Sidney-class ferry
| Script error: No such module "InfoboxImage". Queen of Sidney entering the Westview terminal at Powell River in 1993. Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". |
The Sidney class consisted of two roll-on/roll-off ferries, Queen of Sidney and Queen of Tsawwassen, built for the British Columbia Ferry Corporation in service from 1960 to 2008. The design for the ships was based on the ferry Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". with changes made to accommodate loading of vehicles through the bow of the vessel. Both vessels serviced different routes throughout their service lives.
Design and description
Design of the two roll-on/roll-off ferries, Queen of Sidney and Queen of Tsawwassen, was based on a ferry that was under construction for Black Ball Transport, Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". for international service along the British Columbia and Washington coasts. CohoTemplate:'s design was altered by the original naval architect Philip F. Spaulding and his Canadian partner Arthur McLaren to allow the Canadian vessels to accept vehicle loading at both bow and stern.Template:Sfn Both ships were Template:Cvt long overall and Template:Cvt between perpendiculars with a beam of Template:Cvt.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn The ships were powered by 16-cylinder Mirrless twin diesel enginesTemplate:Sfn creating Template:Cvt turning two screws with a maximum speed of Script error: No such module "convert"..Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn[1] The ships had different tonnages when built; Queen of Sidney was initially measured at Template:GRT and Template:DWT,Template:Sfn while Queen of Tsawwassen was measured at Template:GRT and Template:DWT.Template:Sfn As built, the vessels had a car capacity of 108, however in 1971, additional platforms were added to the car decks increasing capacity to 138.Template:Sfn
Ships
| Name | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Completed | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Queen of Sidney (ex-Sidney) | Victoria Machinery Depot, Victoria, British Columbia | May 9, 1959 | October 6, 1959 | May 1960 | Laid up in Fraser River in 2001. Burned on May 3, 2025 |
| Queen of Tsawwassen (ex-Tsawwassen) | Burrard Dry Dock, Vancouver, British Columbia | November 28, 1959 | Sold 2008 |
Construction and career
In 1958, the premier of British Columbia W.A.C. Bennett authorised the creation of a provincial ferry service.Template:Sfn The new service, known as the British Columbia Ferry Corporation ordered two ships constructed from shipyards in British Columbia. Sidney was ordered from Victoria Machinery Depot in Victoria, with the yard number 85 and was laid down on May 9, 1959.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn The vessel was launched on October 6, 1959 and completed in May 1960.Template:Sfn Tsawwassen was built by Burrard Dry Dock in Vancouver with the yard number 309 and was laid down on May 9, 1959.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn The ferry was launched on November 28, 1959 and completed in May 1960.Template:Sfn Both ships began service on June 15, 1960 servicing two terminals linking Victoria and Vancouver.Template:Sfn In 1962, Tsawwassen was renamed Queen of TsawwassenTemplate:Sfn and in 1963, Sidney was renamed Queen of Sidney.Template:Sfn This was due to change in fleetwide naming policy based on CP Ships naming their vessels "Princess". As a result, the larger vessels of the British Columbia Ferries fleet would have "Queen" placed in front of their original names and the smaller ones have it added to the end.Template:Sfn
The two ships spent almost all of their service life identical to when they were constructed, except for an expansion of the restaurant areas, due to unexpected food demand shortly after they commenced service.Template:Sfn
Queen of Sidney was retired in November 2000.[2] The decommissioned ferry was sold to Bob and Gerald Tapp for CAN$100,000 in 2002 and renamed Bad Adventure. The ship was sent to a shipyard in Mission, British Columbia, where it has sat ever since.[2][3] Queen of Tsawwassen was taken out of service in 2007. This was due to the ship no longer capable of meeting government regulations and a refit being cost prohibitive. An Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". was ordered to replace the ship.[4] The vessel was put up for sale in 2008.[5]
On May 3, 2025, shortly before 2 am, the city of Mission activated its Emergency Operations Centre in response to an out of control fire aboard Queen of Sidney. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police began investigating the incident immediately and were treating the blaze as "suspicious."[6]
Citations
<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
References
- Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- Template:Csr
- Template:Csr
External links
- In 2014 Queen of Sidney can be seen here Script error: No such module "Coordinates".