MV Chinook was a luxury automobile ferry designed by William Francis Gibbs,[3] that operated between Seattle, Port Angeles and Victoria under the ownership of Puget Sound Navigation Company.

[4] MV Chinook was built in 1947 by Todd Shipyard, in Seattle WA, and entered service with Puget Sound Navigation Company.

But by the time the vessel had entered service, Black Ball Line was undergoing fare cuts, worker strikes, and other problems.

The State of Washington took over its operations in 1951, the Chinook was still occasionally seen departing Colman Ferry Dock for trips to Port Angeles and Victoria.

Later that year the vessel was moved to the Black Ball Lines the Horeshoe Bay - Nanaimo run alongside the MV Kahloke.

A year later in 1961, Black Ball Line is purchased by the newly founded British Columbia Ferries Corporation.

At the Washington State Ferries shipyard in the Harbor the ship was inspected and it was discovered that the vessel could return to operating on the international run to Sidney, BC.

The vessel was still quite sea worthy and its bow doors, were perfect for crossing the potentially stormy Haro Strait.