New BC Ferries Vessels To Increase Capacity

BC Ferries is marking a critical milestone in its New Major Vessels (NMV) project, the company’s largest capital investment ever.

BC Ferries is now continuing the procurement process for the first five of seven new vessels needed for its busiest routes, with the remaining two new vessels to be built in a later phase.

Additionally, work will be planned to extend the operational life of two existing C-Class vessels, the Queen of Surrey and the Queen of Oak Bay, through local shipyards and contractors.

“Our customers have been clear – they expect reliable service and affordable fares, and this approach directly addresses both,” says Nicolas Jimenez, President and CEO of BC Ferries.

“By adopting a phased strategy, we can responsibly increase capacity and resilience while carefully managing our investments to minimize fare pressures for customers. Additionally, the flexibility to refine the final two vessels based on insights from the initial builds and operational performance ensures we deliver the best possible service for the future.”

BC Ferries has designed the new vessels in collaboration with LMG Marin, a leading naval architecture and ship design firm, to be able to carry up to 360 standard-sized vehicles and 2,100 passengers, marking a significant capacity increase from the 250-310 vehicles and 1,200-1,500 passengers that the retiring vessels currently accommodate.

They will also be among the largest double-ended ferries in the world, with significantly improved energy efficiency and propulsion systems designed for both future flexibility and environmentally sustainable operations.

Ed Hooper, Executive Director of Shipbuilding at BC Ferries, says the new vessels will be quieter and cleaner than the current ones.

The addition of another ship to the fleet will bring the total to 12 vessels on BC Ferries’ major routes.

This summer, BC Ferries saw record-breaking passenger and vehicle traffic, with over 8,040,000 passengers and over 3,150,000 vehicles transported between June 1 and August 31.

Pre-qualified shipyards will now participate in the Request for Proposals (RFP) process with contracts expected to be awarded in Spring 2025.

For more information, visit BC Ferries.