Ship details

Ship Details
Owen Belle Photo Credit: John M. MacFarlane

Ship Details

Owen Belle

Photo Credit: John M. MacFarlane

Registry #1	318669 (Canada)	Registry #2		Registry #3
IMO#		MMSI#		VRN#

Name 1	1963	Queen of Saanich	Name 6
Name 2	2011c	Owen Belle	Name 7
Name 3			Name 8
Name 4			Name 9
Name 5			Name 10

Year Built	1963	Place	Victoria	Area	BC	Country	Canada

Designer	Spaulding, Philip F.	Measurement (imp)	310.5' x 76.1' x 16.8'
Builder	Victoria Machinery Depot Co. Ltd.	Measurement (metric)	122.22m x 23.2m x 5.12m
Hull	Steel	Displacement
Gross Tonnage	9301.65	Type 1	Ferry, Passenger/car
Registered Tonnage	7780.81	Type 2
Engine	2-6664hp engine (1962)	Engine Manufacture	Fairbanks Morse Co., Chicago IL USA
Repower		Propulsion	Twin Screw
Rebuilds	She was rebuilt at Victoria BC by Yarrows to 426.5' x ? x ? 9302gt.	Call Sign	VYKX
Pendant #		Masters

Owner(s)
In 1963-1964 she was owned by British Columbia Toll Highways & Bridges Authority, Victoria BC Canada. In 1965-1967 she was owned by the British Columbia Ferry Authority, Victoria BC Canada. In 1970-1973 she was owned by the Minister of Highways (Ferries Division - B.C. Ferries), Victoria BC Canada. In 1974 she was owned by The Minister of Transport and Communications (Ferries Division), Victoria BC Canada. In 1975 she was owned by the Minister of Highways (Ferries Division - B.C. Ferries), Victoria BC Canada. In 1976 she was owned by The Minister of Transportation and Communications, Victoria BC Canada. In 1977 she was owned by The Minister of Transport and Communications, Victoria BC Canada. In 1978-1988 she was owned by the British Columbia Ferry Corp., Victoria BC Canada. In 1989-1990 she was owned by the Minister of Finance, Victoria BC Canada. In 1991-2001 she was owned by the British Columbia Ferry Corporation, Victoria BC Canada. In 2003-2004 she was owned by British Columbia Ferry Services Inc., Victoria BC Canada. Renamed Owen Belle. Used as a logging camp on the coast of the Vancouver Island. Later moved to be moored on west side of Anvil Island in Howe Sound. Scrapped in 2012 at Ensenada, Mexico.

Owner(s)

In 1963-1964 she was owned by British Columbia Toll Highways & Bridges Authority, Victoria BC Canada. In 1965-1967 she was owned by the British Columbia Ferry Authority, Victoria BC Canada. In 1970-1973 she was owned by the Minister of Highways (Ferries Division - B.C. Ferries), Victoria BC Canada. In 1974 she was owned by The Minister of Transport and Communications (Ferries Division), Victoria BC Canada. In 1975 she was owned by the Minister of Highways (Ferries Division - B.C. Ferries), Victoria BC Canada. In 1976 she was owned by The Minister of Transportation and Communications, Victoria BC Canada. In 1977 she was owned by The Minister of Transport and Communications, Victoria BC Canada. In 1978-1988 she was owned by the British Columbia Ferry Corp., Victoria BC Canada. In 1989-1990 she was owned by the Minister of Finance, Victoria BC Canada. In 1991-2001 she was owned by the British Columbia Ferry Corporation, Victoria BC Canada. In 2003-2004 she was owned by British Columbia Ferry Services Inc., Victoria BC Canada. Renamed Owen Belle. Used as a logging camp on the coast of the Vancouver Island. Later moved to be moored on west side of Anvil Island in Howe Sound. Scrapped in 2012 at Ensenada, Mexico.

Fate	Registry closed	Date	2012-07-12

Named Features
Significance of Name

Anecdotes
On 02/04/1962 her keel was laid by Mrs. W.M. Skillings. On 28/11/1962 this vessel was launched by Mrs. J.D. Tisdalle. In 1963 her capacity 106 cars and 969 passengers. On 09/02/1963 her inaugural run was made by Captain J.D. Callan. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada states that "At 0818, 06 February 1992, in light airs, calm sea and fog, the catamaran passenger ferry "Royal Vancouver" and the British Columbia Ferry Corporation vehicle/passenger ferry "Queen of Saanich" collided head-on off Georgina Point at the northern entrance to Active Pass, British Columbia. On board the "Royal Vancouver", which was extensively damaged, 19 passengers and 4 crew members were injured. The bow doors of the "Queen of Saanich" were also damaged. The Board determined that the bridge team of the "Royal Vancouver" did not positively identify and track a radar target and, as a result, altered course into the projected path of the "Queen of Saanich" about one minute before the collision. Contributing to the situation was the bridge team's limited experience with the catamaran's equipment."

Anecdotes

On 02/04/1962 her keel was laid by Mrs. W.M. Skillings. On 28/11/1962 this vessel was launched by Mrs. J.D. Tisdalle. In 1963 her capacity 106 cars and 969 passengers. On 09/02/1963 her inaugural run was made by Captain J.D. Callan. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada states that "At 0818, 06 February 1992, in light airs, calm sea and fog, the catamaran passenger ferry "Royal Vancouver" and the British Columbia Ferry Corporation vehicle/passenger ferry "Queen of Saanich" collided head-on off Georgina Point at the northern entrance to Active Pass, British Columbia. On board the "Royal Vancouver", which was extensively damaged, 19 passengers and 4 crew members were injured. The bow doors of the "Queen of Saanich" were also damaged. The Board determined that the bridge team of the "Royal Vancouver" did not positively identify and track a radar target and, as a result, altered course into the projected path of the "Queen of Saanich" about one minute before the collision. Contributing to the situation was the bridge team's limited experience with the catamaran's equipment."

References
Canada List of Shipping; Cadieux & Griffiths (1967); http://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/marine/1992/m92w1012/m92w1012.asp; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V-class_ferry; http://heritage.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.lac_reel_t11933/96?r=0&s=6 ;
Last update

The Nauticapedia

The Virtual Maritime Museum of Western North America

Ship Details

Owen Belle