# Sidney-class ferry

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Sidney-class_ferry
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Sidney-class_ferry.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidney-class_ferry
> Source revision: 1323475717
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

Canadian roll-on/roll-off ferries

Queen of Sidney entering the Westview terminal at Powell River in 1993. Class overview Name Sidney class Builders Victoria Machinery Depot, Victoria Burrard Dry Dock Co. Ltd., North Vancouver Operators BC Ferries Succeeded by Victoria class Built 1959–1960 In service 1960–2007 Completed 2 Retired 2 General characteristics for Queen of Sidney as built Type Roll-on/roll-off ferry Tonnage 2,976 GRT 702 DWT Length 102.4 m (335 ft 11 in) oa 93.8 m (307 ft 9 in) pp Beam 22.6 m (74 ft 2 in) Installed power Diesel engines Propulsion Two shafts Speed 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)

The ***Sidney* class** consisted of two [roll-on/roll-off](/source/Roll-on%2Froll-off) [ferries](/source/Ferry), *Queen of Sidney* and *Queen of Tsawwassen*, built for the [British Columbia Ferry Corporation](/source/BC_Ferries) in service from 1960 to 2008. The design for the ships was based on the ferry [MV *Coho*](/source/MV_Coho) with changes made to accommodate loading of vehicles through the bow of the vessel. Both vessels serviced different routes throughout their service lives.

## Design and description

*Queen of Sidney* sitting on the Fraser River in 2009

Design of the two [roll-on/roll-off](/source/Roll-on%2Froll-off) [ferries](/source/Ferry), *Queen of Sidney* and *Queen of Tsawwassen*, was based on a ferry that was under construction for Black Ball Transport, [MV *Coho*](/source/MV_Coho) for international service along the [British Columbia](/source/British_Columbia) and [Washington](/source/Washington_(state)) coasts. *Coho*'s design was altered by the original naval architect Philip F. Spaulding and his Canadian partner Arthur McLaren to allow the Canadian vessels to accept vehicle loading at both [bow](/source/Bow_(watercraft)) and [stern](/source/Stern_(ship)).[1] Both ships were 102.4 m (335 ft 11 in) [long overall](/source/Length_overall) and 93.8 m (307 ft 9 in) [between perpendiculars](/source/Length_between_perpendiculars) with a [beam](/source/Beam_(nautical)) of 22.6 m (74 ft 2 in).[2][3] The ships were powered by 16-cylinder Mirrless twin [diesel engines](/source/Diesel_engine)[1] creating 4,500 [kW](/source/Kilowatt) (6,000 [hp](/source/Horsepower)) turning two [screws](/source/Propeller) with a maximum speed of 18 [knots](/source/Knot_(unit)) (33 km/h; 21 mph).[2][3][4] The ships had different tonnages when built; *Queen of Sidney* was initially measured at 2,976 [gross register tons](/source/Gross_register_tonnage) (GRT) and 702 tons [deadweight](/source/Deadweight_tonnage) (DWT),[2] while *Queen of Tsawwassen* was measured at 3,127 GRT and 980 DWT.[3] As built, the vessels had a car capacity of 108, however in 1971, additional platforms were added to the car decks increasing capacity to 138.[5]

## Ships

Construction data[1][2][3] Name Builder Laid down Launched Completed Fate Queen of Sidney (ex-Sidney) Victoria Machinery Depot, Victoria, British Columbia May 9, 1959 October 6, 1959 May 1960 Laid up in Fraser River in 2001. Burned on May 3, 2025 Queen of Tsawwassen (ex-Tsawwassen) Burrard Dry Dock, Vancouver, British Columbia November 28, 1959 Sold 2008

## Construction and career

In 1958, the [premier of British Columbia](/source/Premier_of_British_Columbia) [W.A.C. Bennett](/source/W.A.C._Bennett) authorised the creation of a provincial ferry service.[6] The new service, known as the [British Columbia Ferry Corporation](/source/BC_Ferries) ordered two ships constructed from shipyards in [British Columbia](/source/British_Columbia). *Sidney* was ordered from [Victoria Machinery Depot](/source/Victoria_Machinery_Depot) in [Victoria](/source/Victoria%2C_British_Columbia), with the [yard number](/source/Yard_number) 85 and was [laid down](/source/Keel_laying) on May 9, 1959.[1][2] The vessel was [launched](/source/Ceremonial_ship_launching) on October 6, 1959 and completed in May 1960.[2] *Tsawwassen* was built by [Burrard Dry Dock](/source/Burrard_Dry_Dock) in [Vancouver](/source/Vancouver%2C_British_Columbia) with the yard number 309 and was laid down on May 9, 1959.[1][3] The ferry was launched on November 28, 1959 and completed in May 1960.[3] Both ships began service on June 15, 1960 servicing two terminals linking Victoria and Vancouver.[7] In 1962, *Tsawwassen* was renamed *Queen of Tsawwassen*[3] and in 1963, *Sidney* was renamed *Queen of Sidney*.[2] This was due to change in fleetwide naming policy based on [CP Ships](/source/CP_Ships) naming their vessels "Princess". As a result, the larger vessels of the British Columbia Ferries fleet would have "Queen" placed in front of their original names and the smaller ones have it added to the end.[8]

The two ships spent almost all of their service life identical to when they were constructed, except for an expansion of the restaurant areas, due to unexpected food demand shortly after they commenced service.[9]

*Queen of Sidney* was retired in November 2000.[10] The decommissioned ferry was sold to Bob and Gerald Tapp for [CAN$](/source/Canadian_dollar)100,000 in 2002 and renamed *Bad Adventure*. The ship was sent to a shipyard in [Mission, British Columbia](/source/Mission%2C_British_Columbia), where it has sat ever since.[10][11] *Queen of Tsawwassen* was taken out of service in 2007. This was due to the ship no longer capable of meeting government regulations and a refit being cost prohibitive. An [I-class ferry](/source/I-class_ferry) was ordered to replace the ship.[12] The vessel was put up for sale in 2008.[13]

On May 3, 2025, shortly before 2 am, the city of Mission activated its Emergency Operations Centre in response to an out of control fire aboard *Queen of Sidney*. The [Royal Canadian Mounted Police](/source/Royal_Canadian_Mounted_Police) began investigating the incident immediately and were treating the blaze as "suspicious."[14]

## Citations

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBannermanBannerman198554_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBannermanBannerman198554_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBannermanBannerman198554_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBannermanBannerman198554_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBannermanBannerman198554_1-4) [Bannerman & Bannerman 1985](#CITEREFBannermanBannerman1985), p. 54.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESidney_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESidney_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESidney_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESidney_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESidney_2-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESidney_2-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESidney_2-6) [Sidney](#CITEREFSidney).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTETsawwassen_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTETsawwassen_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTETsawwassen_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTETsawwassen_3-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTETsawwassen_3-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTETsawwassen_3-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTETsawwassen_3-6) [Tsawwassen](#CITEREFTsawwassen).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Queen of Tsawwassen 1960"](https://web.archive.org/web/20200707231322/http://www.evergreenfleet.com/sidneyclass.html). *evergreenfleet.com*. Archived from [the original](http://www.evergreenfleet.com/sidneyclass.html) on July 7, 2020. Retrieved June 22, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBannermanBannerman1985170_5-0)** [Bannerman & Bannerman 1985](#CITEREFBannermanBannerman1985), p. 170.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBannermanBannerman198530_6-0)** [Bannerman & Bannerman 1985](#CITEREFBannermanBannerman1985), p. 30.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBannermanBannerman198530–31_7-0)** [Bannerman & Bannerman 1985](#CITEREFBannermanBannerman1985), pp. 30–31.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBannermanBannerman198573_8-0)** [Bannerman & Bannerman 1985](#CITEREFBannermanBannerman1985), p. 73.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBannermanBannerman198516,_68–69_9-0)** [Bannerman & Bannerman 1985](#CITEREFBannermanBannerman1985), pp. 16, 68–69.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-olsen_10-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-olsen_10-1) Olsen, Tyler (July 25, 2014). ["After years of effort, ferry remains"](https://www.missioncityrecord.com/news/after-years-of-effort-ferry-remains/). *Mission City Record*. Retrieved June 22, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Thuncher, Jennifer (March 25, 2019). ["What happens to ferries and defence vessels at the end of their lives?"](https://www.squamishchief.com/local-news/what-happens-to-ferries-and-defence-vessels-at-the-end-of-their-lives-3096324). *The Squamish Chief*. Retrieved June 22, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Intermediate Class Ferry Section 55 Submission"](http://www.bcferrycommission.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/s43-69/s55ApplicExecSumm0605.pdf) (PDF). BC Ferry Commission. Retrieved June 22, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["For sale: some really big boats, says BC Ferries"](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/for-sale-some-really-big-boats-says-bc-ferries-1.726145). *CBC News*. January 30, 2008. Retrieved June 22, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Crawford, Tiffany (May 3, 2025). ["Derelict ferry moored offshore in Mission catches fire, RCMP investigating"](https://vancouversun.com/news/derelict-ferry-moored-offshore-in-mission-catches-fire). *Vancouver Sun*. Retrieved May 3, 2025.

## References

- Bannerman, Gary & Bannerman, Patricia (1985). *The Ships of British Columbia – An Illustrated History of the British Columbia Ferry Corporation*. Surrey, British Columbia: Hancock House Publishers. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-88839-188-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-88839-188-9).

- ["*Sidney* (5288011)"](https://www.miramarshipindex.nz/ship/5288011). [Miramar Ship Index](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Miramar). Retrieved June 22, 2021.

- ["*Tsawwassen* (5288023)"](https://www.miramarshipindex.nz/ship/5288023). [Miramar Ship Index](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Miramar). Retrieved June 22, 2021.

## External links

- In 2014 *Queen of Sidney* can be seen here [49°08′49″N 122°23′26″W / 49.1470°N 122.3906°W / 49.1470; -122.3906](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Sidney-class_ferry&params=49.147_N_122.3906_W_)

Preceded by BC Ferries flagship 1960–1962 Succeeded by Victoria-class ferries

Sidney-class ferries Queen of Sidney Queen of Tsawwassen Coho BC Ferries

v t e BC Ferries Ferry terminals Mainland–Vancouver Island Departure Bay Duke Point Horseshoe Bay Swartz Bay Tsawwassen Sunshine Coast Earls Cove Gambier Island Keats Island Langdale Saltery Bay Snug Cove Northern Gulf Islands / Powell River Alert Bay Blubber Bay Buckley Bay Campbell River Cortes Island Denman Island (2) Hornby Island Little River Port McNeill Quadra Island (2) Sointula Westview (Powell River) Southern Gulf Islands Brentwood Chemainus Crofton Fulford Harbour Gabriola Island Long Harbour Lyall Harbour Mill Bay Nanaimo Harbour Otter Bay Penelakut Island Sturdies Bay Thetis Island Vesuvius Village Bay Mid-coast / Northern Route Alliford Bay Bear Cove Bella Coola Klemtu McLoughlin Bay Ocean Falls Prince Rupert Shearwater Skidegate Current fleet S class Spirit of British Columbia Spirit of Vancouver Island Coastal class Coastal Celebration Coastal Inspiration Coastal Renaissance C class Queen of Alberni Queen of Coquitlam Queen of Cowichan Queen of Oak Bay Queen of Surrey Salish class Salish Eagle Salish Heron Salish Orca Salish Raven I class Malaspina Sky Queen of Capilano Queen of Cumberland Century class Skeena Queen Island class Island Aurora Island Discovery Island Gwawis Island Kwigwis Island K’ulut’a Island Nagalis K class Kahloke Klitsa Kwuna Pune'luxutth T class Quadra Queen II Tachek Unclassed Baynes Sound Connector Northern Adventure Northern Expedition Northern Sea Wolf Queen of New Westminster Quinitsa Quinsam

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Sidney-class ferry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidney-class_ferry) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidney-class_ferry?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.