May 26, 2025
Milestone week brings four new Island Class vessels closer to BC waters
VICTORIA, BC - BC Ferries is celebrating three major shipbuilding milestones for the next wave of Island Class vessels under construction at Damen Shipyards in Romania, marking another step forward in the company’s efforts to renew its fleet and transition to more energy-efficient and sustainable electric operations.
On May 22nd, the seventh Island Class vessel was launched on the Danube River in Galati, Romania, entering the water for the first time. This milestone signifies that the vessel’s hull is structurally complete and watertight, marking a major step toward final outfitting, testing, and delivery. The launch was commemorated with an official ceremony attended by representatives from Damen and BC Ferries’ on-site team, as well as BC Ferries’ Executive Director of Shipbuilding Ed Hooper and Island Class Program Manager David Tolman.
On May 23rd, the ninth and 10th Island Class vessels also reached key stages. Construction of the company’s 10th Island Class vessel officially began when BC Ferries’ Project Manager Ryan Tuira started production by cutting the first piece of marine-grade steel for this final vessel in the Island Class series. On the same day, the team also celebrated the keel laying of the ninth Island Class vessel, a traditional maritime ceremony during which BC Ferries’ Executive Director of Shipbuilding Ed Hooper welded a Canadian coin to the ship’s central frame. The coin—a 1 oz pure silver piece depicting five orcas—symbolizes good fortune for the vessel. This continues a long-standing shipbuilding tradition and follows another recent keel-laying ceremony in November 2024, where BC Ferries President & CEO Nicolas Jimenez personally welded the coins for two other Island Class vessels.
“These milestones mark meaningful progress in our fleet renewal journey,” said Ed Hooper. “Each step brings us closer to delivering more capacity, improved reliability, and a transition to electric energy for ferry service in British Columbia.”
The Island Class features the most ships of any BC Ferries’ vessel class, with six currently in operation and four more under construction. They are a core part of BC Ferries’ broader strategy to reduce emissions, minimize underwater noise, and improve inter-island connectivity. The battery-equipped Island Class vessels are designed for full electric operation once terminal infrastructure is in place. To achieve this, BC Ferries is working with BC Hydro to install shore-based rapid charging infrastructure. The Nanaimo Harbour terminal is on track for electrification by summer 2026, with the remaining three terminals expected to be electrified by early 2027.
"We are committed to partnering with our customers as they seek to grow their use of renewable energy, reduce their emissions and contribute to a sustainable future,” said Diana Stephenson, BC Hydro’s Senior Vice-President of Customer and Corporate Affairs. “By working closely with BC Ferries, we’re ensuring these new vessels can charge with renewable electricity when they’re at berth, contributing to the growth of B.C.’s low-carbon marine transportation network and keeping our coastal communities connected."
The four Island Class vessels currently under construction will be delivered in two phases, with the first two expected to arrive in British Columbia in the spring of 2026, and the remaining two in the fall, with all four entering service by 2027. The new vessels will provide two-ship service on the routes connecting Nanaimo Harbour - Gabriola Island and Campbell River - Quadra Island.
With the introduction of these new Island Class vessels comes an opportunity to redeploy other vessels in the fleet. The Island Gwawis and Island K’ulut’a will move to Route 6 between Crofton – Vesuvius Bay to provide two-ship service, replacing the Quinsam and allowing BC Ferries to increase daily round trips and boost vehicle capacity on this route. The Island Nagalis will transition to Route 24 between Quadra – Cortes Island, replacing the Tachek and increasing vehicle capacity from 26 to 47 and passengers and crew space from 150 to 392.
Once in service, the new vessels will expand capacity, improve reliability, and deliver environmental benefits on some of the province’s busiest inter-island routes. To learn more about the Island Class vessels, visit the BC Ferries website.
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