SS Princess Helene
Encyclopedia
SS Princess Helene was a historic Canadian
passenger and freight ferry
operated by the Canadian Pacific Railway
(CPR).
The Princess of Helene was built in 1930 at Dumbarton, Scotland
. She was custom designed for CPR’s Bay of Fundy
service connecting the CPR's eastern mainline railway terminus at Saint John, New Brunswick
with the port of Digby, Nova Scotia
, which was served by a CPR subsidiary, the Dominion Atlantic Railway
.
Replacing the older and smaller DAR steamer SS Empress, the SS Princess Helene could carry 500 passengers and 50 automobiles as well as large amounts of freight. Special side-loading doors moved vehicles and freight to large wharf elevators at Digby and Saint John to cope with the tidal range
in the Bay of Fundy. Princess Helene was part of a chain of CPR's transportation system that “spanned the world” and as such she was outfitted in the style of the company's "Duchess" ocean liners. She had 43 state rooms complemented by beautiful interior fittings that exceeded the usual standards of Canada's regional ferries. Crew uniforms were modeled on the Royal Canadian Navy
and each time she passed the DAR's Digby Pines Hotel
, bellboys would dip the hotel's flag and salute.
Nicknamed the "Digby Boat", the SS Princess Helene made her crossings without fail across the turbulent and foggy Bay of Fundy and through the dangerous waters of Digby Gut
. She steamed 168,400 miles during 33 years of service, including precarious crossings during World War II
where she was often escorted by Royal Canadian Navy
warships and Royal Canadian Air Force
aircraft because of the danger of attack by German U Boats. Princess Helene was replaced April 27, 1963 by the MV Princess of Acadia, formerly the CPR’s British Columbia
ferry MV Princess of Nanaimo. The new ship had greater capacity for automobile and truck traffic but lacked her predecessor's grand ocean liner charm and would be replaced by another newly built vessel carrying the same name MV Princess of Acadia within 7 years.
Princess Helene was sold to Chandris Lines of Greece, extensively rebuilt, and renamed Carina II. She operated budget cruises until 1972 when she was laid up and subsequently sold for scrap several years later. A large builder’s model of Princess Helene is preserved today at the Canada Science and Technology Museum
in Ottawa
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
passenger and freight ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
operated by the Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
(CPR).
The Princess of Helene was built in 1930 at Dumbarton, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. She was custom designed for CPR’s Bay of Fundy
Bay of Fundy
The Bay of Fundy is a bay on the Atlantic coast of North America, on the northeast end of the Gulf of Maine between the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, with a small portion touching the U.S. state of Maine...
service connecting the CPR's eastern mainline railway terminus at Saint John, New Brunswick
Saint John, New Brunswick
City of Saint John , or commonly Saint John, is the largest city in the province of New Brunswick, and the first incorporated city in Canada. The city is situated along the north shore of the Bay of Fundy at the mouth of the Saint John River. In 2006 the city proper had a population of 74,043...
with the port of Digby, Nova Scotia
Digby, Nova Scotia
Digby is a Canadian town in western Nova Scotia. It is the shiretown and largest population centre in Digby County.The town is situated on the western shore of the Annapolis Basin near the entrance to the Digby Gut which connects the basin to the Bay of Fundy.Named after Admiral Robert Digby, RN,...
, which was served by a CPR subsidiary, the Dominion Atlantic Railway
Dominion Atlantic Railway
The Dominion Atlantic Railway was a historic Canadian railway which operated in the western part of Nova Scotia, primarily through an agricultural district known as the Annapolis Valley....
.
Replacing the older and smaller DAR steamer SS Empress, the SS Princess Helene could carry 500 passengers and 50 automobiles as well as large amounts of freight. Special side-loading doors moved vehicles and freight to large wharf elevators at Digby and Saint John to cope with the tidal range
Tide
Tides are the rise and fall of sea levels caused by the combined effects of the gravitational forces exerted by the moon and the sun and the rotation of the Earth....
in the Bay of Fundy. Princess Helene was part of a chain of CPR's transportation system that “spanned the world” and as such she was outfitted in the style of the company's "Duchess" ocean liners. She had 43 state rooms complemented by beautiful interior fittings that exceeded the usual standards of Canada's regional ferries. Crew uniforms were modeled on the Royal Canadian Navy
Royal Canadian Navy
The history of the Royal Canadian Navy goes back to 1910, when the naval force was created as the Naval Service of Canada and renamed a year later by King George V. The Royal Canadian Navy is one of the three environmental commands of the Canadian Forces...
and each time she passed the DAR's Digby Pines Hotel
Digby Pines Resort
The Digby Pines Resort is a seasonal coastal resort hotel located at Digby, Nova Scotia on the shores of the Annapolis Basin. The Pines is owned by the Province of Nova Scotia and is one of the province's three "Signature Resorts," along with in Liscombe Mills and Keltic Lodge in Ingonish...
, bellboys would dip the hotel's flag and salute.
Nicknamed the "Digby Boat", the SS Princess Helene made her crossings without fail across the turbulent and foggy Bay of Fundy and through the dangerous waters of Digby Gut
Digby Gut
The Digby Gut is a narrow channel connecting the Bay of Fundy with the Annapolis Basin. The town of Digby, Nova Scotia is located on the inner portion of the western side of the Gut. The eastern entrance is marked by the Point Prim lighthouse...
. She steamed 168,400 miles during 33 years of service, including precarious crossings during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
where she was often escorted by Royal Canadian Navy
Royal Canadian Navy
The history of the Royal Canadian Navy goes back to 1910, when the naval force was created as the Naval Service of Canada and renamed a year later by King George V. The Royal Canadian Navy is one of the three environmental commands of the Canadian Forces...
warships and Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
aircraft because of the danger of attack by German U Boats. Princess Helene was replaced April 27, 1963 by the MV Princess of Acadia, formerly the CPR’s British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
ferry MV Princess of Nanaimo. The new ship had greater capacity for automobile and truck traffic but lacked her predecessor's grand ocean liner charm and would be replaced by another newly built vessel carrying the same name MV Princess of Acadia within 7 years.
Princess Helene was sold to Chandris Lines of Greece, extensively rebuilt, and renamed Carina II. She operated budget cruises until 1972 when she was laid up and subsequently sold for scrap several years later. A large builder’s model of Princess Helene is preserved today at the Canada Science and Technology Museum
Canada Science and Technology Museum
The Canada Science and Technology Museum is located in Ottawa, Ontario, on St. Laurent Boulevard, to the south of the Queensway .-Mission:...
in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
.