MV Queen of Nanaimo

MV Queen of Nanaimo is a Burnaby-class passenger vessel that was operated by BC Ferries from the time it entered service in 1964 until 2017. Queen of Nanaimo was used to ferry passengers and vehicles from mainland British Columbia, Canada to the islands off its coast. In 2017, the vessel was sold to Goundar Shipping Ltd. and renamed MV Lomaiviti Princess V for service in Fiji.

As Queen of Nanaimo
History
Name
  • Queen of Nanaimo (1964–2017)
  • Lomaiviti Princess V (2017–2022)
Owner
Operator
  • British Columbia Ferry Services Inc.
  • Goundar Shipping Ltd.
Port of registry
  • Canada Victoria, British Columbia (1964–2017)
  • Fiji Fiji (2017–2022)
BuilderVictoria Machinery Depot, Victoria
LaunchedDecember 3, 1963
CompletedJune 1964
Out of service2022
Identification
FateScrapped 2022
General characteristics as built
Class and typeBurnaby-class ferry
Tonnage3,545 GRT
Length
  • 104.4 m (342 ft 6 in) oa
  • 93.8 m (307 ft 9 in) pp
Beam23.9 m (78 ft 5 in)
Propulsion2 × diesel engines, 2 propellers
Speed18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)

Description

As built the ferry measured 3,545 gross register tons (GRT) with a length overall of 104.4 m (342 ft 6 in) and 93.8 m (307 ft 9 in) between perpendiculars with a beam of 23.9 m (78 ft 5 in). The vessel was powered by two diesel engines driving two propellers giving the ship a maximum speed of 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph).[1]

In 1974, the ship was lengthened and Queen of Nanaimo's was measured at 130.0 m (426 ft 6 in) long overall and 119.5 m (392 ft 1 in) between perpendiculars with the tonnage remeasured at 4,938 gross tonnage (GT) and 1,141 tons deadweight (DWT).[1] In 2006 there was a major overhaul of its passenger areas. Its propulsion is by two Mirrlees National KVSSM twin turbocharged (intercooled) single acting 4-stroke, V16 diesel engines which produce 3,000 bhp (2,200 kW) at 320 rpm. 15-inch bore by 18-inch (460 mm) stroke. Propellers are variable pitch (controllable-pitch propeller) made by KaMeWa (a Rolls-Royce company). The ship is capable of carrying 164 vehicles and 1,005 passengers and crew.[2]

Service history

The ship was built by Victoria Machinery Depot of Victoria, British Columbia, on behalf of BC Ferries with the yard number 104. Queen of Nanaimo was launched on December 3, 1963, and completed in June 1964.[1] In 1974, the ship was rebuilt and extended 25 metres (82 ft 0 in) in length. It operated on the Tsawwassen–Gulf Islands route web in British Columbia, Canada.[2]

Queen of Nanaimo underwent two major refits, one in 2010 and the other in 2015, to maintain Transport Canada's safety standards.[2] On August 3, 2010, Queen of Nanaimo had a "hard landing" at the Village Bay terminal on Mayne Island. Media reports suggested at least one serious injury and damage to vessel and dock.[3] It was later established that the landing was caused by a mechanical failure after the ship ran over a commercial crab trap, making it impossible to put the ship into reverse.[4] On July 1, 2011, Queen of Nanaimo had another "hard landing" at the Tsawwassen terminal.[5]

On November 2, 2013, the ship was pushed off course at Mayne Island after hitting severe weather. It damaged a private dock, but no one was injured.[6]

On June 25, 2017, Queen of Nanaimo was taken out of service by BC Ferries due to issues with the vessel's propellers.[7] The ferry returned to service on June 29. The vessel was retired in mid-2017 and was sold to Goundar Shipping Ltd for service in Fiji.[2][8] Renamed Lomaiviti Princess V after arrival in Fiji in November, the vessel began operations on the Suva–Savusavu route in December 2017.[9] In June 2020, Goundar Shipping announced that the vessel would be sold for scrap.[10] In June 2022, the vessel was sold to a scrap yard in Alang, India.[11]

See also

Citations
  1. Miramar Ship Index.
  2. Penner, Derrick (November 22, 2017). "Queen of Nanaimo becomes third B.C. Ferries ship given new life in Fiji". The Vancouver Sun. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
  3. "Rope tangled in props of crashed B.C. ferry". CBC News. August 3, 2010. Retrieved June 7, 2017.
  4. Seyd, Jane (August 12, 2012). "West Vancouver doctor sues ferries over crash". North Shore News. Retrieved June 7, 2017.
  5. "Ferry pulled after hard landing on Canada Day". CTV News. July 2, 2011. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
  6. "B.C. ferry crashes leaving Mayne Island". CBC News. November 2, 2013. Retrieved June 7, 2017.
  7. Pawson, Chad (June 25, 2017). "Queen of Nanaimo ferry sailings cancelled for Monday". CBC News. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
  8. Bell, Jeff (June 29, 2017). "Queen of Nanaimo due to return to service today". Times-Colonist. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
  9. Tuimaisala, Lusiana (August 16, 2017). "Lomaiviti Princess V Arrives in November". Fiji Sun. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
  10. Tuimaisala, Lusiana (June 11, 2020). "Goundar Sells Ships As Scrap". Fiji Sun. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  11. Talebula, Wati (June 18, 2022). "Ship Sale Row". Fiji Sun. Retrieved July 13, 2022.

References
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