Construction has begun on the first two of B.C. Ferries’ new battery-electric hybrid Island-class vessels.When completed, the vessels will be the first in the fleet to operate exclusively in battery-electric mode.
Four of the new Island-class vessels will be built, with the first two split between the Nanaimo-Gabriola route and the Campbell River-Quadra Island run. The vessels are set to begin arriving in 2026, by which time shore-based, rapid-charging infrastructure is expected to be in place at the four terminals.
The new vessels will have room for 47 vehicles and 400 passengers and are expected to be much quieter than existing vessels, with a new propulsion system designed to reduce underwater noise. Ed Hooper, executive director of shipbuilding, said in a statement that the new vessels are a “key component” of B.C. Ferries’ commitment to increasing system capacity, enhancing service capabilities and reducing environmental impact.