Ship Details

North Island Princess

Vessel image

Photo Credit: John MacFarlane

 
 
Registry #1 310431 (Canada) Registry #2 Registry #3
IMO# 8873788 MMSI# VRN#
 
Name 1 1958 Island Princess (II) Name 6
Name 2 1975 North Island Princess Name 7
Name 3 Name 8
Name 4 Name 9
Name 5 Name 10
 
Year Built 1958 Place Vancouver Area BC Country Canada
 
Designer Robert Allan Measurement (imp) 131.3' x 35.0' x 11.0'
Builder Allied Shipbuilders Ltd. Measurement (metric) ?m x ?m x ?m
Hull Steel Displacement
Gross Tonnage Type 1 Ferry, Passenger/car
Registered Tonnage Type 2
Engine 2-256bhp (520hp total) diesel engines Engine Manufacture Rolls-Royce Ltd., Derby UK
Repower Repowered in 1973 with a General Motors 1350hp engine. Propulsion Screw
Rebuilds In 1971 she was rebuilt at North Vancouver BC by Burrard Dry Dock Co. Ltd. 185' x 56.9' x 13.1' 51.55m x 17.37m x 4.05m 839.00gt 627.00rt Call Sign VDBD
Pendant  # Masters
 
Owner(s)
In 1958-1967 she was owned by the Gulf Islands Navigation Ltd., Victoria BC. In 1970-1971 she was owned by the Minister of Highways & Ferries, Victoria BC. In 1972-1974 she was owned by the Minister of Highways, (Ferries Division), Victoria BC. In 1976 she was owned by the Minister of Highways and Public Works, Victoria BC. In 1978 she was owned by the Minister of Transportation, Communications and Highways, Victoria BC. In 1979 she was owned by the Minister of Transportation and Highways, Victoria BC. She was owned by the BC Ferry Corporation. In 2004-2020 she was owned by British Columbia Ferry Services Ltd., Victoria BC.
 
Fate Afloat in 2020 Date 0000-00-00
 
Named Features
Significance of Name
 
Anecdotes
This vessel was rebuilt with a catamaran hull. Steve Poole reports (British Columbia Nautical History Facebook Group 15/09/2016) that "Long before this vessel was renamed the "North Island Princess", the "IP"(as we called her) was sailing from Kelsey Bay to Sointula under the Company of Coast Ferries owned by Sparky New. My Father was her Chief Engineer with Captain Stan Fike as the Master. BC Ferries took her over in 1971 and turned her into the first Catamaran Car Ferry on the Coast. this vessel was renamed the "North Island Princess" when Princess Cruise Lines wanted to name their "Love Boat" the Island Princess. Notice the derricks. Cars were loaded one by one using a pallet while alongside the Government Docks. And sometimes when the ship was full, a car was hung over the side of the bulwarks if the owner really needed to get somewhere, but only after signing off on a liability disclaimer.".
 
References
McLaren, T.A. & Vickie Jensen (2000); Canada List of Shipping; http://heritage.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.lac_reel_t11930/522?r=0&s=4 ;
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