Island-class ferry
Island Aurora
| |
Class overview | |
---|---|
Name | Island class |
Builders | Damen Shipyards |
Operators | BC Ferries |
Preceded by | |
In service | 2020–present |
Planned | 13 |
Completed | 6 |
Active | 6 |
General characteristics | |
Type | Ferry |
Length | 80.80 m (265 ft 1 in) |
Beam | 17.00 m (55 ft 9 in) |
Draught | 3.20 m (10 ft 6 in) |
Depth | 5.70 m (18 ft 8 in) |
Installed power |
|
Propulsion | 2 × 900 kW (1,200 hp) azimuth thrusters , electric drive |
Speed | 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) |
Capacity | 300 passengers and crew |
Crew | 6 |
The Island-class ferries are ferries owned and operated by BC Ferries. Six vessels were built between 2019 and 2021 by Damen Shipyards Group, a Dutch company, in Romania.[1][2] The first two ships were launched in mid-March 2019, and commenced service in June 2020. Two of an additional four vessels commenced service in April 2022, and the remaining two are due to enter service in late 2022.[3]
The vessels are powered by a
Description
The Island-class vessels were designed by
Island-class vessels
Photo | Name | Launched | Delivered | Routes | Status | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Island Discovery | March 2019 | January 18, 2020 | 18 – Powell River – Texada Island | In service | Began service on June 10, 2020 | |
Island Aurora | March 2019 | January 18, 2020 | 25 – Port McNeil – Alert Bay – Sointula | In service | Began service on June 18, 2020 | |
Island Nagalis[7] | October 29, 2020 | July 22, 2021 | 23 – Campbell River – Quadra Island | In service | Began service on January 18, 2023 | |
Island K'ulut'a[7] | December 17, 2020 | August 13, 2021 | 23 – Campbell River – Quadra Island | In service | Began service on January 17, 2023 | |
Island Kwigwis[8] | February 22, 2021 | September 28, 2021 | 19 – Nanaimo Harbour – Gabriola Island | In service | Began service on April 12, 2022 | |
Island Gwawis[9] | April 22, 2021 | December 23, 2021 | 19 – Nanaimo Harbour – Gabriola Island | In service | Began service on April 12, 2022 |
Construction and service history
The first two vessels were announced in 2017 and
On November 6, 2019, BC Ferries ordered four more of the vessels, which are all due to enter service in 2022. The contract for the four new vessels was again awarded to Damen, for $200 million. Each vessel in this phase made the transatlantic voyage under its own power and temporary name.
The name Island Gwawis received backlash from Snuneymuxw First Nation on the grounds of discrimination, after the vessel, named in another First Nations language, operated through Snuneymuxw territory. The group had been invited to participate in the naming process along with other indigenous groups.[17]
In its nearly first two years of service, the Island Discovery has been replaced multiple times by the Island Aurora, Island K'ulut'a, and Island Nagalis on the Powell River – Texada Island route due to mechanical issues.[18] The Island K'ulut'a also spent a brief period of time on the Alert Bay – Port McNeill – Sointula route. In preparation for dual ship service on both Route 19 (Gabriola Island) and Route 23 (Quadra Island), the Island Aurora conducted test sailings with the primary vessel on the routes. Island Gwawis also test sailed in tandem with the Quinsam in the days leading up to the new service it would provide.[citation needed]
On December 11, 2023, BC Ferries announced that it has received approval from the Ferry Commissioner to place an order for four additional Island-class vessels. These vessel are slated to begin operation in 2027 and will serve the Nanaimo – Gabriola Island and the Campbell Island – Quadra Island routes. These vessels will also serve as relief vessels and can supplement the existing Island-class vessels to boost capacity on high-demand routes. When the new vessels are launched, there will be ten Island-class vessels in total, making this class the largest in BC Ferries' fleet.[19] In January 2024, BC Ferries announced that it has awarded the contract to build the four new vessels to Damen Shipyards, who had built the existing six. The price for the contract has not yet been made public. No Canadian shipyard applied for the bid.[20][21]
References
- ^ "BC Ferries receives delivery of new hybrid electric island class ferries". Global News. January 24, 2020. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
- ^ a b "Damen Road ferry 8117 E3". Damen Shipyards. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
- ^ a b "BC Ferries' Island Class Vessels". BC Ferries. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
- ^ a b BC Ferries' Island Class vessels (Video). BC Ferries. February 26, 2020. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
- ^ "Road Ferries". Damen Shipyards. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
- ^ "Island Class Ferries 2022". BC Ferries. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
- ^ a b "BC Ferries gives Indigenous names to newest hybrid vessels". CTV News. August 23, 2021. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
- ^ "Island Kwigwis, 'eagle of the sea,' to begin Nanaimo-Gabriola service in the new year". Nanaimo News Bulletin. December 15, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
- ^ "Newest Island-class ferry will be called Island Gwawis, 'raven of the sea'". Campbell River Mirror. January 11, 2022. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
- ^ Chan, Kenneth (June 8, 2017). "Dutch company to build two new BC Ferries vessels". Daily Hive. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
- ^ Chan, Kenneth (January 8, 2020). "BC Ferries' first new hybrid-electric vessels arrive from Europe (VIDEO)". Daily Hive. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
- ^ Chan, Kenneth (November 6, 2019). "BC Ferries orders 4 new hybrid-electric vessels from Europe for $200 million". Daily Hive. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
- ^ "BC Ferries announces the names of the newest Island Class ferries" (Press release). BC Ferries. August 23, 2021. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
- ^ "BC Ferries names and christens the fifth Island Class ferry" (Press release). BC Ferries. December 14, 2021. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
- ^ "BC Ferries names its sixth Island Class ferry" (Press release). BC Ferries. January 11, 2022. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
- ^ "Two Vessel Operation Coming to Nanaimo Harbour–Gabriola Island Route" (Press release). BC Ferries. April 11, 2022. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
- ^ "B.C. First Nation chief 'frustrated' with name choice for BC Ferries new ship". Saanich News. January 13, 2022. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
- ^ "Salish Eagle to cover Powell River/Texada Island route until further notice". preak.com. August 31, 2020. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
- ^ "New Hybrid Island Class Vessels Will Create More Capacity" (Press release). BC Ferries. December 11, 2023. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
- ^ "B.C. Ferries picks Netherlands-based company to build four more hybrid-electric ships". CBC News. January 16, 2024.
- ^ "BC Ferries Awards Contract for New Hybrid-Electric Vessels" (Press release). BC Ferries. January 16, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2024.