The V-class ferries, also known as Victoria class, originally included seven BC Ferries built between 1962 and 1965. These vessels were the backbone of service on the Tsawwassen – Swartz Bay route prior to the arrival of in 1993. Some of these vessels underwent vehicle capacity increases three times. The vessels began to be retired in 2000. Four vessels were slated 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.
History and sub-classes
A total of seven Victoria-class ferries were constructed.
Original seven V-class vessels:
* MV Queen of Victoria
* MV Queen of Vancouver
* MV Queen of Saanich
* MV Queen of Esquimalt
* MV Queen of New Westminster
* MV Queen of Nanaimo
* MV Queen of Burnaby
The seven ships were modified twice in quick succession to increase vehicle capacity. The first refit was the installation of ramps and platform car decks and the second saw the ships sliced in half vertically across the beam for the insertion of a new midsection, which dramatically increased their capacity. Later, four of the seven ships were cut horizontally from bow to stern to have a new vehicle deck inserted. These rebuilt ships retained the V-class designation. Queen of Burnaby and were two original ships without the new car deck; they received a new designation as vessels. Queen of Burnaby retired in May 2017 and Queen of Nanaimo was retired in September 2017. The last of the seven ships,, was lifted in 1991 and was fit with new engines to travel at speeds comparable to the newer ferries. Queen of New Westminster was also dropped from the V-class designation, and is now officially unclassed. She had a major refit of her passenger areas completed in 2009, preparing her for another ten to fifteen years of service, and will be the sole survivor of the original seven ships.
Retired: May 25, 2008 – Sold to Dalian Golden Sun I/E Co., Ltd. Docked in Port Alberni and renamed Princess Jacqueline. In 2011 the vessel was scrapped in Ensenada, Mexico.
Length: 129.9 m
Power: 8,500 hp
Propulsion: Two MaK 8M551AK
Service speed: 19 knots
Gross tons: 9,304
Car capacity: 376
Passenger & crew capacity: 1,656
Route: Langdale – Horseshoe Bay, spare ship in all other seasons. Queen of Victoria
Former MV City of Victoria
Built: Victoria, British Columbia, 1962
Retired: 2001 – sold to R & G Importadora & Exportadora of the Dominican Republic. Renamed Queen of Ocoa. Scrapped in 2006 at Alang, India.
Length: 129.9 m
Power: 9,000 hp
Propulsion: Two MaK 9MU551AK
Service speed: 19 knots
Gross tons: 9,294
Car capacity: 286
Passenger & crew capacity: 1,360
Route: Tsawwassen – Swartz Bay Queen of Nanaimo
Built: Victoria, British Columbia, 1964
Retired: July 27, 2017 – sold to Groundar Shipping co, in Fiji. Renamed MV Lomaiti Princess V.
Length: 129.9 M
Power: 6,000 hp
Propulsion: 2x Mirrlees National KVSSM twin turbo V16 Diesel
