BC Ferries says it welcomed its newest vessel, Salish Orca, into service on 16 May 2017 with a small public event on board the 6:20 and 8:05 a.m. inaugural sailings on the Comox – Powell River route.
President & CEO Mark Collins cut a ceremonial ribbon to mark the first official car on board the new vessel. Salish Orca is the first of three new Salish Class vessels that are dual-fuel and capable of operating on either natural gas or ultra-low sulphur marine diesel. BC Ferries’ use of natural gas for these 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.
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.