1955
Built by A. Stephen & Sons, Ltd. Glasgow, Scotland
Length: 416' Beam: 66' Draft: 15' Tonnage: 5554
Built as a combination car and rail car ferry for service between Vancouver and Nanaimo. Capacity was 28, 40 foot rail cars and up to 120 cars.
Also in September (of 1968) , the Canadian Pacific ferry Princess of Vancouver ran aground on a mudbank shortly after leaving Nanaimo on her regular late night run to Vancouver. The passengers remained aboard from the time of the stranding (about 10 p.m.) until three tugs pulled the 416-foot motor vessel free at three o'clock the next morning. The hull was not damaged as a result of the accident, which was attributed to a generator failure which in turn resulted in a steering failure. Gordon Newell, "Maritime Events of 1968," H. W. McCurdy Marine History of the Pacific Northwest 1966 to 1975, p.53.
With the completion of the Carrier Princess, the 18-year-old CPR ferry Princess of Vancouver was temporarily withdrawn from ferry service between downtown Vancouver and Nanaimo for a $2.8 million, three-months refit at Burrard Dry Dock. Four new diesel engines were installed, increasing her horsepower from 5,400 to 8,600 and her service speed from 14.5 to 17 knots. Rail trackage was renewed and modifications to the vehicle deck aft made to better handle truck-trailers and large recreational vehicles, while complete sandblasting restored all plating to like-new condition. Gordon Newell, "Maritime Events of 1973," H. W. McCurdy Marine History of the Pacific Northwest 1966 to 1975., p.143.
To be retired and sold by the Canadian Pacific Railway, The Marine Digest. May 2, 1981, p. 4.
FINAL DISPOSITION
1981: Sold to Ministry of Highways
1985: to B.C. Ferries
1987: Sold to B.C. Steamship Company and renamed Vancouver Island Princess.
1989: Sold to Stena Line.
1990: Retired.
1993: Sold to Stephanie Shipping, China, renamed Nan Hai Ming Zhu
2001: Sold to Haveton Shipping of Hong Kong and renamed Pearl of the South China Sea
2007: Listed as in active service.
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