The BC Ferry Commission has approved the procurement of four new vessels—not the five BC Ferries had proposed. That missing ship could mean longer waits, fewer sailings, and rising fare pressures in the years ahead. “We’re disappointed,” said CEO Nicolas Jimenez. “We had a cost-effective plan to...
https://ferryshippingnews.com/disappointment-for-bc-ferries-4-not-5-ships/
Damen Shipyards Galati in Romania has cut steel on the third vessel in a series of four Island Class ferries on order for Canada’s BC Ferries. At the same time, another vessel in the series reached the grand block assembly stage of construction at the shipyard. The vessels, based on Damen’s double-ended 8117 E3 Ferry, will be the first fully electric ferries to sail in the BC Ferries fleet, following previous hybrid-electric Island Class vessels. They will bring the total number of Damen...
https://www.marinelog.com/news/damen-galati-cuts-steel-for-latest-bc-ferries-island-class-vessel/
Canada’s BC Ferries, which has had its share of problems with some of its oldest vessels, this month formally submitted its plan to build five New Major Vessels (NMVs) to the BC Ferries Commissioner. If approved, this project would be the largest capital investment in the organization’s history, increasing ferry capacity, resiliency, and reliability for BC’s coastal communities and economies.
The BC Ferry Commission, a statutory body that is separate from both BC Ferries and the provincial...
On Nov.1, Damen Shipyards Galati in Romania hosted a ceremony to lay the keel for the first two of four fully-electric ferries for BC Ferries. The keel laying ceremony marked an important milestone in the third phase of construction of the Island Class Ferries, which will bring the total number of Damen vessels in the BC Ferries fleet to ten.
During the recent second phase of the program, Damen delivered four hybrid diesel-electric ferries. These reduced emissions vessels were intended to pave...
BC Ferries is advancing its New Major Vessels project, the largest capital investment in the company’s history, to address population growth, replace aging vessels, and meet customer demands. The procurement process for the first five of seven new vessels is underway, with the remaining two to...
https://ferryshippingnews.com/bc-ferries-will-order-five-large-green-ferries/
BC Ferries says that its 60-year old Queen of New Westminster ferry will be out of service for six months after an incident that occurred September 3 near the Tawwassen Terminal. It was discovered that the vessel’s starboard propeller had sheared off from the propeller shaft, with some 800 liters of light hydraulic oil spilling into surrounding waters.
The Queen of New Westminster operates on the popular Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay route between Metro Vancouver and Greater Victoria. It can carry...
BC Ferries has concluded a historic summer, marking the busiest season in its 64-year history, with over five million passengers and two million vehicles transported in June and July. As the summer ends, the company is now focusing on its annual refit season, beginning with repairs on the aging...
https://ferryshippingnews.com/bc-ferries-wraps-historic-summer-and-prepares-for-refit-season/
Damen Shipyards Galati yard cut first steel on the first two of four, fully electric Island Class Ferries that it is building for BC Ferries, on 16 July. The ferries will be the first fully electric vessels to operate in the company’s fleet. Operating with battery packs with the capacity to supply...
https://ferryshippingnews.com/damen-cuts-first-steel-on-four-full-electric-ferries-for-bc-ferries/
Two conceptual renderings of BC Ferries’ New Major Vessels program are the first look at what up to seven new ferries could look like when they enter operation starting in 2029. The ferries will carry up to 360 standard sized vehicles and 2,100 people, compared to a capacity of 250-310 vehicles and...
https://ferryshippingnews.com/bc-ferries-first-look-at-new-major-vessel-concepts/
Damen Shipyards Group has been selected to build four new hybrid electric Island Class vessels for BC Ferries.