Statistics:
M.V. Princess of Vancouver | When Retired | |||
Previous Names | (None) | Vehicle Capacity | 150 automobiles | |
Place Built | Glasgow, Scotland | Passenger Capacity | 984 | |
Year Built | 1955 | Length | 416 ft. | |
Joined BC Ferries | 1985 | Gross Tons | 5,554 (when built) | |
Retired from BC Ferries | 1987 | Service Speed | 17 knots |
History & Notes:
When built, the Princess of Vancouver had room for 120 vehicles and 28 railcars. Loading and unloading occurred via the stern of the vessel. (Those Beautiful Coastal Liners, 135).
In 1962, the Princess of Vancouver went for refit and emerged with a larger vehicle capacity (Those Beautiful Coastal Liners, 138).
The Princess of Vancouver underwent refit again in 1973, receiving new engines and increased speed (from http://members.shaw.ca/gcsimpson/cprfleet6.htm).
According to Robert Turner, the Princess was moved to the government-run B.C. Steamship Company (she was not a steamship). Her new owners renamed her Vancouver Island Princess (known as the VIP) and put her on the Victoria - Seattle run after a $2.3 million refit (Those Beautiful Coastal Liners, 143).
According to Robert Turner, the Vancouver Island Princess was the last CPR Princess to leave the coast (Those Beautiful Coastal Liners, 143-5 ; http://members.shaw.ca/gcsimpson/cprfleet6.htm).
Origin of the Names:
What happened to the Princess of Vancouver?
Works Cited & Sources:
Clapp, Frank A. Lake and River Ferries. Victoria: Province of British Columbia, Ministry of Transportation and Highways, 1991.
"The C.P.R. Fleet 6." Port-N-Starboard. Available Online: http://members.shaw.ca/gcsimpson/cprfleet6.htm.
Turner, Robert D. The Pacific Princesses. Victoria, Sono Nis Press, 1977.
Turner, Robert D. Those Beautiful Coastal Liners. Victoria: Sono Nis Press, 2001.
Relevant Links:
Photo's of CPR Princesses - Includes a nice color-picture of the Princess of Vancouver leaving Vancouver harbour under the Lions Gate Bridge (near bottom of photo section).
The C.P.R. Fleet 6 - Information and photos of some of CPR's Princess ships including the S.S. Princess Elaine, Princess of Nanaimo, and Princess of Vancouver.
BC Archives Photographs (By Call Number)
E-00567 - The Princess of Vancouver at Vancouver.
E-00569 - Another picture of the Princess of Vancouver at Vancouver.
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This page was last updated on June 13, 2003.