BC Ferries Commissioner has approved BC Ferries’ application to construct three new intermediate class vessels to replace the 48-year-old Queen of Burnaby and 49-year-old Queen of Nanaimo, a press release issued by the corporation Tuesday, July 23, stated.
The Burnaby, sailing between Comox and Powell River, and Nanaimo, serving the Tsawwassen and southern Gulf Island route, are due for retirement in 2016.
“As we begin the next phase of our newbuild program, a key objective is to achieve capital and operating cost savings and efficiencies through an overall class and standardization strategy and a series build program,” said Mike Corrigan, BC Ferries’ president and CEO.
The standardization Corrigan refers to is to build two vessels capable of carrying 145 vehicles and up to 600 passengers and crew, plus a third vessel capable of carrying 125 vehicles and 600 passengers and crew to augment peak and shoulder season services plus refit relief for the other two ships.
With standardization comes with other benefits. “Improved operational efficiencies are also expected including lower crew training costs and standardized bridge, engine room and accommodation layouts, and lower maintenance costs with standardization of parts and equipment,” explained Corrigan.
A formal procurement process will be used to pursue a design-build contract with a shipyard, and a request for pre-qualification will be issued by BC Ferries later this month. Canadian and international shipyards are invited to participate in this process. It is expected the contract will be awarded in January 2014, with the two 145-vehicle ferries expected to be in service 2016 and the smaller vessel in 2017.
The use of liquified natural gas (LNG) is being considered as a possible key design element, however, further technical and financial analyses will need to be conducted before a final decision is made. While vessels fuelled with LNG are expected to have a higher initial capital cost than those fuelled with diesel, they are expected to have overall lower lifecycle costs, which would have a positive impact on fares, the press release stated.
In his ruling, the ferries commissioner stated that he finds the major capital expenditure proposed in the Section 55 of the Coastal Ferry Act application to be responsible, prudent and consistent with the current coastal ferry services contract and the long term capital plan established by BC Ferries.
BC Ferries held nine public consultations during the spring for feedback on its plans. That feedback was included in the application to the commissioner which can be read at www.bcferrycommission.com along with the commissioner’s order.
