Third Island-class ferry on its way to B C timescolonist.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from timescolonist.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Work will continue in Romania on the new ship until sea trials in August, B.C. Ferries said Thursday. The vessel will then sail to Point Hope Maritime in Victoria later this year for final preparations. Victoria-owned Point Hope Maritime has signed a long-term agreement with Damen to provide technical and warranty services for the ships. The first two Island-class vessels came into service on the Powell River-Texada Island and Port McNeill-Alert Bay-Sointula Island routes in mid-2020. The next four Island-class ferries are scheduled to begin service next year. The third and fourth ships will provide two-ship service on the Campbell River-Quadra Island route, while the fifth and sixth will provide two-ship service on the Nanaimo Harbour-Gabriola Island route in 2022.
It will be partnering with a third Romania-built Island class ferry, launched in October, on that route starting in 2022. Work continues on the latest new vessel, expected to undergo sea trials in April. After that, it will make its way to Point Hope Maritime in Victoria, B.C. Ferries said in a statement. Having the two smaller ships on that route will boost capacity to an average of 94 vehicles per hour from 59 and provide more frequent service, said B.C. Ferries, which anticipates fewer lineups and less congestion on area roads. A total of six Island Class hybrid ships have been ordered from Damen Shipyards of the Netherlands, a global player in the shipyard industry.