Construction begins on the third BC Ferries’ LNG ferry
Photo: BC Ferries
The first steel cut for BC Ferries’ third new intermediate class ferry (ICF) took place on July 1, 2015, bringing all three new ships under construction at Remontowa Shipbuilding SA in Gdansk closer to their delivery to B.C waters. This is another significant step in the construction of three dual-fuel ferries capable to run on either liquefied natural gas (LNG) or ultra-low sulphur diesel.
The vessels will measure approximately 107 metres and will have the capacity to carry 145 vehicles and up to 600 passengers and crew. The vessels designed for a service life of approximately 40 years, will have a contract service speed of 15.5 knots and will be able to accelerate to a speed of 12 knots in 125 seconds.
The other two ferries from the series which construction had started earlier this year are progressing well. The staggered start mimics the delivery dates, with the first ICF scheduled to arrive in August 2016, the second in October 2016 and the third in February 2017.
BC Ferries use of LNG will result in the reduction of an estimated 9,000 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per year, the same as taking 1,900 passenger vehicles off the road annually, because natural gas is cleaner burning than traditional marine diesel fuel. The new ships will run on LNG as much as possible, almost completely eliminating SOx (Sulphur Oxides), reducing NOx (Nitrogen Oxides) to a fraction of what we see from diesel fuel and nearly eliminating particulate matter.
The first ICF will replace the 50-year old Queen of Burnaby on the Comox – Powell River route. The second ICF will replace the 51-year old Queen of Nanaimo, sailing on the Tsawwassen – Southern Gulf Islands route. The third ICF will be used to augment peak and shoulder season service on the Southern Gulf Islands route, and provide refit relief around the fleet.
Under contract to the Province of British Columbia, BC Ferries is the service provider responsible for the delivery of safe, efficient and dependable ferry service along coastal British Columbia.
