What is the New Major Vessels project?
The New Major Vessels (NMV) project is a complex, multi-year, capital project that will deliver up to seven new vessels to service our busiest routes, addressing the urgent need to replace aging vessels and address capacity constraints, prepare for future growth, and improve overall system resilience.The New Major Vessels will serve our busiest routes between Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland, offering increased capacity and a state-of-the-art travel experience. Each vessel will be capable of carrying up to 2,100 passengers and 360 vehicles, significantly improving service and capacity on our busiest sailings. The first of these vessels is expected to enter service in 2029, with five operational by 2031. Two additional vessels are planned for a later phase, bringing the total to seven by 2037.
Our vision for the future is clear - renew and grow our fleet to deliver what our customers expect and do that in a financially responsible way to keep fares as affordable as possible.
Why do we need new ships?
We heard from over 10,000 of our customers and crew this past spring, and overwhelmingly they told us reliability is their first priority. That means having reliable ships where we can minimize breakdowns, and it also means simply being a travel option they can rely upon to get them where they need to be, when they need to be there.BC Ferries is an essential public service, and therefore it’s critical that we have the capacity to support the people, local economies, and the tourism industries of the communities we serve. This means planning responsibly for a future where tens of thousands of people will move to the region. We are an essential part of the supply chain between Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland. Our Major Routes are already effectively operating at full capacity during the peak season, and we know that the population of the areas we serve is only continuing to grow, meaning that wait times and delays will only increase over time.
Without these new vessels, we will exceed capacity on our Major Routes within the next decade, resulting in extensive delays in both the movement of goods and the opportunity for reasonable commutes for people living in these coastal communities.
With the introduction of these new ships, BC Ferries will increase capacity by up to 28% for passengers and 19% for vehicles across the ferry system, significantly reducing congestion and ensuring smoother travel experience for our passengers. The additional capacity will allow us to keep pace with growing demand, ensuring that we can meet future service needs and support the economic growth of coastal communities.