BC Ferries’ newest ship, Salish Orca, which will begin runs between Powell River and Comox this spring, arrived in Richmond just after 12 pm on Wednesday, January 11.
The ferry corporation’s first of three hybrid-powered Salish-class vessels docked at the Deas Dock refit facility after completing its journey of more than 10,000 nautical miles across the Atlantic Ocean.
Salish Orca still needs to clear Canadian customs and undergo inspections before ownership is transferred from the shipyard to BC Ferries, said company spokesperson Deborah Marshall.
“It’s a huge day,” said Marshall. “We’re very excited.”
Once in operation, the 107-metre Salish-class vessel will carry 145 vehicles and up to 600 passengers and crew.
Before Salish Orca is moved to BC Ferries’ Tsawwassen terminal for crew training, it will have its extra fuel tanks removed and its bow visors, which were welded shut for the crossing, opened.
“Overall, the voyage went really well,” said Marshall.
The vessel ran on diesel and natural gas during the crossing, but once it goes into service replacing Queen of Burnaby this spring, it will run full time on natural gas, said Marshall.
Using natural gas as the ship’s primary fuel will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the equivalent of taking about 1,900 vehicles off the road, and eliminate particulate matter from the ship’s exhaust, she added.
Public open houses, where the community will be invited onto Salish Orca to look around, are being planned for Powell River and Little River for a weekend in March, said Marshall.
Poland’s Remontowa Shipbuilding was awarded the $165-million contract in 2014 for the three Salish-class vessels. Salish Eagle and Salish Raven are expected to arrive in BC later this year.
