[2] Eventually the ferry's high semi-truck capacity made it a natural fit for the service's Mid-Island Express route between Tsawwassen and Departure Bay (later changing from Tsawwassen to Duke Point), which was intended as a high volume route of overheight vehicles.

In 2007, Queen of Alberni completed a 40 million dollar mid-life upgrade which will prepare the 31-year-old vessel for another 20 years of service.

On August 9, 1979, vessel was transiting through Active Pass when it ran aground on Galiano Island, tipping fifteen degrees to starboard.

At 8:06 am the two ships made radio contact after seeing each other on radar to arrange a safe passage.

Shinwa Maru, however, was damaged when the ferry penetrated the #1 cargo hold and ballast tanks.

[2][7][8] On December 15, 2001, Queen of Alberni got caught in a heavy wind storm which turned a regular 2-hour crossing into a 7+1⁄2-hour ordeal.