View source for C-class ferry

{{Short description|Class of cargo ferries}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin
| sclass = 2
}}
{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image = BC Ferry Queen of Oak Bay.jpg
| Ship image size = 300px
| Ship caption = ''Queen of Oak Bay'' departs the Departure Bay ferry terminal in June 2008
}}
{{Infobox ship class overview
| Builders = 
| Operators = [[BC Ferries]]
| Class before = [[V-class ferry|''Victoria'' class]]
| Class after = {{sclass2|Coastal|ferry|4}}
| Subclasses = 
| Built range = *1976–1981
*upgraded 2003–2007
| In service range = 
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{{Infobox ship characteristics
| Hide header = 
| Header caption = 
| Ship type = Double-ended, [[roll-on/roll-off]] ferry
| Ship tonnage = 6,968.91 [[ton]]s (5,863.22 [[ton]]s for ''Queen of Alberni'')
| Ship displacement = 
| Ship length = {{convert|139.29|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| Ship beam = {{convert|27|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| Ship height = 
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| Ship draft = {{convert|6|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
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| Ship power = {{convert|11,860|hp|MW|abbr=on}} via 2 × {{convert|6,000|hp|MW|abbr=on}} each maximum
| Ship propulsion = Two MaK 12M551AK
| Ship speed = {{convert|20.5|to|22|kn|lk=in}}
| Ship capacity = *1,466 passengers (~ 1,200 for ''Queen of Alberni'')
*316 vehicles (280 for ''Queen of Alberni'')
| Ship crew = 
| Ship notes = 
}}
|}
The '''C-class ferries''' (also known as '''''Cowichan'' class''') are a class of five double-ended [[roll-on/roll-off]] [[ferry|ferries]] operated by [[BC Ferries]] in the [[Strait of Georgia]] in [[British Columbia]], constructed between 1976 and 1981. When the vessels were first built, they were the largest ships of their kind in the world. The C-class ferries are <span style="white-space:nowrap">{{convert|139.29|m|ft|abbr=on}}</span> long, with a car capacity of 316, and a crew and passenger capacity of 1494 persons. Each vessel's two MaK 12M551AK engines produce 11,860 [[horsepower|HP]], which provides a maximum service speed of {{Convert|20.5|kn}}.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Our Fleet {{!}} BC Ferries |url=https://www.bcferries.com/on-the-ferry/our-fleet |access-date=2023-07-27 |website=www.bcferries.com |language=en}}</ref>

==C-class vessels==
[[File:Queen of Coquitlam - launch - Burrard Dry Dock - North Van - ~ fall 1975 (D.O. Thorne photo).jpg|thumb|left| ''Queen of Coquitlam'' being launched from the [[Burrard Dry Dock]]]]
The first two C-class ferries built were ''[[Queen of Coquitlam]]'' and ''[[Queen of Cowichan]]'', constructed in 1976. ''[[Queen of Oak Bay]]'' and ''[[Queen of Surrey]]'' were built in 1981. There were some minor modifications to the design of the two later ships compared to the earlier C-class ships; most noticeably, ''Queen of Oak Bay'' and ''Queen of Surrey'' both have longer passenger decks than their older sisters. The C-class vessels were designed by [[Philip F. Spaulding]] and are similar to the [[Jumbo-class ferry|Jumbo-class ferries]] he designed for [[Washington State Ferries]] several years earlier.
[[File:Queen of Alberni arriving at Swartz Bay - c1980.jpg|thumb|right| ''Queen of Alberni'' arriving at Swartz Bay in 1980]]
''[[Queen of Alberni]]'' was also constructed in 1976 along with the first two C-class vessels. Although this ferry is considered to be a C-class vessel, it is significantly different in layout. It was originally designed to carry only overheight (truck) traffic but in 1984, an upper car deck was installed for 150 non-overheight vehicles. This ferry has a capacity of 280 cars and 1200 passengers and crew, and has a maximum service speed of {{convert|22|kn|lk=in}}.<ref name=":0" />

''Queen of Coquitlam'', ''Queen of Cowichan'', ''Queen of Oak Bay'', ''Queen of Surrey,'' and ''Queen of Alberni'' each received extensive mid-life upgrades in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 respectively. From engine work to major modifications and improvements, the vessels were refitted to provide an additional 20 years of service.

In July 2018, BC Ferries announced that it had issued a request for proposals to build replacement vessels for all C-class ships, with deliveries beginning in 2024.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.passengership.info/news/view,bc-ferries-to-replace-cclass-ropax-with-five-newbuilds_53573.htm | title=BC Ferries to replace C-class ropax with five newbuilds | publisher=Passenger Ship Technology | date=18 July 2018 | accessdate=11 September 2018}}</ref> In 2022, BC Ferries deferred the replacement after it was determined the vessels could be given five-year life extensions beyond their original planned retirement dates. The project is in the design phase, with the first new major vessel currently scheduled to go into service in 2029.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Vessel || Launched || Length || Displacement || Car capacity || Passengers and crew
|- align=center
| {{ship|MV|Queen of Coquitlam||2}} || 1976 || <span style="white-space:nowrap">{{convert|139.29|m|ft|abbr=on}}</span> || 6465 tons || 316 || 1494
|- align=center
| {{ship|MV|Queen of Cowichan||2}} || 1976 || <span style="white-space:nowrap">{{convert|139.29|m|ft|abbr=on}}</span> || 6508 tons || 312 || 1494
|- align="center"
| {{ship|MV|Queen of Alberni||2}} || 1976 || <span style="white-space:nowrap">{{convert|139.29|m|ft|abbr=on}}</span> || 6422 tons || 280 || 1200
|- align=center
| {{ship|MV|Queen of Oak Bay||2}} || 1981 || <span style="white-space:nowrap">{{convert|139.29|m|ft|abbr=on}}</span> || 6673 tons || 311 || 1494
|- align=center
| {{ship|MV|Queen of Surrey||2}}|| 1981 || <span style="white-space:nowrap">{{convert|139.29|m|ft|abbr=on}}</span> || 6556 tons || 311 || 1494
|}


==Routes==
C-class ferries are double-ended; they have a separate bridge at each end and therefore are not required to turn around during the sailing. These ferries generally run on the [[Duke Point, British Columbia|Duke Point]]–[[Tsawwassen, British Columbia|Tsawwassen]], [[Horseshoe Bay, West Vancouver, British Columbia|Horseshoe Bay]]–[[Departure Bay, British Columbia|Departure Bay]] and Horseshoe Bay–[[Langdale, British Columbia|Langdale]] routes. At one time, these ferries operated on the [[Swartz Bay]]–Tsawwassen route, but due to limitations placed on their speed when transiting [[Active Pass]]—after an accident they were required to operate in the more maneuverable docking mode rather than cruising mode—it is no longer feasible to run them on that route.

==Incidents and accidents==
{{unreferenced|section|date=December 2020}}
On August 9, 1979, ''Queen of Alberni'' was transiting through Active Pass when it [[Ship grounding|ran aground]] on Galiano Island, tipping fifteen degrees to starboard.  Several large commercial vehicles on board the vessel at the time were damaged.  No persons were injured, but a racehorse onboard was killed.
[[File:Ferry_in_drydock_after_tipping_over.jpg|thumb|right|300px|The ''Queen of Coquitlam'' tipped over due to a leak in the dry dock]]
On October 19, 1980, ''Queen of Coquitlam''  tipped over and landed on her side in the Burrard Shipyards [[drydock]] during a maintenance layover, causing approximately {{CAD|3{{nbsp}}million|link=yes}} in damage.  She also gained the distinction of being the only BC Ferries vessel to have issued a mayday from drydock.

On September 21, 1995, ''Queen of Cowichan'' experienced an escalator accident where unsupervised students, poor signage, and inadequate surveillance led to congestion, falls, and injuries during disembarkation.<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 September 1995 |title=TSB of Canada investigation |url=https://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/marine/1995/m95w0145/m95w0145.html |access-date=27 July 2025}}</ref>

In June 1989, ''Queen of Alberni'' collided with the loading dock at Departure Bay causing significant damage to the ship and dock. Six people were injured including a cook who suffered a fractured cheekbone as he was walking down a set of stairs.

On March 12, 1992, ''Queen of Alberni'' collided with the Japanese freighter ''Shinwa Maru'' southwest of Tsawwassen.  The collision occurred in heavy fog, with both vessels suffering minor damage.  Injuries included 2 serious and 25 minor injuries for the 260 people on the ferry, while none of the 11 people aboard the freighter received injuries. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Transportation Safety Board of Canada |date=1992-03-12 |title=Marine Investigation Report M92W1022 |url=https://tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/marine/1992/m92w1022/m92w1022.html |access-date=2025-04-14 |website=www.tsb.gc.ca}}</ref>

In October 1994, ''Queen of Surrey'' crashed into the dock at Horseshoe Bay, causing $200,000 in damage.

On October 20, 1995, ''Queen of Coquitlam'' experienced an engine shut-down while approaching Horseshoe Bay.  She crashed into a dock at the terminal resulting in light damage.

On December 15, 2001, ''Queen of Alberni'' got caught in a heavy wind storm which turned a regular 2-hour crossing into a 7{{frac|1|2}}-hour ordeal.

On May 12, 2003, ''Queen of Surrey'' was disabled as a result of an engine room fire. ''[[I-class ferry|Queen of Capilano]]'' was tethered to ''Queen of Surrey'' while [[tugboat]]s were dispatched. The vessel was then towed back to shore.  None of the 318 passengers were injured, but several crew members were treated for minor injuries. Some buckling of the main car deck resulted from the heat of the fire. However, no vehicles were damaged in the incident.

On July 31, 2003, ''Queen of Surrey'' experienced a mechanical problem with one of its propellers.  As a result, she was removed from service for emergency dry-docking to facilitate repairs, which took about five days.

On June 30, 2005, ''Queen of Oak Bay'' lost power while approaching the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal.  After the captain gave ample warning, the ship coasted into the nearby Sewell's Marina, where it overran more than a dozen boats before running aground.  No one was injured, and the ferry sustained only minor scraping to a rudder and propeller blade.  See {{ship|MV|Queen of Oak Bay}} for extensive details on this accident.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070712231741/http://www.bcferries.bc.ca/about/fleet/qoc_promo/ BC Ferries: The Queens of Coquitlam, Cowichan and Oak Bay: More than a new look]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20091026235603/http://geocities.com/ferries_bc/ The Ferry Terminal - Ferries of British Columbia]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20071128055554/http://www.geocities.com/ferries_bc/profiles/bcf_qalberni.html The Ferry Terminal - Ferries of BC: ''Queen of Alberni''], [https://web.archive.org/web/20021231171609/http://www.geocities.com/ferries_bc/profiles/bcf_qcoquitlam.html ''Queen of Coquitlam''], [https://web.archive.org/web/20091027114240/http://geocities.com/ferries_bc/profiles/bcf_qcowichan.html ''Queen of Cowichan''], [https://web.archive.org/web/20091027114247/http://geocities.com/ferries_bc/profiles/bcf_qoakbay.html ''Queen of Oak Bay''], and [https://web.archive.org/web/20091027114311/http://geocities.com/ferries_bc/profiles/bcf_qsurrey.html ''Queen of Surrey'']
* [http://www.pbase.com/kstapleton/root BC Ferries and Ships on the BC Coast] (very extensive photo galleries)

{{C class ferry}}
{{BC Ferry Classes}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:C Class Ferry}}
[[Category:C-class ferries| ]]
[[Category:Ferry classes]]