MV Nicola (1960)

MV Nicola is an N-class ferry, owned, but not operated by BC Ferries. It is also known as Spirit of Lax Kw' Alaams, a British Columbia First Nations name.^[2] Spirit of Lax Kw' Alaams currently runs between Prince Rupert and Port Simpson, (also known as Lax Kw'alaams) a British Columbia First Nations community on British Columbia's North Coast. Overnight the vessel is kept at the Smit tugboat dock in Prince Rupert Harbour.

History
Canada
Name	Quadra Queen
Owner	Ministry of Highways
Operator	Ministry of Highways
Builder	Allied Shipbuilders Ltd., Vancouver[1]
Cost	$165,270[1]
Completed	1960
Renamed	Cortes Queen, Nicola
Canada
Name	Nicola
Namesake	Chief Nicola
Owner	British Columbia Ferry Services Inc.
Operator	British Columbia Ferry Services Inc.
Status	operation transferred to Lax Kw'alaams
Canada
Name	Spirit of Lax Kw'alaams
Namesake	Lax Kw'alaams, British Columbia
Owner	British Columbia Ferry Services Inc.
Operator	Lax Kw'alaams First Nations community[2]
Route	Prince Rupert to Lax Kw'alaams
Identification	IMO number: 5287744 MMSI number: 316012834 Callsign: VCNN
Status	ship in active service
General characteristics
Class & type	N-class RORO ferry
Tonnage	256.34
Length	33.8 m (110.9 ft)
Installed power	680 hp (510 kW)
Speed	10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)
Capacity	133 passengers 16 cars

In December 2009 Sahar Nassimdoost reported that a new dock was under construction in Prince Rupert for use by Spirit of Lax Kw' Alaams.^[3] The BC government report on the project mentions that the new Prince Rupert dock will be near Aero Point and cost CA$2,976,300.00 with an expected completion time of June 2010.^{[4][needs update]}

Statistics

Quadra Queen in 1969(Note-- Photo is of the WRONG ferry. This is NOT the Quadra Queen of 1960. This is the Quadra Queen II, a completely different ferry from a different class. Please remove this image from this page as I cannot figure out how to do it myself.)

• Built: Vancouver BC
• Launched: 1960
• Vehicle capacity: 16
• Passenger Capacity: 133
• Length: 33.8 metres
• Gross Tons: 255
• Service Speed: 10 knots
• Horsepower: 680

Sources:^[5][6]

Sister ships

• MV Nimpkish
• MV Albert J Savoie

Nicola is the sister ship of MV Nimpkish, it is the smallest ship owned by B.C ferries. But, the Nimpkish was tied as the smallest ship owned by B.C. Feries (BCFS). However, Nimpkish was both owned and operated by BCFS, but was sold in 2020. A second sister ship, MV Albert J Savoie, was sold from BC Ferries to Rainy day Logging during the summer of 2002.^[7]