BC Ferries Island Class
The Island class is a series of vessels that are owned and operated by BC Ferries.
All vessels are powered using a hybrid diesel-electric system, with batteries capable of storing up to 800 kWh, and are designed to allow for a conversion to full electric power in the future.[1] Vessels are equipped with one main car deck and a side gallery deck enabling parking for up to 47 automobiles. Two lounges on the car deck provide indoor seating areas and accessible washrooms, with a solarium and outdoor seating on the upper levels.
The Island class was born out of a desire to replace the aging minor-class vessel fleet with one standard design that would be interchangeable between multiple routes. The vessels replacing larger minor vessels in fleet will allow two boat service on certain routes such as 19, 23, while the other routes these vessels will be servicing while be seeing an increase in vehicles and passengers capacity. Prior to the Island class, most of the minor vessels were of a unique design, either designed and built specifically for its initial route, or was purchased second-hand. BC Ferries expects to consolidate five classes containing 7 vessels into one class upon completion of its minor-class replacement project. The first six vessels were built by Damen Shipyards in Galati, Romania, with the vessel's design blueprints owned by BC Ferries.
Island Discovery
| Island Discovery | |
| |
| Built | 2019, Galati, Romania |
| IMO number | 9831751 |
| Status | Active |
| Home base | Blubber Bay |
| Route(s) served | 18 |
Island Discovery is one of the first two Island-class vessels.[2]
The vessel departed from the shipyard on carrier vessel Sun Rise alongside its twin vessel on November 20, 2019, with both arriving in Victoria on January 18, 2020. The official name was revealed with a naming and christening ceremony on February 19, 2020, and acceptance testing and crew training began shortly afterwards. She entered service on route 18 on June 10, 2020, replacing North Island Princess.[3]
| Engines | Max speed | Length | Displacement | Vehicle capacity | Passenger capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 knots | 81 metres | 1778.0 tones | 47 autos | 300 |
Island Aurora
| Island Aurora | |
| |
| Built | 2019, Galati, Romania |
| IMO number | 9831763 |
| Status | Active |
| Home base | Alert Bay |
| Route(s) served | 25 |
Island Aurora is one of the first two Island-class vessels.[4]
The vessel departed from the shipyard on carrier vessel Sun Rise alongside its twin vessel on November 20, 2019, with both arriving in Victoria on January 18, 2020. The official name was revealed with a naming and christening ceremony on February 19, 2020, and acceptance testing and crew training began shortly afterwards. She entered service on June 18, 2020 on route 25, shifting Quadra Queen II to become a full-time relief vessel.[5]
| Engines | Max speed | Length | Displacement | Vehicle capacity | Passenger capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 knots | 81 metres | 1778.0 tones | 47 autos | 300 |
Island Nagalis
| Island Nagalis | |
| Built | 2020, Galati, Romania |
| IMO number | 9900576 |
| Status | Active |
| Home base | Quathiaski Cove |
| Route(s) served | 23 |
Island Nagalis is the third of the Island-class vessels.
Island Nagalis departed from the shipyard on May 19, 2021 under its own power (with the interim name of Island 3), arriving in Victoria, BC on July 22, 2021. It entered service on April 2, 2022 on route 18 as a refit replacement; it started its permanent assignment on route 23 on January 18, 2023, replacing Powell River Queen.
| Engines | Max speed | Length | Displacement | Vehicle capacity | Passenger capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 knots | 81 metres | 1778.0 tones | 47 autos | 300 |
Island K’ulut’a
| Island K’ulut’a | |
| Built | 2020, Galati, Romania |
| IMO number | 9900588 |
| Status | Active |
| Home base | Quathiaski Cove |
| Route(s) served | 23 |
Island K’ulut’a is the fourth of the Island-class vessels.
Island K’ulut’a departed from the shipyard on June 8, 2021 under its own power (with the interim name of Island 4), arriving in Victoria, BC on August 13, 2021. It entered service on November 4, 2021 on route 18, as a refit replacement; after serving as a training vessel through Fall 2022, it started its permanent assignment on route 23 on January 17, 2023, replacing Powell River Queen.
| Engines | Max speed | Length | Displacement | Vehicle capacity | Passenger capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 knots | 81 metres | 1778.0 tones | 47 autos | 300 |
Island Kwigwis
| Island Kwigwis | |
| |
| Built | 2021, Galati, Romania |
| IMO number | 9900590 |
| Status | Active |
| Home base | Descanso Bay (Gabriola Island) or Nanaimo Harbour |
| Route(s) served | 19 |
Island Kwigwis is the fifth of the Island-class vessels.
Island Kwigwis departed from the shipyard on July 30, 2021 under its own power (with the interim name of Island 5), arriving in Victoria, BC on September 27, 2021. It entered service on April 12, 2022 on route 19 alongside Island Gwawis, shifting Quinsam to route 6.
| Engines | Max speed | Length | Displacement | Vehicle capacity | Passenger capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 knots | 81 metres | 1778.0 tones | 47 autos | 300 |
Island Gwawis
| Island Gwawis | |
| |
| Built | 2021, Galati, Romania |
| IMO number | 9900605 |
| Status | Active |
| Home base | Descanso Bay (Gabriola Island) or Nanaimo Harbour |
| Route(s) served | 19 |
Island Gwawis is the sixth of the Island-class vessels.
Island Gwawis departed from the shipyard on October 11, 2021 under its own power (with the interim name of Island 6), arriving in Victoria, BC on December 21, 2021. It entered service on April 12, 2022 on route 19 alongside Island Kwigwis, shifting Quinsam to route 6.
| Engines | Max speed | Length | Displacement | Vehicle capacity | Passenger capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 knots | 81 metres | 1778.0 tones | 47 autos | 300 |
References
- ↑ Island Class Key Features, BC Ferries, retrieved April 12, 2020.
- ↑ Island Discovery, BC Ferries, retrieved June 10, 2020.
- ↑ BC FERRIES’ ISLAND DISCOVERY OFFICIALLY BEGINS SERVICE ON JUNE 10, BC Ferries, published June 9, 2020.
- ↑ Island Aurora, BC Ferries, retrieved June 10, 2020.
- ↑ BC FERRIES’ ISLAND AURORA OFFICIALLY JOINS THE FLEET TODAY, BC Ferries, published June 18, 2020.