Ship Details
North Island Princess Photo Credit: John M. 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	(nk)	CB-1	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	Captain Stan Fike

 

Owner(s)

In 1958-1967 she was owned by the Gulf Islands Navigation Ltd., Victoria BC Canada. In 1970-1971 she was owned by the Minister of Highways & Ferries, Victoria BC Canada. In 1972-1974 she was owned by the Minister of Highways, (Ferries Division), Victoria BC Canada. In 1976 she was owned by the Minister of Highways and Public Works, Victoria BC Canada. In 1978 she was owned by the Minister of Transportation, Communications and Highways, Victoria BC Canada. In 1979 she was owned by the Minister of Transportation and Highways, Victoria BC Canada. She was owned by the BC Ferry Corporation. In 2004-2020 she was owned by British Columbia Ferry Services Ltd., Victoria BC Canada. In 2023-2024 she was owned by Middle Bay Properties Inc., Campbell River Bc Canada.

 

Fate	Afloat in 2024	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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