MV Quinitsa

The MV Quinitsa is an automobile ferry operated by BC Ferries. It was built in 1977 by Vancouver Shipyards in Vancouver, British Columbia. The ferry was originally part of the Ministry of Transportation and Highways' (MoT) saltwater ferry fleet until 1985, when the MoT's saltwater ferries—including Quinitsa—were transferred to BC Ferries.[1]

Quinitsa at Buckley Bay (2007)
History
Canada
Name:	Quinitsa
Namesake:	Kwinitsa River
Owner:	Ministry of Transportation and Highways
Operator:	Ministry of Transportation and Highways (1977-1982), BC Ferries (1982-1983), Ministry of Transportation and Highways (1983-1985)
Route:	1977-1982: Nanaimo Harbour ↔ Gabriola Island 1983-present: Buckley Bay ↔ Denman Island
Builder:	Vancouver Shipyards
Completed:	1977
In service:	1977
Identification:	IMO number: 7710965
Fate:	Transferred to BC Ferries in 1985
Canada
Name:	Quinitsa
Owner:	British Columbia Ferry Services Inc.
Operator:	British Columbia Ferry Services Inc.
Route:	1983-present: Buckley Bay ↔ Denman Island
Acquired:	1985
Refit:	2008
Identification:	IMO number: 7710965 MMSI number: 316001265 Callsign: CZ8734
Status:	in active service
General characteristics
Class and type:	unclassified
Type:	ferry
Tonnage:	1107.59
Displacement:	1099 tonnes
Length:	74.68 m (245.0 ft)
Beam:	19.51 m (64.0 ft)
Installed power:	1,899 hp (1,416 kW)
Speed:	10 knots (19 km/h)
Capacity:	392 passengers 50 cars
Crew:	6
Notes:	Sources:[1][2]

The 50-car Quinitsa began service in 1977 on the Nanaimo Harbour ↔ Gabriola Island ferry route, replacing the 30-car Kahloke. Like her predecessor, the Quinitsa soon became too small and in June 1982, the larger 70-car MV Quinsam entered service, replacing Quinitsa. For the rest of 1982 and for most of 1983, she was loaned to BC Ferries. She operated on a variety of routes, including Horseshoe Bay ↔ Bowen Island, Swartz Bay ↔ Fulford Harbour, and she also served the Gulf Islands from Swartz Bay. Upon returning to the MoT, she was placed on the Buckley Bay ↔ Denman Island route until 2019, when she replaced the Howe Sound Queen on the Crofton-Vesuvius Bay(Salt Spring Island) route and has remained permanently stationed there ever since.[1]

In 2008, she received a mid-life upgrade where she received new engines and generators, as well as a rebuilt bridge structure and a refurbished passenger cabin.[1] As of 2013, Quinitsa is still operating on the Buckley Bay ↔ Denman Island route.[2] In 2018, when unscheduled repairs to the Queen of Cumberland required the MV Skeena Queen to carry traffic between Pender Island and Swartz Bay in addition to between Fulford Harbour and Swartz Bay, the Quinitsa was stationed at Fulford Harbour to provide additional sailings during peak demand on those routes, and to handle some dangerous cargo sailings.