BC Ferries christens two Salish-class ferries at Remontowa Shipbuilding

BC Ferries last week held the official naming ceremony for the second and third SalishClass vessels at Remontowa Shipbuilding S.A. in Gdansk, Poland. The Salish Eagle and Salish Raven were christened according to maritime tradition with the customary breaking of a champagne bottle on each hull, the ferry operator said in its press release.

The vessel sponsor for the Salish Eagle is Michelle Letourneau, currently a Master on the routes serving the Southern Gulf Islands. The sponsor for the Salish Raven is Jodi Gaudet, Chief Engineer on the MV Quinsam, which operates on the Nanaimo – Gabriola Island route. Both women have worked diligently over the past 20 years to advance their careers in the marine industry, and are thrilled at being selected as sponsors of these newest BC Ferries vessels.

“This ceremony marks a major milestone in the construction of our three new SalishClass vessels as they each take another step closer to entering our fleet,” said Mike Corrigan, BC Ferries’ President and CEO. “These vessels, named after the Coast Salish people and the Salish Sea, represent British Columbia’s rich coastal culture and heritage, and will serve coastal
communities for many years to come.”

The Salish-Class vessels will be fuelled by natural gas, similar to gas used in homes, schools, hospitals and businesses, which is better for the environment than the traditional marine diesel oil. Using natural gas for the Salish-Class vessels will result in the reduction of an estimated 9,000 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per year, the same as taking approximately 1,900 passenger vehicles off the road annually. Plus, natural gas is cheaper than marine diesel, which will reduce operating costs.

The 107-metre Salish-Class ferries will carry 145 vehicles and up to 600 passengers and crew. There are two car decks and each ferry has a service speed of 15.5 knots. The service life of each vessel is approximately 40 years.

The first vessel, the Salish Orca, is planned to arrive in B.C. by the end of this year. The Salish Eagle is expected to arrive early in 2017 and the Salish Raven is expected to arrive shortly thereafter in the spring of 2017. All three vessels are planned to be in operation in the summer of 2017. The Salish Orca will sail on the Comox – Powell River route. The Salish Eagle and Salish Raven will provide service to the Southern Gulf Islands.

Under contract to the Province of British Columbia, BC Ferries is the service provider responsible for the delivery of safe, efficient and dependable ferry service along coastal British Columbia.