British Columbia K-class ferry


The K-class ferries are a group of similarly designed ferries operated by both BC Ferries and TransLink in British Columbia, Canada.
With the exception of MV Kuper, all of the listed K-class vessels were built for service in British Columbia's Ministry of Highways salt water inter-island ferry fleet which was absorbed by BC Ferries in 1985.

BC Ferries

MV Klitsa



Built: 1972, Vancouver, British Columbia

Length: 47.46 m

Power: 600 hp

Service Speed: 9 knots

Gross Tonnage: 352.58

Car Capacity: 26

Passenger & Crew Capacity: 195

Route: Brentwood Bay–Mill Bay

Klitsa has been in BC Ferries maintenance facility, called Deas Dock, quite often during past years. It currently services the Brentwood Bay – Mill Bay route replacing MV Mill Bay which went up for sale on February 24, 2011.

MV Kahloke

Built: 1973, Vancouver, British Columbia

Length: 54.75 m

Power: 640 hp

Service Speed: 10 knots

Gross Tonnage: 466

Car Capacity: 30

Passenger & Crew Capacity: 200

Route: Denman Island–Hornby Island

Kahloke sometimes aided the Albion Ferries, owned by TransLink when one was out of service. This was not the first ferry named Kahloke to operate on the BC coast. The 1903 built served as Kahloke from 1952 to 1964 and was then renamed Langdale Queen.

MV Kwuna

Built: 1975, Victoria, British Columbia

Length: 71.64 m

Power: 730 hp

Service Speed: 10 knots

Gross Tonnage: 347.49

Car Capacity: 26

Passenger & Crew Capacity: 154

Route: Skidegate–Alliford Bay

Kwuna is different from the other K-class vessels. It has loading ramps attached to the vessel, not to land like the others. It docks at concrete boat-launch-like ramps, then lowers the vehicle ramp down to the ground.
during its first week of service in 2006

MV Kuper



Built: 1985, Bullfrog, Utah

Rebuilt: 2006, Vancouver, British Columbia

Length: 52.21 m

Power: 2 x 475 hp

Service Speed: TBA

Gross Tonnage: 648

Car Capacity: 32

Passenger & Crew Capacity: 269

Route: Chemainus–Thetis Island–Penelakut Island

Kuper is the newest of the K-barges and started service in 2006.
The former MV John Atlantic Burr operated on Utah's Lake Powell as of early September 2005. The following winter, the vessel was cut into four sections, transported by truck to British Columbia, and reassembled as MV Kuper, with significant modification and enlargement. The ship cost 200,000 and $4.5 million to refit and enlarge, which was considered quite a savings compared to the cost of building a new vessel which was estimated at $20 million.

TransLink

MV Kulleet

Built: 1972, Vancouver, British Columbia

Length: 47.46 m

Power: 650 hp

Service Speed: 10 knots

Gross Tonnage: 355.04

Car Capacity: 26

Passenger & Crew Capacity: 150

Route: Albion–Fort Langley

MV Klatawa

Built: 1972, Vancouver, British Columbia

Length: 47.46 m

Power: 650 hp

Service Speed: 10 knots

Gross Tonnage: 347.58

Car Capacity: 26

Passenger & Crew Capacity: 150

Route: Albion–Fort Langley
Both Kulleet and Klatawa were owned and operated by Metro Vancouver's Transportation Authority, TransLink, and they ran the Albion–Fort Langley route on the Fraser River, between the Maple Ridge suburb of Albion south to McMillan Island in Fort Langley. On July 31, 2009, the Albion Ferry was shut down after the opening of the Golden Ears Bridge. The ferry had connected Maple Ridge and Langley via the Fraser River since 1957. Kulleet and Klatawa had been put into service in the 1980s.
The two Albion ferries were sold for $400,000 – less than half of the original asking price of $1.1 million. TransLink said in a news release on December 30, 2011, that MV Kulleet and MV Klatawa have been bought by Tidal Towing, a B.C.-based company.