Canwest News Service, Saturday, July 12, 2008
The Queen of Esquimalt has been purchased by a buyer in China, BC Ferries representative Deborah Marshall said Friday.
The company announced in January it was selling four of its oldest vessels: the Queen of Tsawwassen, Queen of Esquimalt, Queen of Saanich and Queen of Vancouver. The ferries are more than 40 years old and it's time to replace them with newer vessels, the company said.
Negotiations have begun for the other three ferries, Marshall said. No other details are being released until the vessels are sold, which the company anticipates will happen by the fall.
Built in Victoria in 1963, the Queen of Esquimalt is a V-class ship, and sister ship to the Queen of Victoria, which was sold in 2001 to the Dominican Republic.
When it first went into service, the 130-metre long Queen of Esquimalt carried passengers between Swartz Bay and Tsawwassen and has been used recently as a relief vessel.
In 1982, the vessel was cut in half and an extra vehicle deck and new engines were installed.
M.V. Queen of Esquimalt
Place Built - VMD, Victoria, BC
Year Built - 1963
Vehicle Capacity - 286
Passenger Capacity - 1,138 (+ 27 crew)
Length - 129.97 m
Gross Tons - 9,304.07
Service Speed - 19 knots
Horsepower - 8,500
Ferryman at Flicker also has some more details. Above is a picture I took just last week of the ship, with its new name, Princess Jacqueline, at BC Ferries' Deas Dock facility on the Fraser River.