1923::The Motor Princess Automobile Ferry

British Columbia's first automobile ferry.

"1923::The Launching of the Motor Princess at the Yarrows Shipyard in Esquimalt, British Columbia"

Clip: Victoria Daily Times (1923)

Victoria, British Columbia

On March 31, 1923, British Columbia's new Motor Princess, a state-of-the-art automobile ferry, was launched from the Yarrows Shipyard in Esquimalt Harbour. She was the province's first ship specially designed and constructed to transport automobiles between the mainland and Vancouver Island, a real game-changer in the transportation industry. Yarrows, renowned for their shipbuilding expertise, had meticulously crafted the one-of-a-kind automobile ferry in just 97 days. Commissioned by the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR), she would help establish a new cross-border link between Canada and the United States. 

"1923::The Maiden Voyage of the Motor Princess Automobile Ferry"

Photos: BC Archives (D-01201 and F-02837)

Clip (bottom left): Vancouver Daily World (1923)

On May 21, 1923, the Motor Princess embarked on her maiden voyage with distinguished guests aboard.

She sailed to Bellingham, Washington, where a welcoming crowd had gathered at the new dock the city had built to receive her. Two days later, regular ferry service between the ports got underway, and hotels at both ends were busy. The Motor Princess had successfully created an international link and was fostering economic growth in the Pacific Northwest, but the excitement of her new ferry line would be short-lived.

"1923::The Motor Princess and the International Link"

Map Clip: The Acadian (1925)

Wolfville, Nova Scotia

The Motor Princess was considered a big ship for her ability to transport 50 vehicles and 250 passengers. From her onboard saloon, restaurant, smoking room and promenade deck, passengers could enjoy the breathtaking scenery between ports. She sailed twice a day, but more sailings were desperately needed. The Vancouver business community, upset by the CPR's decision to connect to Bellingham's American port instead of their Canadian port, forgave all when the CPR created an alternative route out of Nanaimo, where visiting automobile tourists could return to the mainland via Vancouver on a CPR ship modified to accommodate them. This improved island service caused a spike in the tourism industry and highlighted the need for larger auto-carrying vessels. Before long, the Motor Princess was struggling to keep up with the demand that the new Nanaimo-Vancouver connection attracted. 

"1925::The Final Year of the Sidney to Bellingham Line"

Ad Clip: The Tacoma Daily Ledger (1925)

Tacoma, Washington

By her second summer on the Sidney-Bellingham route, the Motor Princess had been overshadowed by other new automobile ferries operating from different ports. The rise of more efficient and faster ferries and the increasing popularity of air travel posed significant challenges to her success. By her third summer, the Motor Princess had proved less profitable than the CPR first anticipated, and they shut the line down for good.

"1923::Vancouver Island's First Automobile Ferry Leaving Victoria, British Columbia's Harbour"

Photo: City of Victoria Archives (M07515)

The Vancouver Island Publicity Bureau continued to work closely with automobile clubs along the Pacific coast to ensure that Vancouver Island was the ultimate summertime destination. At the same time, it worked to develop coastal, provincial, and island highways to accommodate the world's new automobiles and their vacationing owners. Their hard work paid off. West Coast tourists flocked to Vancouver Island, forcing Vancouver Island's automobile ferries to keep up with the growing industry.

"1956::The Motor Princess Reconstructed for Gulf Island Service"

Photo Clip: The Province (1992)

Vancouver, British Columbia

The Motor Princess continued to service British Columbians on some of the province's busiest routes. In 1961, she became the property of the new BC Ferries Corporation, was overhauled, and sailed as the Pender Queen until her retirement in 1981. After a short stint as a floating restaurant, she was purchased in the 1990s by an enterprising Vancouver businessman, overhauled again, and operated as a floating luxury fishing lodge. In 2003, the Canadian Coast Guard reported that the Motor Princess, the province's first automobile ferry, had arrived at her final destination when she sank in Naden Harbour in Haida Gwaii. She was eventually raised and demolished on a nearby shore.