MV Quinsam
| History | |
|---|---|
| Canada | |
| Name | Quinsam |
| Namesake | Quinsam River |
| Owner |
|
| Operator |
|
| Route |
|
| Builder | Vancouver Shipyards Co Ltd., North Vancouver |
| Completed | 1982 |
| In service | 1982 |
| Refit | 2010 |
| Homeport | Victoria |
| Identification |
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| Notes | Transferred to BC Ferries in 1985 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Unclassified ferry |
| Tonnage | 1458.59 |
| Displacement | 1431 tonnes |
| Length | 86.85 m (284 ft 11 in) |
| Beam | 21.24 m (69 ft 8 in) |
| Installed power | 2,601 hp (1,940 kW) |
| Speed | 10 knots (19 km/h) |
| Capacity |
|
| Crew | 7 |
| Notes | Sources: |
MV Quinsam is an automobile ferry operated by BC Ferries. It was built in 1982 by Vancouver Shipyards in Vancouver, British Columbia. Initially, the ferry was part of the Ministry of Transportation and Highways' (MoT) saltwater ferry fleet until 1985, when it was transferred to BC Ferries along with other saltwater ferries, such as Quinsam.
Quinsam carries 70 cars and replaced the smaller MV Quinitsa (which carries fifty cars) on the Nanaimo ↔ Gabriola Island route, and then once again on the Vesuvius ↔ Crofton route in 2022.
Quinsam has few passenger amenities onboard. On each side of the car deck, there are small passenger lounges offering some seating, along with washrooms and vending machines. In 2010, she underwent a $16 million mid-life upgrade, which included new engines and generators, a rebuilt pilothouse and passenger cabin, as well as steel replacement.