BC Ferries has announced that Dutch boat builder Damen Shipyards Group has been awarded an $86.5-million contract to build two new minor-class vessels.
Damen, which operates more than 30 international shipyards, will build the ferries in Romania, BC Ferries announced in a media release on Tuesday, June 6. The federal government is funding $28 million of the total cost.
The first ferry to be constructed, expected to enter into service in 2020, will replace North Island Princess, the 59-year-old vessel that operates between Powell River and Texada Island.
Currently the oldest ship in the BC Ferries fleet, North Island Princess is slated for retirement.
Northern Sunshine Coast Ferry Advisory Committee (FAC) chair Kim Barton-Bridges said she was pleased to see the next phase of work to replace North Island Princess proceeding, as the long-serving ship has been plagued with electrical issues.
"I'm excited about the ferry replacement moving forward," said Barton-Bridges. “Once we get the new ship Powell River will have the three newest vessels in the fleet.”
BC Ferries brought the first of its dual-fuel, diesel-LNG-powered ships into service in May when Salish Orca replaced the aging Queen of Burnaby on the Comox-Powell River route. In 2008, the ferry corporation had MV Island Sky built to provide service across Jervis Inlet between Saltery Bay and Earls Cove.
Each of the new minor-class vessels will have 44-vehicle, 300-passenger-and-crew capacity and be powered by hybrid diesel-electric-battery engines. Propulsion systems are designed to minimize underwater noise and the ships will have fully contained wastewater systems that eliminate discharge into the sea.
FAC representative for Texada Island Sandy McCormick said the replacement ferry announcement is somewhat bittersweet.
“People on Texada love the North Island Princess to bits,” said McCormick. “Yes, the ship has missed sailings and broken down, but all that aside, the folks genuinely love that little boat. It has been tried and true.”
McCormick said she expects there to be another community forum on the ship’s design in Texada sometime in the next year.
None of the five Canadian shipyards shortlisted for the job submitted bids for design and construction of the two ships.
Barton-Bridges said she has heard some disappointment from the community that the vessels will be built overseas.
"People are upset that it won't be a Canadian-built ship,” said Barton-Bridges, “but if a Canadian shipyard does not bid on it, there's not much that can be done."
McCormick said she understands shipbuilding is an international business but she had also hoped the ship would be built in BC.
“I'm really disappointed it couldn't have been done locally,” she said. “We certainly have the capability to produce ships of a quality BC Ferries is looking for.”
Point Hope Maritime in Victoria will be responsible for maintaining the two vessels under their warranty.
The second new vessel will replace Quadra Queen II on the Port McNeill-Alert Bay-Sointula route. BC Ferries will retain Quadra Queen II as a replacement vessel and retire the 53-year-old Howe Sound Queen.
