Queen of Chilliwack
Encyclopedia
The Queen of Chilliwack is a ferry
owned by BC Ferries
, built in Norway in 1978, then known as the Bastø I. The ferry route she was assigned to was from Moss, Norway
to Horten
, about 45 km south of the capital, Oslo
.
In 1991 Bastø I was bought by BC Ferries
. She had to travel 35 days on the trip to British Columbia
from Norway
, via the Panama Canal
. When the vessel arrived she first went to Point Hope Shipyard for a major overhaul for the Tsawassen
- Southern Gulf Islands
ferry route in the Gulf of Georgia. She was then named Queen of Chilliwack. She later changed to the Earls Cove
- Saltery Bay
route.
In 1996 the Queen of Chilliwack was taken out of service for another overhaul, this time the ferry was assigned to the new mid-coast route called the Discovery Coast Passage which goes through Queen Charlotte Sound. Queen of Chilliwack would first start from Port Hardy and begin her journey up to the small First Nations
communities of Namu
, Bella Bella, Shearwater
, Ocean Falls
, and Bella Coola
. In the winter the Chilliwack is often stored at Deas Dock, BC Ferries storage and refit facility, located along the Fraser River
in Richmond, BC, while the larger ship, MV Northern Expedition
handles both the Queen of Chilliwacks route, and the Port Hardy to Prince Rupert, BC route.
BC Ferries recently announced that the Queen of Chilliwack will be retired sometime between now and 2013, to be replaced by a new ship, the MV Northern Discovery, which has yet to be built. BC Ferries has not yet released plans on the new ship's design or size.
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
owned by BC 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...
, built in Norway in 1978, then known as the Bastø I. The ferry route she was assigned to was from Moss, Norway
Moss, Norway
is a coastal city and a municipality in Østfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Moss. The city of Moss was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838...
to Horten
Horten
is a town and municipality in Vestfold county, Norway—located along the Oslofjord. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Horten. The municipality also includes the villages of Borre, Åsgårdstrand, Skoppum, and Nykirke....
, about 45 km south of the capital, Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
.
In 1991 Bastø I was bought by BC 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...
. She had to travel 35 days on the trip to British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
from Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, via the Panama Canal
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
. When the vessel arrived she first went to Point Hope Shipyard for a major overhaul for the Tsawassen
Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal
The Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal is a major transportation facility in Delta, British Columbia. It is located on a three kilometre man-made causeway off the mainland at Tsawwassen and is less than 500 metres from the 49th parallel, Canada's border with the United States...
- Southern Gulf Islands
Gulf Islands
The Gulf Islands are the islands in the Strait of Georgia , between Vancouver Island and the mainland of British Columbia, Canada....
ferry route in the Gulf of Georgia. She was then named Queen of Chilliwack. She later changed to the Earls Cove
Earls Cove, British Columbia
Earls Cove is a small settlement located on Jervis Inlet in the Sunshine Coast region of British Columbia. It is a terminal for the BC Ferries route across the inlet to Saltery Bay, linking the Lower Sunshine Coast with the Upper Sunshine Coast of B.C...
- Saltery Bay
Saltery Bay Provincial Park
Saltery Bay Provincial Park is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada, located southeast of the city of Powell River, and on the north side of the entrance to Jervis Inlet in the central area of that province's Sunshine Coast region....
route.
In 1996 the Queen of Chilliwack was taken out of service for another overhaul, this time the ferry was assigned to the new mid-coast route called the Discovery Coast Passage which goes through Queen Charlotte Sound. Queen of Chilliwack would first start from Port Hardy and begin her journey up to the small First Nations
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
communities of Namu
Namu, British Columbia
Namu is a small fishing port, former cannery town and First Nations community on the coast of British Columbia, Canada. It is located about southwest of Bella Coola or SSE of Bella Bella, on the mainland shore of the Inside Passage ferry route directly opposite Hunter Island, and just south of...
, Bella Bella, Shearwater
Shearwater, British Columbia
Shearwater is a community in coastal British Columbia. It is located three miles from Bella Bella on Denny Island. It is part of the Heiltsuk First Nation.- History :...
, Ocean Falls
Ocean Falls, British Columbia
Ocean Falls is a community on the Central Coast of British Columbia, Canada. Formerly a large company town owned by Crown Zellerbach, it is only accessible via boat or seaplane, and is home for a few dozen full-time residents, with the seasonal population upwards of 100.-Geography and...
, and Bella Coola
Bella Coola, British Columbia
Bella Coola is a community of approximately 600 at the western extremity of the Bella Coola Valley. Bella Coola usually refers to the entire valley, encompassing the settlements of Bella Coola proper , Lower Bella Coola, Hagensborg, Saloompt, Nusatsum, Firvale and Stuie...
. In the winter the Chilliwack is often stored at Deas Dock, BC Ferries storage and refit facility, located along the Fraser River
Fraser River
The Fraser River is the longest river within British Columbia, Canada, rising at Fraser Pass near Mount Robson in the Rocky Mountains and flowing for , into the Strait of Georgia at the city of Vancouver. It is the tenth longest river in Canada...
in Richmond, BC, while the larger ship, MV Northern Expedition
MV Northern Expedition
M/V Northern Expedition is a RORO ferry operated by BC Ferries in British Columbia, Canada. It sails daily on the Inside Passage route connecting Prince Rupert and Port Hardy.-History:...
handles both the Queen of Chilliwacks route, and the Port Hardy to Prince Rupert, BC route.
BC Ferries recently announced that the Queen of Chilliwack will be retired sometime between now and 2013, to be replaced by a new ship, the MV Northern Discovery, which has yet to be built. BC Ferries has not yet released plans on the new ship's design or size.
External links