Island Class Ferries

The Island-Class Vessels 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 10th 2020, Island Discovery entered service on the Powell River - Texada Island Route.[4]

Island Aurora vessel
Class overview
Name: Island class
Builders: Damen Shipyards
Operators: BC Ferries
Preceded by:
Built: 2019
Planned: 6
On order: 4
Building: 2
Completed: 2
Active: 0
General characteristics
Type: Ferry
Length: 80.80 m (265 ft)
Beam: 17.00 m
Draught: 3.20 m
Depth: 5.70 m
Installed power: 2x 1850 mm ice strength fixed pitch
Propulsion: 2x 900 kW azimuth thrusters, electric drive
Speed: 14 knots (25.92 km/h)
Capacity: 300 passengers and Crew

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 2 vessels are named "Island Aurora" and "Island Discovery". Island Discovery will replace MV North Island Princess on the Powell River – Texada Island route, and Island Aurora will replace MV Quadra Queen II on the Alert Bay – Sointula route.[6]

Description

The Island Class vessels Island Aurora and Island Discovery were officially designed by Damen Shipyards Group, but input from both the public and BC Ferries ended up in the designs for the vessels. The Island Class vessels are 80.8 meters long and have a beam of 17 metres.[2]The vessels are double ended and they are considered the minor class of BC Ferries standardization plan. The first 2 vessels were built in 2019. BC Ferries has ordered 4 more of these vessels which will enter service in 2022. These vessels will be built by Damen Shipyards Galati, the builder of the first 2 Island Class vessels.[5] BC Ferries has stated that they plan to have 13 of these vessels in their fleet by the year 2031.

Vessels
Photo Name Launched Completed Routes Status Notes
Island Discovery March 2019 July 2019 18-Powell River–Texada Island In service Began Service on June 10th.
 Island Aurora March 2019 July 2019 25-Port McNeil–Alert Bay–Sointula In service Began Service on June 18th

Service history

Both Island Discovery and Island Aurora were launched in March 2019. The first 2 vessels were completed construction in July 2019, and had sea trials in August 2019. The 2 vessels were originally scheduled to depart Galati, Romania in August of 2019, but this was delayed, and the ships finally departed Romania on November 20th 2019. The ships' 2-month journey to British Columbia ended on January 18th when the vessels arrived at Point Hope Shipyards in Victoria.[1] The 2 vessels were christened with their names on February 19th, 2020. The first 2 vessels were to begin service in mid-2020.[5]. On June 10th Island Discovery officaly entered service on the Powell River - Texeda Island route, Island Aurora entered service in June 2020.[4]

References
  1. "BC Ferries receives delivery of new hybrid electric island class ferries". Global News. January 24, 2020. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  2. "Damen Road ferry 8117 E3". Damen Shipyards. Damen Shipyards. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  3. "BC Ferries' Island Class Vessels | BC Ferries - British Columbia Ferry Services Inc". www.bcferries.com. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  4. "BC Ferries' first hybrid electric vessel begins service Wednesday". CBC news. June 9, 2020. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  5. BC Ferries' Island Class vessels (Video). BC Ferries. February 26, 2020. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  6. "Two new hybrid BC Ferries ships christened with new names in Victoria ceremony". Victoria News. February 19, 2020. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
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