B.C. Ferries Going on Building Spree

Canadian ferry owner and operator British Columbia Ferry Services Inc (BC Ferries) will be building up to five new ferries to replace four existing vessels.

The provider of all major passenger and vehicle ferry services for coastal and island communities in the Canadian province of British Columbia said in a press release that it invites customers and communities to join conversations about the new vessels and to provide input that will help shape their future onboard experience.

"The new ferries will potentially add capacity to the Metro Vancouver – Vancouver Island routes and replace the Queen of New Westminster, Queen of Alberni, Queen of Coquitlam and Queen of Cowichan that currently serve those routes," it said.

“This is an exciting project and we invite our customers to join the conversation,” said Mark Collins, BC Ferries’ President & CEO. “There is still a lot to be decided as we work to keep fares affordable, reduce our environmental impact, plan for future flexibility and enhance the onboard experience for customers. We want to hear your thoughts on the project, and your ideas about how we can improve your experience when travelling with BC Ferries. This is an opportunity to get informed and provide feedback on the newest additions to our fleet as they are being designed.”

The new ships are being specified to deliver enhanced environmental sustainability and offer flexibility to meet changing travel demands into the future. BC Ferries expects the new ferries to enter service in the mid2020s.

When it comes to designing the ships, BC Ferries’ technical teams are identifying options to minimize underwater radiated noise (URN) and reduce environmental impact. The company has been an early and active participant in efforts to understand and mitigate the effects of URN. Each new class of ship BC Ferries builds is quieter than the ships they replace.

“One of the complexities of designing a new ferry is working within weight, space and cost restrictions,” said Collins. “This means we need to carefully think through each aspect of the design.”