MV Quinitsa

The MV Quinitsa is an automobile ferry operated by BC Ferries. It was built in 1977 by Vancouver Shipyards in Vancouver, British Columbia. The ferry was originally part of the Ministry of Transportation and Highways' (MoT) saltwater ferry fleet until 1985, when the MoT's saltwater ferries—including Quinitsa—were transferred to BC Ferries.[1]

Quinitsa at Buckley Bay (2007)
History
Canada
Name	Quinitsa
Namesake	Kwinitsa River
Owner	Ministry of Transportation and Highways
Operator	Ministry of Transportation and Highways (1977-1982), BC Ferries (1982-1983), Ministry of Transportation and Highways (1983-1985)
Route	1977-1982: Nanaimo Harbour ↔ Gabriola Island 1983-present: Buckley Bay ↔ Denman Island
Builder	Vancouver Shipyards Co. Ltd., North Vancouver
Completed	1977
In service	1977
Identification	IMO number: 7710965
Fate	Transferred to BC Ferries in 1985
Canada
Name	Quinitsa
Owner	British Columbia Ferry Services Inc.
Operator	British Columbia Ferry Services Inc.
Route	1983-present: Buckley Bay ↔ Denman Island
Acquired	1985
Refit	2008
Identification	IMO number: 7710965 MMSI number: 316001265 Callsign: CZ8734
Status	in active service
General characteristics
Class and type	unclassified
Type	ferry
Tonnage	1107.59
Displacement	1099 tonnes
Length	74.68 m (245.0 ft)
Beam	19.51 m (64.0 ft)
Installed power	1,899 hp (1,416 kW)
Speed	10 knots (19 km/h)
Capacity	392 passengers 50 cars
Crew	6
Notes	Sources:[1][2]

The 50-car Quinitsa began service in 1977 on the Nanaimo Harbour ↔ Gabriola Island ferry route, replacing the 30-car Kahloke. Like her predecessor, the Quinitsa soon became too small and in June 1982, the larger 70-car MV Quinsam entered service, replacing Quinitsa. For the rest of 1982 and for most of 1983, she was loaned to BC Ferries. She operated on a variety of routes, including Horseshoe Bay ↔ Bowen Island, Swartz Bay ↔ Fulford Harbour, and she also served the Gulf Islands from Swartz Bay. Upon returning to the MoT, she was placed on the Buckley Bay ↔ Denman Island route until 2019, when she replaced the Howe Sound Queen on the Crofton ↔ Vesuvius Bay (Salt Spring Island) route and remains there on a temporary basis as of 2023.[1]

In 2008, she received a mid-life upgrade where she received new engines and generators, as well as a rebuilt bridge structure and a refurbished passenger cabin. In 2018, when unscheduled repairs to the Queen of Cumberland required the MV Skeena Queen to carry traffic between Pender Island and Swartz Bay in addition to between Fulford Harbour and Swartz Bay, the Quinitsa was stationed at Fulford Harbour to provide additional sailings during peak demand on those routes, and to handle some dangerous cargo sailings.