Cruise Talk: Sonia now Sonia-X

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»	Cruise Talk » Ferry Travel » Sonia now Sonia-X

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Topic: Sonia now Sonia-X

PamM
Cruise Director
Member # 2127

posted 08-02-2006 11:32 AM

I was not impressed with the exterior looks of this ferry back in April, when she had only recently begun sailing for Balearia. Now she appears to be named Sonia-X, with a rather roughly added -X in a different font. Even though has now had the Balearia 'paint job' she looks as if it needs to be done all over again. The original blue around the windows along the hull remains and clashes with Balearia's colorings. What a mess... I wonder what she is like inside now!

April 2006

July 2006

more in the gallery.

Pam

[ 08-02-2006: Message edited by: PamM ]

Posts: 12176 | From: Cambridge, UK | Registered: Jun 2001 | IP: Logged

Matts
First Class Passenger
Member # 4120

posted 08-03-2006 04:04 PM

Perhaps they are not doing much in anticipation of the much rumoured move to BC Ferries

Posts: 829 | From: London, United Kingdom | Registered: Sep 2003 | IP: Logged

PamM
Cruise Director
Member # 2127

posted 08-03-2006 05:07 PM

That's true, I admit I had forgotten about that aspect. She really does look like a 'tin can' vessel to me though, without much substance to her. I have the impression of the BC Ferries [having never actually even seen them] as being somewhat more 'upmarket' than she looks.

Pam

Posts: 12176 | From: Cambridge, UK | Registered: Jun 2001 | IP: Logged

gpcruisedude
First Class Passenger
Member # 3533

posted 08-15-2006 03:31 AM

BC Ferries is indeed a very Large Company, based out of Victoria,British Columbia. They operate I think its 42 ships on 34 routes. They range from 16 vehicles to 470 vehicles and travel amongst some of the best scenery in the world. They lost their beloved flagship The Queen of the North(bought in 1976 from Stena Line) in March of this year when she hit a rock and sank only a month after completing a multi million dollar refit, luckily only 100 passengers were aboard and all but two were rescued,She was the Main ship on the Inside Passage run . A cruise ferry operation that carries thousands of passengers each summer with 157 cars 800 passengers
The Sonia has been reported sold to BC Ferries and I believe she would be an excellent candidate for a replacement for 2007. The Sonia has much more for amenities however she would have to undergo modifications for bow and stern loading.Her side door would come in very handy too for stopping at some of the smaller ports which have no docks, just a wharf.

Posts: 865 | From: Grande Prairie,Alberta | Registered: Dec 2002 | IP: Logged

gpcruisedude
First Class Passenger
Member # 3533

posted 08-15-2006 03:35 AM

oops sorry, the Sonia doesnt have a side door, however BC Ferries would have to take off those ugly back doors and modify her bow for their docks. And install new back doors. Does anyone know if her visor lifts up to unload vehicles??

Posts: 865 | From: Grande Prairie,Alberta | Registered: Dec 2002 | IP: Logged

Kam
Just Boarded
Member # 7262

posted 08-29-2006 02:21 PM

quote:
Originally posted by gpcruisedude:
oops sorry, the Sonia doesnt have a side door, however BC Ferries would have to take off those ugly back doors and modify her bow for their docks. And install new back doors. Does anyone know if her visor lifts up to unload vehicles??

From what i'm hearing from my "inside scource" the bow will remain as is, as will the main structure of the ship. The docks that cannot accomadate the width of the Sonia will be undergoing upgrades ASAP.

Several of the BC Ferry ships are of similar configuration to the Sonia (single ended) and are required to reverse into dock on at least one end of the voyage. (All the newest Spirit class vessels, and some of the older S class, queen of New West Minister, Queen of Esquimalt, Queen of Nanaimo, etc..)

Posts: 1 | From: Nanaimo, BC, Canada | Registered: Aug 2006 | IP: Logged

Matts
First Class Passenger
Member # 4120

posted 08-29-2006 04:29 PM

I think Sonia is a stern loader, but the BC ships I've seen aren't. Certainly the main Vancouver ships (Nanaimo and Swartz bay routes) are either double ended or load bow and stern.

The new ships 'Coastal x y z' appear to be double ended.

Posts: 829 | From: London, United Kingdom | Registered: Sep 2003 | IP: Logged

Tim Agg
First Class Passenger
Member # 3185

posted 08-29-2006 11:59 PM

This will not be the ugliest second-hand ship that BC Ferries hs bought over the years (think Queen of Chilliwack), but it's close. Let's hope she has redeeming qualities that endear us to her - and let's hope they get a replacement ship on that route as soon as possible, even an un-pretty one!

Posts: 365 | From: Vancouver BC | Registered: Jul 2002 | IP: Logged

gpcruisedude
First Class Passenger
Member # 3533

posted 08-30-2006 11:29 PM

THIS I JUST FOUND...From the Province Newspaper

.Vessel Sonia to serve northern routes

DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2006 - 160

PSi-Daily Shipping News Page 15 8/29/2006

The Sonia, which sailed between Trinidad and Tobago until this spring, is
being eyed by B.C. Ferries as a replacement vessel for the sunken Queen of
the North. The long-rumoured replacement vessel for B.C. Ferries' northern
routes has been bought, The Province has learned.

The Sonia -- a two-year-old ferry that has been sailing between Trinidad and
Tobago and more recently in Spain -- will cost an estimated $91 million to
buy and modify for B.C.'s purposes, a source said yesterday. Another ferry
to serve the north coast has been needed since the Queen of the North sank
in March after hitting Gil Island while travelling from Prince Rupert to
Port Hardy. The 117-metre-long Sonia, which can carry 1,200 passengers and
crew, as well as 220 vehicles, will replace the aging Queen of Prince
Rupert.

The Prince Rupert is to be retired when a new, $133-million ferry from
German firm Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellsch aft is put into service as the
Queen of the

North's permanent replacement in the spring of 2009. B.C. Ferries'
spokeswoman Deborah Marshall would not confirm the Sonia purchase yesterday,
saying paperwork remains to be completed. "We will make an announcement when
everything is official," said Marshall.

The Province, however, obtained a schedule showing B.C. Ferries has booked a
spot for a vessel identified as "Sonia" at the Esquimalt Graving Dock, where
ferry retrofits and modifications are carried out. The schedule indicates
work at Esquimalt dock will take place from mid-January to the end of
February 2007. B.C. Ferries is believed to have had as many as 20 managers
and senior engineers aboard Sonia, watching as she operates, and making
notes as to what has to be done to prepare the ship to sail in B.C. waters.

Posts: 865 | From: Grande Prairie,Alberta | Registered: Dec 2002 | IP: Logged

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