SFC welcomes new dual-fuelled/hybrid ferry

The state-of-the-art vessel, built by Sedef Shipbuilding Inc in Istanbul, Turkey, was docked at the SFC Tilbury Terminal in Delta, British Columbia. With assistance from VARD, FortisBC and Redwise, the Seaspan Swift was successfully bunkered using a tanker truck to deliver LNG (liquefied natural gas) on board the vessel. This type of bunkering operation was the first of its kind in North America, according to SFC.
The 148.9m-long ferry, which can accommodate up to 59 trailers, will undergo a series of regulatory inspections and crew training programmes throughout December before entering operation on January 2nd 2017.
Addition of the ferry to the fleet demonstrates the company's commitment to “ensuring the conservation of Canadian oceans and waterways", said Steve Roth, vice president of SFC, which operates a “drop trailer” service eliminating the costs associated with tractors and drivers accompanying trailers during transit to or from Vancouver Island. "The Seaspan Swift will reduce our greenhouse gas emissions dramatically compared with other current alternatives, while delivering the highest level of efficiency, performance and reliability.”   
The Seaspan Swift along with its sister ship, the Seaspan Reliant, are the first vessels added to SFC’s fleet since 2002. The Seaspan Reliant, SFC’s second dual-fuelled/hybrid ferry – nearing completion and undergoing testing and trials in Turkey – is expected to arrive in Tilbury in early 2017.
SFC currently operates a fleet of seven ferries out of five terminals in British Columbia, and says it supplies more than 50% of all cargo to Vancouver Island.