By
Laura Hyde |
ABB is to supply power, propulsion and control technology for four new hybrid-electric passenger and car ferries, which will be operated by BC Ferries in Canada.
The new ferries will replace four end-of-life vessels as part of the BC Ferries’ ‘New Major Vessels’ programme which aims to deliver safe, environmentally sustainable and reliable operations in and around the Strait of Georgia, separating Vancouver Island from the lower mainland of British Columbia in Canada.
The ferries are currently under construction in China at the China Merchants Industry Weihai (CMI Weihai) shipyard and the first is expected to be delivered in 2029. Each ferry will be equipped with ABB’s gearless, steerable Azipod electric propulsion, which has significantly fewer moving parts than mechanical thrusters and a propeller designed to reduce underwater radiated noise. It is hoped these features will enable quieter and cleaner operations, while safeguarding at-risk species, including the Southern Resident killer whale.
Each ferry will feature ABB’s Onboard DC Grid power distribution system and will be equipped to accommodate up to 70-megawatt-hours (MWh) of battery energy storage. This will enable efficient hybrid operations and support a future shift to fully electric, zero-emission services. Each vessel will also be able to connect to a high-capacity shore charging system rated above 60 megawatts for fast turnaround in port.
“We proudly support BC Ferries’ goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from their operations, striving to meet British Columbia’s 2030 greenhouse gas emissions reduction target for the transportation sector by at least 27 per cent by 2030, from 2008 levels, in support of a cleaner future for British Columbia, and its ambitions to transition to all-electric operation,” said Rune Braastad, president of ABB’s marine and ports division.
Annually, BC Ferries operates ferries on 25 routes to 47 terminals, carrying approximately 9.7 million vehicles and 22.7 million passengers. The operator expects demand on its services to increase over the next 20 years as the province’s population is forecast to grow 44 per cent by 2046.
“BC Ferries’ New Major Vessels represent the largest capital investment in our history and are essential to renewing our fleet, increasing capacity on our busiest routes, and strengthening system resilience,” said Nicolas Jimenez, president and CEO of BC Ferries. “Their design reflects what our customers value most: comfort, accessibility and environmental stewardship. With diesel-battery hybrid technology that can operate on bio and renewable diesel today and transition to full electrification as infrastructure evolves, these ships are a critical part of building a cleaner, quieter, and more reliable ferry system for the future.”