MV Queen of New Westminster
Encyclopedia
The MV Queen of New Westminster is a Canadian roll-on, roll-off passenger ferry operated by BC Ferries
.
The vessel was built as a V class ferry
in 1964, and retains most of the characteristics of the other V class ferries, but is not considered a V class ferry because of its improved powerplants. Its only remaining sister ships are Burnaby Class ferries
Queen of Nanaimo
and Queen of Burnaby
, which are also not considered V class vessels because they don't have the additional car deck which was added to the four V class ferries, and to the Queen of New Westminster.
Though most of her sister ships were retired and sold off over the last decade, she had a major refit of her passenger areas in 2009, to prepare her for another ten to fifteen years of service.
at the Departure Bay terminal while vehicle loading was in progress. A car and its two occupants fell into the water. Both of the vehicle's occupants were rescued.
In a similar incident, on August 13, 1992 the same vessel pulled out of her berth at the Departure Bay terminal while vehicle loading ramps were still lowered and resting on the ship. Three people were killed, one was seriously injured, and two others received minor injuries when a van from Alberta containing 6 people fell 15 m (about 50 ft) from the upper deck onto the lower car deck and finally into the sea below. The van was stopped and instructed to wait on the loading ramp by terminal crew members. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada determined that this accident was caused by the vessel not properly following departing procedures and secondarily due to poor communication between terminal and ship crew members.
or Burnaby class ferries
.
BC Ferries
British Columbia Ferry Services Inc. or BC Ferries is a de facto Crown Corporation that provides all major passenger and vehicle ferry services for coastal and island communities in the Canadian province of British Columbia...
.
The vessel was built as a V class ferry
V class ferry
The V Class Ferries, also known as Victoria Class, includes BC Ferries ships built between 1962 and 1963. These vessels were the backbone of service on the Tsawwassen – Swartz Bay route prior to the arrival of the in 1993...
in 1964, and retains most of the characteristics of the other V class ferries, but is not considered a V class ferry because of its improved powerplants. Its only remaining sister ships are Burnaby Class ferries
Burnaby class ferry
There are two ferries in BC Ferries' fleet, built between 1964 and 1965, which fit into the Burnaby class. They are the Queen of Burnaby, and the Queen of Nanaimo....
Queen of Nanaimo
Burnaby class ferry
There are two ferries in BC Ferries' fleet, built between 1964 and 1965, which fit into the Burnaby class. They are the Queen of Burnaby, and the Queen of Nanaimo....
and Queen of Burnaby
Burnaby class ferry
There are two ferries in BC Ferries' fleet, built between 1964 and 1965, which fit into the Burnaby class. They are the Queen of Burnaby, and the Queen of Nanaimo....
, which are also not considered V class vessels because they don't have the additional car deck which was added to the four V class ferries, and to the Queen of New Westminster.
Though most of her sister ships were retired and sold off over the last decade, she had a major refit of her passenger areas in 2009, to prepare her for another ten to fifteen years of service.
Accidents
In October, 1971, the Queen of New Westminster pulled out of her berthBerth (moorings)
A berth is a location in a port or harbour used specifically for mooring vessels while not at sea.-Locations in a port:Berth is the term used in ports and harbors to define a specific location where a vessel may be berthed, usually for the purposes of loading and unloading.Most berths will be...
at the Departure Bay terminal while vehicle loading was in progress. A car and its two occupants fell into the water. Both of the vehicle's occupants were rescued.
In a similar incident, on August 13, 1992 the same vessel pulled out of her berth at the Departure Bay terminal while vehicle loading ramps were still lowered and resting on the ship. Three people were killed, one was seriously injured, and two others received minor injuries when a van from Alberta containing 6 people fell 15 m (about 50 ft) from the upper deck onto the lower car deck and finally into the sea below. The van was stopped and instructed to wait on the loading ramp by terminal crew members. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada determined that this accident was caused by the vessel not properly following departing procedures and secondarily due to poor communication between terminal and ship crew members.
Sister Ships
The Queen of New Westminster has six sister ships of which only two are still in service with BC Ferries. These ships were originally built as a single class, but were modified with different combinations of deck stretching, adding additional vehicle decks, and installing more powerful engines. Though the New West is a sister of these ships, she doesn't fit into V classV class ferry
The V Class Ferries, also known as Victoria Class, includes BC Ferries ships built between 1962 and 1963. These vessels were the backbone of service on the Tsawwassen – Swartz Bay route prior to the arrival of the in 1993...
or Burnaby class ferries
Burnaby class ferry
There are two ferries in BC Ferries' fleet, built between 1964 and 1965, which fit into the Burnaby class. They are the Queen of Burnaby, and the Queen of Nanaimo....
.
- Victoria Class ferriesV class ferryThe V Class Ferries, also known as Victoria Class, includes BC Ferries ships built between 1962 and 1963. These vessels were the backbone of service on the Tsawwassen – Swartz Bay route prior to the arrival of the in 1993...
(All retired)- Queen of VictoriaV class ferryThe V Class Ferries, also known as Victoria Class, includes BC Ferries ships built between 1962 and 1963. These vessels were the backbone of service on the Tsawwassen – Swartz Bay route prior to the arrival of the in 1993...
- Queen of VancouverV class ferryThe V Class Ferries, also known as Victoria Class, includes BC Ferries ships built between 1962 and 1963. These vessels were the backbone of service on the Tsawwassen – Swartz Bay route prior to the arrival of the in 1993...
- Queen of EsquimaltV class ferryThe V Class Ferries, also known as Victoria Class, includes BC Ferries ships built between 1962 and 1963. These vessels were the backbone of service on the Tsawwassen – Swartz Bay route prior to the arrival of the in 1993...
- Queen of SaanichV class ferryThe V Class Ferries, also known as Victoria Class, includes BC Ferries ships built between 1962 and 1963. These vessels were the backbone of service on the Tsawwassen – Swartz Bay route prior to the arrival of the in 1993...
- Queen of Victoria
- Burnaby Class FerriesBurnaby class ferryThere are two ferries in BC Ferries' fleet, built between 1964 and 1965, which fit into the Burnaby class. They are the Queen of Burnaby, and the Queen of Nanaimo....
(In service)- Queen of BurnabyBurnaby class ferryThere are two ferries in BC Ferries' fleet, built between 1964 and 1965, which fit into the Burnaby class. They are the Queen of Burnaby, and the Queen of Nanaimo....
- Queen of NanaimoMV Queen of NanaimoThe MV Queen of Nanaimo is a Burnaby class passenger vessel operated by BC Ferries.The ship was built in 1964 by Victoria Machinery Depot. In 1969 the ship was rebuilt and extended 25 meters in length. It currently operates on the Tsawwassen-Gulf Islands route web...
- Queen of Burnaby