For Immediate Release
24-22
November 1, 2024

MARITIME TRADITION CONTINUES WITH ISLAND CLASS KEEL LAYING CEREMONY

VICTORIA, BC – Earlier this morning, BC Ferries celebrated the successful keel laying of the first two of four fully electric Island Class vessels at Damen Shipyards Galați in Romania. This key milestone moves BC Ferries closer to introducing these zero-emission ferries by 2027, reinforcing the company’s commitment to sustainable operations, fleet modernization and meeting growing customer demand.

The keel laying ceremony, a time-honored shipbuilding tradition, marks a significant milestone in the vessel’s assembly. Continuing a long-standing maritime custom, CEO and President Nicolas Jimenez welded a Canadian coin to the central frame above the keel of each vessel, symbolizing good fortune for the ship and its future passengers. The coin chosen for the four newest Island Class ships is a 1 oz pure silver coin, depicting five orcas and reflecting the beauty of Canada's west coast waters where the ferries will sail.

“The keel laying is a significant milestone, not just in the construction of these ships, but in our journey to provide enhanced capacity and service reliability for our customers while moving towards a cleaner, more sustainable fleet," said Jimenez. "By building fully electric ferries, we’re taking a major step in reducing emissions, meeting increased demand, and fulfilling our environmental commitments."

These fully electric vessels are planned to serve routes between Nanaimo and Gabriola Island, and Campbell River and Quadra Island. Each vessel will carry up to 390 passengers and 47 vehicles, operating with zero emissions by utilizing renewable shore power for battery charging. They will replace older vessels and expand the Island Class fleet, which already includes six hybrid diesel-battery electric ferries introduced in recent years.

"Reaching the keel laying stage brings us one step closer to putting these vessels into service. It’s exciting to see our vision for fully electric ferries coming to life," added Jimenez. "These ferries will not only reduce our environmental impact, but also increase capacity, improve service reliability and provide a quieter, more efficient travel experience for our customers."

BC Ferries’ fully electric vessels are a critical part of the company’s broader strategy to reduce corporate emissions by 2030. The four new electric ferries, scheduled to begin arriving in BC by 2027, will contribute to this goal by eliminating approximately 10,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent annually and advancing BC Ferries' transition from hybrid to fully electric operations as renewable shore power infrastructure becomes more accessible.

With construction on track following the steel-cutting milestone in July, the keel laying marks another significant step in BC Ferries' commitment to fleet renewal, sustainability, and delivering expanded, reliable service to meet customer needs across coastal communities.