MV Skeena Queen
 |
 Skeena Queen
| |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Skeena Queen |
| Builders | Allied Shipbuilders Ltd., North Vancouver |
| Operators | BC Ferries |
| Built | 1997– |
| Planned | 3 |
| Completed | 1 |
| Active | 1 |
MV Skeena Queen is a
There is some speculation[by whom?] as to why the other two vessels in the class were not built. The obvious reason[according to whom?] is that the high speed ferry program consumed all available funds. Others[who?] point to the problems with the four owner selected main propulsion engines that plagued Skeena Queen following commission, including excessively high noise levels and cylinder counterbore cracking in the high-speed engines. On April 15, 2002 Skeena Queen was removed from service and her four high-speed Mitsubishi S12R diesel engines were replaced with four Mitsubishi medium-speed engines, model S6U. The new engines were provided by Mitsubishi at a never disclosed price.
Skeena Queen has the following characteristics:
- Overall length: 110.0 m
- Gross tonnage: 2,453
- Vehicle capacity: 100 spaces 17.5 feet long by 8.5 feet wide
- Passenger and crew capacity: 600
- Service Speed: 14.5 knots (16.7 mph; 26.9 km/h) at 3500 bhp
- Installed Power: 5,040 hp (3.8 MW)
Skeena Queen has very little cabin space because the Century ferry class was intended to be used on short commuter runs of less than a half-hour duration where most of the passengers stay in their vehicles. Skeena Queen operates solely on the route between Swartz Bay and Fulford Harbour, which is a 35-minute crossing.