K class ferry

MV Kulleet operating as the Albion Ferry in June 2009
Class overview
Name:	K Class (K barge)
Operators:	BC Ferries
Built:	1972-1975 and 2006 refit
Completed:	6
Active:	3 to 6 (seasonal)

The "K-Class" ferries (often referred to as 'K-barges', due to their hull type and size) 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
(formerly MV Denman Queen)
Built: 1972, Vancouver, British Columbia
Length: 47.46 m (155'8")
Power: 600 hp
Service Speed: 9 knots
Gross Tonnage: 352.58
Car Capacity: 26
Passenger & Crew Capacity: 195
Route: Chemainus ↔ Thetis Island ↔ Kuper Island
The Klitsa has been in BC Ferries maintenance facility, called Deas Dock, quite often during past years. It is considered an 'extra vessel', as BCFS does not currently need it on any routes, but at times, such as busy long weekends and holidays, they will bring it out to assist the other vessels, usually on the Gulf Islands routes. She has also been known to assist with the Albion ferries (MV Kulleet and MV Klatawa, both owned by Translink) when one is out of service.

MV Kahloke
Built: 1973, Vancouver, British Columbia
Length: 54.75 m (179'6)
Power: 640 hp
Service Speed: 10 knots
Gross Tonnage: 466
Car Capacity: 30
Passenger & Crew Capacity: 200
Route: Denman Island ↔ Hornby Island
The 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 Asbury Park served as Kahloke from 1952 to 1964 and was then renamed Langdale Queen.

MV Kwuna
Built: 1975, Victoria, British Columbia
Length: 71.64 m (235'4)
Power: 730 hp
Service Speed: 10 knots
Gross Tonnage: 347.49
Car Capacity: 26
Passenger & Crew Capacity: 154
Route: Skidegate ↔ Alliford Bay
The Kwuna is different from the other K-class. 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.

MV Kuper
(formerly MV John Atlantic Burr)
Built: 1985, Bullfrog, Utah
Rebuilt: 2006, Vancouver, British Columbia
Length: 52.21 m (171'3.5)
Power: 2 x 475 hp
Service Speed: TBA
Gross Tonnage: 648
Car Capacity: 32
Passenger & Crew Capacity: 269
Route: Chemainus ↔ Thetis Island ↔ Kuper Island
The 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 US$ 200,000 and Template:CAD$ 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 Template:CAD$ 20 million.

Translink

MV Kulleet
Built: 1972, Vancouver, British Columbia
Length: 47.46 m (155'8")
Power: 650 hp
Service Speed: 10 knots
Gross Tonnage: 355.04
Car Capacity: 26
Passenger & Crew Capacity: 150
Route: Albion ↔ Fort Langley (Defunct)

MV Klatawa
Built: 1972, Vancouver, British Columbia
Length: 47.46 m (155'8")
Power: 650 hp
Service Speed: 10 knots
Gross Tonnage: 347.58
Car Capacity: 26
Passenger & Crew Capacity: 150
Route: Albion ↔ Fort Langley (Defunct)

Both the Kulleet and the Klatawa are owned and operated by Metro Vancouver's Transportation Authority, Translink, and up until July 31, 2009, they ran the Albion ↔ Fort Langley route on the Fraser River, between the Maple Ridge, BC suburb of Albion on the North, to McMillan Island in Fort Langley, to the south.

The two vessels operated the Albion Ferry route until they were replaced by the Golden Ears Bridge.

They are now awaiting sale. Translink has not yet specified who will be buying them, but there are rumours that at leat one ferry may be sold to the city of Prince Rupert, British Columbia to aid their airport ferry operations.

External links

• "Fleet". BC Ferries. http://www.bcferries.com/about/fleet/. Retrieved 2010-01-25. 
• BC Ferries Profiles