bowen Queen, which [...]
Filed in ferries,Gabriola Island Comments Off
We’ve got porta-potties on the Quinsam now. The Tyee explains: BC Ferries using portable toilets, not treatment, on Gabriola vessel. …the ferry serving Gabriola, the Quinsam, had three portable toilets added to its deck this morning. That’s right—the washrooms are closed and the vessel is using the same kind of plastic johnny-on-the-spot toilets more familiar [...]
Filed in environment,ferries,Gabriola Island One Response so far
By now you’ve heard of the new Transport Canada rules for ferries, which means that the Quinsam can’t carry as many passengers as it has been able to — not unless BC Ferries adds another staff person to the Quinsam. I expect this will lead to maddening sailing waits in the tourist season. Anyway, it’s [...]
Filed in ferries,Gabriola Island Comments Off
From the Nanaimo Daily News: Tougher ferry safety rules may increase lineups, fares. Transport Canada has tightened up the rules affecting minimum staffing levels for smaller B.C. Ferries vessels, raising fears of hefty fare increases and longer lineups. New federal marine personnel regulations that took effect Jan. 1 mean B.C. Ferries must cut smaller vessels’ [...]
Filed in ferries,Gabriola Island 3 Comments so far
