MV Queen of Cowichan
 |
 MV Queen of Cowichan at Departure Bay
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Canada | |
| Name | Queen of Cowichan |
| Namesake | Cowichan Valley, British Columbia |
| Owner | British Columbia Ferry Services Inc. |
| Operator | British Columbia Ferry Services Inc. |
| Route | Departure Bay - Horseshoe Bay |
| Builder | Burrard Yarrows Corp., Victoria |
| Laid down | October 1975 |
| Completed | February 1976 |
| Identification |
|
| Status | in active service |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | C-class ferry |
| Tonnage | 6503 |
| Length | 139 m (456 ft 0 in) |
| Installed power | 11,860 hp (8,840 kW) |
| Propulsion | Two MaK 12M551AK |
| Speed | 20.5 knots (38.0 km/h) |
| Capacity |
|
MV Queen of Cowichan is a BC Ferries vessel, built in Victoria, British Columbia in 1976. It joined the other two C-class ferries built that year, Queen of Alberni and Queen of Coquitlam, and was followed by Queen of Surrey and Queen of Oak Bay. The ship, like all C-class ferries, is double-ended. This means the ship never has to turn around in port during regular service. The ships two MaK 12M551AK engines turn out 11,860 horsepower (8,840 kW) which gives it a service speed of 20.5 knots (38.0 km/h; 23.6 mph). Like all the C-class ferries it is 139.28 metres (456 ft 11 in) long. Almost identical to Queen of Coquitlam, the vessel has a car capacity of 312 and a passenger capacity for 1,494 people. The ship has three car decks. A lower (main) car deck, for trucks busses and overheight vehicles, a gallery deck for overheight vehicles cars and bicycles, and an upper car deck for cars and motorcycles. She is named for the regional district of Cowichan Valley Regional District.