BC Ferries will bebuilding up to five new ferries to replace four existing vessels andinvitescustomers and communities to join conversations about the new vessels and to provide input that will help shape their future onboard experience, the company said in its release.
The new ferries will potentially add capacity to the Metro Vancouver –Vancouver Island routes and replacethe Queen of New Westminster, Queen of Alberni, Queen of Coquitlam and Queen of Cowichanthat currently serve those routes. Thenew ships are being specified to deliver enhanced environmental sustainabilityand offer flexibility to meet changing travel demands into the future.
BC Ferries expects the new ferries to enterservice in the mid-2020s.
When it comes to designing the ships, BC Ferries’ technical teams are identifying options to minimize underwater radiated noise (URN) and reduce environmental impact. The company has been an early and active participant in efforts to understand and mitigate the effects of URN.
Each new class of ship BC Ferries builds is quieter than the ships they replace.