Newbuild will operate between downtown Vancouver and North Vancouver in British Columbia from 2019
By
Rebecca Gibson |
TransLink, Metro Vancouver’s regional transportation authority, has contracted Damen Shipyards Group to build a SeaBus to ferry passengers between downtown Vancouver and North Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada.
TransLink has offered the SeaBus service for the past 40 years and when the newbuild enters service in 2019, it will have three vessels in operation at the same time. This will allow it to increase service frequency so there are sailings every 10 minutes during peak periods.
“Damen has a proven track record with TransLink,” said Sany Zein, TransLink’s vice president of Infrastructure Management and Engineering. “As the builder of the Burrard Otter II that became part of our SeaBus fleet in 2014, we are confident that Damen will bring that expertise to the construction of the new vessel.”
The new aluminium Damen SeaBus will be 34 metres long and 12 metres wide, enabling it to accommodate 395 passengers. It will have additional exhaust gas treatment systems to optimise its green credentials.
“We are honoured and delighted with this contract award and to continue working with TransLink,” said Leo Postma, Damen’s sales manager for The Americas. “Building long-lasting relationships with our customers is what motivates us every day and seeing TransLink return to Damen for this fleet addition project is a pleasure. We are looking forward to continuing to work with TransLink and to supporting its crucial service for Vancouver city life.”