| M.V. North Island Princess | |
| Place Built | Vancouver, BC |
| Year Built | 1958 |
| Vehicle Capacity | 49 |
| Passenger Capacity | 293 (+ 7 crew) |
| Length | 59.99 m |
| Gross Tons | 841 |
| Service Speed | 10 knots |
| Horsepower | 1,350 |
| Est. Retirement Year* | 2005/2006 |
| Onboard Services* | Elevator, Vending |
| * From BC Ferries Coastal Ferry Services Contract (2003) |
Notes of Interest:
- When built, the North Island Princess had 4 staterooms.
- For the story of the North Island Princess click here: First Cat on the Coast.
- The North Island Princess is the second oldest ferry in the BC Ferries fleet and is once again the only catamaran in the fleet with the selling of the PacifiCats.
- The North Island Princess operates between Powell River and Texada Island as she has for the past 23 years.
| Year | Event |
| 1958 | Island Princess launched. Built for Sparky New's Coast Ferries. |
| 1969 | BC Ferries bought Coast Ferries which included two ferries, Island Princess and Mill Bay. |
| 1971 | The Island Princess was stretched and widened to increase capacity from 20 to 49. At this time, her hull was changed from a single hull to a catamaran hull. |
| 1971-1979 | The Island Princess operated between Kesley Bay and Port Hardy (including towns inbetween) and even Port Alice on the western side of Vancouver Island, until the highway was completed in 1979. She was then placed on the Texada Island route. | 1974 | The Island Princess was renamed North Island Princess because P&O wanted to register a newly aquired cruise ship by this name. BC Ferries agreed to change the name provided P&O contributed some antique articles and a model ship to the Maritime Museum of British Columbia in memory of their operations in the province. |
| 1977 | The BC Ministry of Transportation and Highways Marine Branch took over the operation of the North Island Princess. |
| 1985 | With the merge of BC Ferries and the BC Ministry of Transporation and Highways Marine Branch, the North Island Princess again joined the BC Ferries fleet. |
| 1985 | The North Island Princess joined the BC Ferries fleet as the Marine Branch of the BC Ministry of Transportation was merged with BC Ferries. |
Quick Links:
Ferry Profiles Page - Ferry Terminal - BC Ferries Discussion Board.
Page/Images by John Hammersmark.
This page was last updated on September 6, 2005.