Is The Blueboat A Viable Option?

[TRYHARD2001]

Well, I'll soon be done my QL3's and am going to be moving my family out to Belmont Park (in all likelihood anyway) and was just wondering if anybody here had experience dealing with the Blueboat and if they found it to be a better alternative to the highway commute. If so, does anybody know the actual schedule of this bad boy because I can't seem to find it anywhere. The one that's posted in Bernay's is from 2005 and I honestly don't know who to talk to about it (nor do any of my superiors.) Being based out of Naden, I can tell you that I arrived there at 1545 as one was just pulling out and for the next hour I waited there with the little orange ball flying high and the boat did not come over to the Naden side.

On that note, where exactly does the Blue Boat pick people up in the Belmont Park area? I've only been out and around there twice, but I didn't see it. I'm aware it's in Colwood but what is it's proximity to say Belmont Road and Ocean Blvd?

Thanks in advance.

 

[medicineman]

The pick up is the next jetty over from the Fueling jetty on the Colwood side.  It is a pretty viable option - used to use it alot.

MM

 

[navymich]

There is a DWAN link for the schedule:  http://esquimalt.mil.ca/POESB/AuxFleet/blueboat.htm

If you don't have DWAN access, here is the cut and paste from that page (DWAN also has maps of the locations plus a nice chart for the times, but hopefully you can read this still):

Blue Boat Schedule
Effective: 14 Mar 11
YFB 318 IS OUT OF SERVICE. Expected return is Late March/Early April
Firebrand is no longer available for Blue Boat support
DEPART MLF DEPART NADEN  DEPART D JETTY ARRIVE NADEN

0600                                 0610

0620                                 0630

0640                                 0650

0700 +             0705                 0715

0725             0730                 0750

1210             1215                 1225
1310             1315                 1325
1410             1415                 1425
1510             1515                 1525

1540 +             1545                 1555

1610                                 1620

1635                                 1645

1700                                 1710

Changes to Blue Boat Service
* This is a Firebrand Run. Capacity is limited to 30 Passengers.
+ This is the DPW (Esquimalt Graving Dock) run, if required. Passengers
requiring pick up are to hoist the orange ball on the flagpole, and haul
down when the Blue Boat approaches. 1210-1525 YFB runs will stop at DPW
when the Orange ball is raised.
* All runs are limited to 67 passengers, except for CFAV
FIREBRAND.
* The Blue Boat is available for "special operational runs"
between 1000 and 1130 each weekday morning on receipt of at least 30
minutes notice.
Contact
Blue Boat schedule inquiries may be directed to the Harbour Control Room
at 3-2160.
Notes
* Bicycles may be carried at the Master's discretion. Bicyclists
are asked to proceed as far aft as possible so as not to impede other
passengers.
* Passengers are asked not to stand on the Float at D Jetty until
the vessel has docked.
* Passengers must be at the Float 10 minutes prior to departure.
* Times are approximate.
* Vessel will depart when passenger limit is reached. Passenger
limit is also weather dependent and at the Master's discretion.
* Passengers are not permitted to smoke while standing in line

 

[TRYHARD2001]

There is a DWAN link for the schedule:  http://esquimalt.mil.ca/POESB/AuxFleet/blueboat.htm

If you don't have DWAN access, here is the cut and paste from that page (DWAN also has maps of the locations plus a nice chart for the times, but hopefully you can read this still):

Blue Boat Schedule
Effective: 14 Mar 11
YFB 318 IS OUT OF SERVICE. Expected return is Late March/Early April
Firebrand is no longer available for Blue Boat support
DEPART MLF DEPART NADEN  DEPART D JETTY ARRIVE NADEN

0600                                 0610

0620                                 0630

0640                                 0650

0700 +             0705                 0715

0725             0730                 0750

1210             1215                 1225
1310             1315                 1325
1410             1415                 1425
1510             1515                 1525

1540 +             1545                 1555

1610                                 1620

1635                                 1645

1700                                 1710

That's exactly what I was looking for. I now see that the blueboat doesn't come to said Naden dock after 1545. Thanks for the help, my friend.

 

[BernDawg]

When 3PPCLI was at Work Point we had a couple of guys that would take the Blue Boat and then bike up the road. They said it beat the hell out of the Colwood Crawl not to mention parking is a bitch everywhere in Esquimalt.
Good Luck.