Damen Shipyards has won the contract to build and supply four, fully electric, passenger car ferries which will take the total number of ferries that Damen has supplied to BC Ferries in recent years to ten. However, these latest additions will be the first to operate using 100% electrical power. @damen.com
BRITISH COLUMBIA – Damen Shipyards Group (Damen) has secured the contract to construct four cutting-edge hybrid electric Island Class vessels for BC Ferries, a development aimed at increasing capacity across the system and enhancing the overall travel experience for passengers.
The Netherlands company, Damen, the same shipyard behind the construction of BC Ferries’ preceding six Island Class ferries, will undertake the construction of these vessels in Romania. The selection of Damen’s bid came after a thorough evaluation of numerous proposals received globally, with no submissions from Canadian companies.
“The new hybrid electric vessels will further standardize our fleet, both increasing capacity and improving our flexibility to move ships across routes so our passengers can have confidence that we’ll get them where they need to go,” said Nicolas Jimenez, BC Ferries’ President and CEO. “Adding more Island Class vessels will also make it easier to deploy crew, create efficiencies in training costs, and promote safe, reliable and environmentally conscious ferry services up and down the coast.”
The agreement with Damen represents a design-build, fixed-priced contract, delivering significant assurances to BC Ferries concerning delivery timelines, performance benchmarks, cost predictability, and construction quality.
Designed to accommodate a minimum of 47 vehicles and up to 390 passengers and crew, these new vessels will incorporate various features aligning with BC Ferries’ Clean Futures Plan objectives, emphasizing efficiency and environmental responsibility throughout its fleet and operations. The company’s intent is to operate these vessels exclusively in battery-electric mode, powered by renewable BC Hydro electricity.
“We are super excited and extremely pleased with the award of four more Island Class type vessels for BC Ferries,” said Leo Postma, Damen’s Area Director Americas. “We have teamed up with the technical staff of BC Ferries now for seven years and together we developed a very efficient series of 10 ferries in total that meet all of the future requirements of safe, reliable and sustainable waterborne public transport.”
Anticipated to commence service by 2027, the four new vessels will operate on routes connecting Nanaimo Harbour and Gabriola Island (two vessels) as well as Campbell River and Quadra Island (two vessels).
BC Ferries will implement corresponding electrical enhancements at the four terminals along these routes through a separate contract, ensuring readiness for ship delivery.
Business Examiner Staff
