By
Rebecca Gibson |
Remontowa Shipbuilding cut the first piece of steel for the third of BC Ferries’ three newdual-fuel, intermediate-class ferry (ICF) at its yard in Gdansk, Poland, on 1 July.
Part of the Canadian ferry operator’s vessel replacement plan, the 107m ferry will be able to run on ultra-low sulphur diesel or LNG fuel and will accommodate 145 vehicles and 600 passengers.
“The new ships will replace vessels that are at the end of their lifecycle and will be more fuel efficient and cleaner burning, reducing our impact on the environment,” said Mike Corrigan, BC Ferries’ president and CEO. “We are eagerly anticipating the arrival of the new vessels and the construction start of the third ICF is an important milestone in bringing these ships one step closer to sailing in our fleet.”
When possible, the dual-fuel ships will run on LNG, which will enable BC Ferries to save around 9,000 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide per year, the equivalent of removing 1,900 passenger vehicles off the road annually. Using this type of fuel will almost eliminate sulphur oxide emissions and diesel particulate matter, and significantly reduce nitrogen oxide emissions.
Scheduled to launch in August 2016, the first ICF will replace the 50-year old Queen of Burnaby on the Comox – Powell River route, while the second will replace the 51-year old Queen of Nanaimo on the Tsawwassen – Southern Gulf Islands route from October 2016. The third, which will launch in February 2017, will be used to augment peak and shoulder season service on the Southern Gulf Islands route, and provide refit relief around the fleet.