It is one of two ships that will serve the Nanaimo Harbour to Gabriola Island route starting in 2022, replacing the 1982-built Quinsam. The replacement of the aging large ship with two smaller vessels will provide increased capacity and more frequent service, and have the result of decreasing vehicle line-ups and congestion on local roads — effectively reducing the need to expand the size of terminal holding compounds. Each Island Class vessel has the capacity to carry at least 47 vehicles and up to 400 passengers and crew. The first two Island Class vessels arrived in Victoria in early 2020, and entered service in June on the routes from Powell River to Texada Island, and between Port McNeill, Alert Bay, and Sointula Island.