B.C.'s first hybrid-electric ferries sail into Victoria on Saturday
Credit to Author: Scott Brown| Date: Fri, 17 Jan 2020 19:42:02 +0000
B.C. Ferries will add the first two hybrid-electric vessels to its fleet on Saturday when a pair of new battery-equipped Island Class ships arrive in Victoria following a 10,300 nautical mile trip from Romania.
Built at cost of $86.5 million, the ferries can each carry up to 47 vehicles and 300 to 450 passengers and crew, depending on configuration, and are scheduled to serve the Powell River-Texada Island and Port McNeill-Alert Bay-Sointula routes by mid-2020.
The ferry corporation says the yet-to-be-named vessels are designed for future full electric operation.
“The ships are fitted with hybrid technology that bridges the gap until shore charging infrastructure and funding becomes available in B.C. From the exterior details to the engines, the design of the new vessels reduces underwater radiated noise, lowers emissions and improves customer service,” B.C. Ferries said in a release.
The two vessels departed Constanta, Romania, on Nov. 20 on a semi-submersible transport vessel.
The ships will spend five days at the deep water port facility at Ogden Point while preparations are made to unload and deliver them to Point Hope Maritime shipyard in Victoria Harbour where commissioning work — starting up all of the systems and final inspections — will be done before B.C. Ferries takes ownership.