Keels were laid Friday morning for two new Island-class BC Ferries currently under construction in Romania.
During the ceremony, a time-honoured maritime tradition, BC Ferries CEO Nicholas Jiminez welded a special silver Canadian coin to the frame above the keel of each ship. It symbolizes good fortune for the ship and its future passengers.
The coins feature orcas in BC waters and are part of a limited edition from the Royal Canadian Mint.
The Ferries boss says it’s a significant milestone in the ferries’ construction, and in the efforts BC Ferries is making to electrify the fleet.
“By building fully electric ferries, we’re taking a major step in reducing emissions, meeting increased demand, and fulfilling our environmental commitments,” he said in a statement. “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.
“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.”
The new fully-electric ferries will operate between Nanaimo and Gabriola Island, and between Campbell River and Quadra Island. They will recharge their batteries at the terminals.
BC Ferries plans to fully electrify more routes as reliable charging infrastructure on shore is added to the terminals.
Four of the new vessels will be built in total, they will start arriving in BC in 2027.
