Damen Shipyards Galati has cut the steel for the third ship in an order of four Island-class ferries for the Canadian company BC Ferries.
At the same time, another ship in the series reached the large block assembly stage at the shipyard. The vessels, which are based on Damen’s double-ended ferry “8117 E3″, will be the first all-electric ferries to operate in the shipping company’s fleet.
This will bring the total number of Damen vessels operated by BC Ferries to ten.
BC Ferries’ all-electric vessels are an important part of the company’s strategy to reduce emissions by 2030. The four new electric ferries, with space for up to 390 passengers and 47 vehicles, will contribute to this goal by saving around 10,000 tons of CO2 equivalent annually.
The ferries carry Damen’s own “E3” label, which stands for “Environmentally Friendly, Efficient in Operation, and Economically Viable”. They will operate in Canada between Nanaimo and Gabriola Island, as well as Campbell River and Quadra Island, and will be in service until 2027.
The steel cutting ceremony was attended by David Tolman, BC Ferries’ Program Manager for the Island Class vessel series, and the BC Ferries team on site. Representatives from Damen, including Damen Shipyards Group Chairman Kommer Damen, were also in attendance.
All-electric instead of hybrid propulsion
“BC Ferries operates a range of Damen ferries based on proven standard designs and adapted to their evolving needs,” said Kommer Damen during the event. “The vessels we build are becoming more and more sustainable. So far, we have delivered ships with hybrid propulsion, which are already a step towards lower emissions.” These all-electric ferries pave the way for zero-emission operations and bring BC Ferries’ efficiency goals within reach.
“Reaching the steel cutting and large block assembly milestones for two of our four new Island Class vessels is a great signal of the progress we are making as we add these new electric vessels to our fleet,” said Ed Hooper, Executive Director of Shipbuilding at BC Ferries. “Each phase of construction brings us closer to delivering cleaner, quieter and more efficient vessels that fulfil our commitment to coastal communities.”
Damen also provides charging stations
In addition to the vessels, Damen BC Ferries is also providing the charging stations. The ferries will charge their batteries between deployments as passengers board and disembark.
Damen Shipyards Galati currently has six all-electric ferries under contract for Canada; the four Island class vessels and two ferries for the city of Toronto.
