Launching in Romania: A new ferry is nearing delivery at Damen Shipyards’ Galati shipyard.
It is a diesel-electric hybrid that will operate for BC Ferries in Canada. In the future, the ferry will be fully electric.
The newbuild, which is based on the “RoRo 8117 E3” Damen model, is the first in a series of four orders from Canada. With the delivery of all vessels, the Damen-built fleet for BC Ferries will grow to a total of ten. The hybrid ferries will operate between four coastal towns in British Columbia: One route will be established between Nanaimo and Gabriola Island, and a second between Campbell River and Quadra Island. The ferries can carry 47 cars and up to 390 passengers. As soon as the necessary infrastructure for shore power is available, they will be completely diesel-free and only run on electricity.
The shipyard was a hive of activity last week: in addition to the launching of ferry number seven, the keel of the ninth ship was laid and the first steel cut took place on the tenth.
Long-standing cooperation between Damen and BC Ferries
“I am thrilled to be celebrating all these milestones this week with the Damen Shipyards team in Galati,” said Ed Hooper, Executive Director of Shipbuilding at BC Ferries. “The ‘Island Class’ is now our largest ship class, and it plays an important role in our goal to renew and modernize the entire fleet.” Passengers in British Columbia rely on the company’s ferry services “day in, day out” and the company wants to meet their needs.
Also in attendance was Gavin Buchan, the Canadian Ambassador to Romania. “It is a great pleasure to be here today at Damen Shipyards Galati to witness the launch of this vessel destined for BC Ferries,” he said. Canada’s cooperation with Damen Galati goes back over a decade and has grown stronger over the years. It is based on mutual trust, a commitment to technical excellence and a shared vision for innovation in shipbuilding.
“There are already many Damen Galati-built vessels in service in Canada, and there will be many more in the years to come,” Buchan continues. “As an all-electric ferry, this vessel will be both a technological leader and a significant contributor to the fight against climate change. It symbolizes both the strength of our partnership and the promising future that lies ahead.”
In addition to the vessels themselves, Damen is also supplying shore loading equipment to BC Ferries. After delivery in 2027, Damen will continue to support the ferries from its Canadian service hub in Victoria.
