Victoria Express
Encyclopedia
Victoria Express, also known as Victoria Rapid Transit, was the name of a private, seasonal ferry
operation based in Port Angeles, Washington
. They operated two passenger-only ferries, on routes between Port Angeles and Victoria, British Columbia
and Friday Harbor, Washington
during the summer, the 149-seat, 105 feet (32 m) Victoria Express and the 120 feet (36.6 m) Victoria Express II. Both ferries are gyroscopically stabilized
.
In 2006, the Victoria Express II, and in 2007 the Victoria Express main engines were replaced. The new engines are Detroit Diesel
Offroad/MTU
Series 60 high efficiency engines. The Series 60 is a 4-stroke inline 6 cylinder
Diesel engine
. The Victoria Express fleet operates on biodiesel
.
With the amount of Victoria tourism in 2010, the service, which operated from May to September (May to October for the 2010 season), had the intentions to expand its Port Angeles-Victoria service to operate year-round, but on March 4, it was announced that the service has been discontinued and was purchased by Black Ball Transport which operates the on the same route. The service has been renamed Expeditions Northwest and the vessels now operate on eco-tours through the islands, Puget Sound, Juan De Fuca Strait and Victoria, but continue to remain based in Port Angeles. The first trip for the new service debuted on April 16, 2011.
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...
operation based in Port Angeles, Washington
Port Angeles, Washington
Port Angeles is a city in and the county seat of Clallam County, Washington, United States. The population was 19,038 at the 2010 census. The area's harbor was dubbed Puerto de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles by Spanish explorer Francisco de Eliza in 1791, but by the mid-19th century the name had...
. They operated two passenger-only ferries, on routes between Port Angeles and Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
and Friday Harbor, Washington
Friday Harbor, Washington
Friday Harbor is a town in San Juan County, Washington, United States. The population was 2,162 at 2010 Census. Located on San Juan Island, Friday Harbor is the major commercial center of the San Juan Islands archipelago and is the county seat of San Juan County.-History:In 1845 the Hudson's Bay...
during the summer, the 149-seat, 105 feet (32 m) Victoria Express and the 120 feet (36.6 m) Victoria Express II. Both ferries are gyroscopically stabilized
Stabilizer (ship)
Ship stabilizers are fins mounted beneath the waterline and emerging laterally. In contemporary vessels, they may be gyroscopically controlled active fins, which have the capacity to change their angle of attack to counteract roll caused by wind or waves acting on the ship.The bilge keel is an...
.
In 2006, the Victoria Express II, and in 2007 the Victoria Express main engines were replaced. The new engines are Detroit Diesel
Detroit Diesel
As a corporation, Daimler Trucks North America has decided to rename the company "DETROIT".Detroit Diesel Corporation is an American-based diesel engine producer headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, USA...
Offroad/MTU
MTU Friedrichshafen
MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH is a manufacturer of commercial internal combustion engines founded by Wilhelm Maybach and his son Karl Maybach in 1909...
Series 60 high efficiency engines. The Series 60 is a 4-stroke inline 6 cylinder
Straight-6
The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase...
Diesel engine
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
. The Victoria Express fleet operates on biodiesel
Biodiesel
Biodiesel refers to a vegetable oil- or animal fat-based diesel fuel consisting of long-chain alkyl esters. Biodiesel is typically made by chemically reacting lipids with an alcohol....
.
With the amount of Victoria tourism in 2010, the service, which operated from May to September (May to October for the 2010 season), had the intentions to expand its Port Angeles-Victoria service to operate year-round, but on March 4, it was announced that the service has been discontinued and was purchased by Black Ball Transport which operates the on the same route. The service has been renamed Expeditions Northwest and the vessels now operate on eco-tours through the islands, Puget Sound, Juan De Fuca Strait and Victoria, but continue to remain based in Port Angeles. The first trip for the new service debuted on April 16, 2011.