V Class Ferry - History and Sub-classes

History and Sub-classes

When the Victoria Class ferries were constructed, a total of seven were constructed.

• Original seven V class vessels
  • MV Queen of Victoria
  • MV Queen of Vancouver
  • MV Queen of Saanich
  • MV Queen of Esquimalt
  • MV Queen of New Westminster
  • MV Queen of Burnaby
  • MV Queen of Nanaimo

The seven ships constructed were soon modified to increase vehicle capacity twice. The first was the installation of platform decks or ramps, the seconds saw the ships sliced in half vertically across the beam for the insertion of an 84 foot midsection, which dramatically increased the length of the seven ships.

Later, five of the seven ships (excluding MV Queen of Burnaby, and MV Queen of Nanaimo) were cut horizontally from bow to stern to have a new vehicle deck inserted. As a result, the two ships left without the new car deck were removed from the V class designation to become Burnaby class vessels.

The MV Queen of New Westminster was later fit with new engines to make it travel at a speed comparable to the newer Cowichan class ferries. The New West was then also dropped from the V class designation, and is now officially unclassed.

• Current designations of original seven V class vessels
  • V Class (With ramps, stretch, and raise)
    • MV Queen of Victoria (retired)
    • MV Queen of Vancouver (retired)
    • MV Queen of Saanich (retired)
    • MV Queen of Esquimalt (retired)
  • Burnaby Class (With ramps and stretch)
    • MV Queen of Burnaby
    • MV Queen of Nanaimo
  • Unclassed (With ramps, stretch, raise, and engine refit)
    • MV Queen of New Westminster