Island-class ferry
 Island Aurora vessel
| |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Island class |
| Builders | Damen Shipyards |
| Operators | BC Ferries |
| Preceded by | |
| Built | 2019–present |
| In service | 2020–present |
| Planned | 13 |
| On order | 0 |
| Completed | 6 |
| Active | 3 |
| 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 operated and owned by BC Ferries. They were built in 2019 by Damen Shipyards Group, a Dutch company, in Romania.[1][2] Ships were launched in mid-March 2019. The first two ferries were slated to commence service in mid-2020, and four more will commence service in 2022.[3] On June 10, 2020, Island Discovery entered service on the Powell River – Texada Island Route.[4]
The vessels are powered by a diesel-electric hybrid system, and will transition to full electric operation when shore-side electric charging stations and funding becomes available.[3][5] The first two vessels are named and . Island Discovery will replace on the Powell River – Texada Island route, and Island Aurora will replace Quadra Queen II on the Alert Bay – Sointula route.[6]
Description[]
The Island-class vessels Island Aurora and Island Discovery were designed by Damen Shipyards Group, with input from both the public and BC Ferries that ended up in the design for the vessels. The Island-class vessels are 80.8 metres (265 ft 1 in) long and have a beam of 17 metres (55 ft 9 in).[2] The vessels are double ended and they are considered the minor class of BC Ferries standardization plan. The first two vessels were built in 2019. BC Ferries has ordered four more of these vessels which will enter service in 2022. These vessels will be built by Damen Shipyards Galati, the builder of the first two Island-class vessels.[5] BC Ferries has stated that they plan to have 13 of these vessels in their fleet by the year 2031. The next planned vessels will serve Nanaimo Harbour – Gabriola Island and Campbell River – Quadra Island, both going into service in 2022, Island Aurora was running next to Quinsam on February 6–9 during a test run for citizens of Gabriola Island.
| Photo | Name | Launched | Completed | Routes | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Island Discovery | March 2019 | July 2019 | 18 – Powell River – Texada Island | In service | Began service on June 10, 2020 |
 |
Island Aurora | March 2019 | July 2019 | 25 – Port McNeil – Alert Bay – Sointula | In service | Began service on June 18, 2020 |
| Island Nagalis[7] | November 2020 | August 2021 | 23 – Campbell River – Quadra Island | Docked | ||
| Island K'ulut'a[7] | December 2020 | August 2021 | 23 – Campbell River – Quadra Island | In Service | ||
| Island Kwigwis[8] | February 2021 | December 2021 | 19 – Nanaimo Harbour – Gabriola Island | Docked | Service expected to commence in 2022. | |
| Island Gwawis[9] | April 2021 | January 2022 | 19 – Nanaimo Harbour – Gabriola Island | Docked |
Service history[]
Both Island Discovery and Island Aurora were launched in March 2019. The first two vessels completed construction in July 2019, and had sea trials in August 2019. The two vessels were originally scheduled to depart Galati, Romania in August 2019, but this was delayed, and the ships finally departed Romania on November 20, 2019. The ships' two-month journey to British Columbia ended on January 18, 2020, when the vessels arrived at the Point Hope Maritime Ltd. shipyard in Victoria.[1] The two vessels were christened with their names on February 19, 2020. The first two vessels were to begin service in mid-2020.[5] On June 10, the Island Discovery officially entered service on the Powell River – Texeda Island route. The Island Aurora entered service in June 2020.[4]
References[]
- ^ a b "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. Damen Shipyards. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
- ^ a b "BC Ferries' Island Class Vessels — BC Ferries - British Columbia Ferry Services Inc". www.bcferries.com. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
- ^ a b "BC Ferries' first hybrid electric vessel begins service Wednesday". CBC news. June 9, 2020. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
- ^ a b c BC Ferries' Island Class vessels (Video). BC Ferries. February 26, 2020. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
- ^ "Two new hybrid BC Ferries ships christened with new names in Victoria ceremony". Victoria News. February 19, 2020. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
- ^ a b "BC Ferries gives Indigenous names to newest hybrid vessels". CTV News. August 23, 2021. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
- ^ Staff, Nanaimo News (December 15, 2021). "Island Kwigwis, 'eagle of the sea,' to begin Nanaimo-Gabriola service in the new year". Nanaimo News Bulletin. 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.
- Ships of BC Ferries
- Ferry classes