V-class ferry
Queen of Vancouver in Active Pass in 2007 | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | V class (Victoria class) |
| Operators | BC Ferries |
| Preceded by | Sidney class |
| Succeeded by | |
| Subclasses |
|
| Built | 1962–1965 |
| In service | 1962–present |
| Planned | 7 |
| Completed | 7 |
| Active | 1 |
| Scrapped | 5 |
The V-class ferries, also known as the Victoria class, originally included seven ferries operated by BC Ferries built between 1962 and 1965. The V class were a continuation of the previous Sidney-class design with some cosmetic changes and different engines. These vessels were the backbone of service on the Tsawwassen – Swartz Bay route prior to the arrival of MV Spirit of British Columbia in 1993. Four of these vessels underwent vehicle capacity increases three times. The lead ship of the class, Queen of Victoria suffered significant damage in a collision in 1970.
Two of the ferries are also known as the Burnaby class, built between 1964 and 1965. There are two ships in this class are MV Queen of Burnaby and MV Queen of Nanaimo. Both are propelled by controllable-pitch propellers. Both were built with two Mirrlees National KVSSM, V-16, 4 stroke-cycle, diesel engines, each producing 3,000 brake horsepower (2,200 kW) at 320 revolutions per minute.
The vessels began to be retired in 2000. Four vessels were to be retired and sold in 2008. The transfer of Queen of Esquimalt was halted and she was broken up in Ensenada, Mexico. Both Queen of Nanaimo and Queen of Burnaby were retired in 2017. Queen of New Westminster is still in service with BC Ferries. Queen of Nanaimo was sold to a ferry company in Fiji and was eventually sold for scrap in June 2022.