By
Laura Hyde |
Damen Shipyards Group has floated out Island K’asa, the 10th Island-class ferry from its shipyard in Galati, Romania.
The 390-passenger ferry is the final vessel in a four-ferry order placed by Canadian operator BC Ferries and will operate on Route 23 between Campbell River and Quadra Island on Canada’s west coast.
Damen has previously built and delivered six Island-class ferries – most recently in November 2025 – making it the largest vessel class in BC Ferries’ fleet. The four-battery-equipped diesel-hybrid ferries have been designed to improve passenger comfort, reduce environmental impact and increase vehicle capacity by 71 per cent and passenger capacity by 135 per cent, which is equal to an additional 200 spaces for vehicles and 2,000 spaces for passengers.
Island K’asa will provide low-emission travel between Campbell River and Quadra Island on Canada’s west coast
“Launching the final Island-class vessel is an important step in renewing our fleet and strengthening service for coastal communities,” said Nicolas Jimenez, president and CEO of BC Ferries. “These vessels add space for more passengers and vehicles while helping us replace aging ships with modern, more efficient ones. That’s essential to keeping ferry service reliable for the people and communities who depend on it every day.”