Construction start of fourth serial ferry for BC Ferries
The Salish-class ferries are part of BC Ferries’ Clean Future plan (Source: Remontowa/Piosta)
Canadian shipping company BC Ferries has awarded Remontowa Shipbuilding a contract with a total investment of US$69.3 million to build another liquefied natural gas (LNG)-fuelled passenger/vehicle ferry. Construction has already started at the Polish shipyard.
The 107m-long Salish-class vessel will have the capacity to carry at least 138 vehicles and up to 600 passengers and crew. It will be delivered in 2022. The vessel will be identical in size to the three Salish-class ferries vessels delivered to BC Ferries in 2016 and 2017.
The vessel has been ordered under BC Ferries’ Clean Futures plan to replace diesel fuels with cleaner energy options, said Captain Jamie Marshall, BC Ferries’ Vice President, Business Development & Innovation. The new vessel will be BC Ferries' sixth ship in total fuelled by natural gas.
The agreement with Remontowa is a design-build, fixed-priced contract that provides BC Ferries with substantial guarantees related to delivery dates, performance criteria, cost certainty and quality construction. The total project budget, which includes financing and project management costs, is approximately C$92.3 million (US$69.3 million). It will allow for the retirement of the Mayne Queen, a diesel-fuelled vessel.
The new ship will be powered by three Wärtsilä engines and electrically propelled by Schottel thrusters at each end, driven by a gas-electric power plant. Onboard amenities include a cafe, shop, children’s play area and a passenger lounge. The electric propulsion will remove the need of gear boxes and shaft. Twin propellers reduce cavitation and the hull is designed to create a very small wake. Advanced hull coating that reduces flow disturbance and environmental leaching will also be used.
