BC Ferries, Bygg nr. 539313-539314 & 539320-539323 ved Damen, Damen Road Ferry 8117 "Island Discovery/Aurora/Nagalis/K’ulut'a/Kwigwis/Gwawis"

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Two Damen ferries for British Columbia, Canada

Following an extensive, multi-phased international tender process, Canadian ferry operator BC Ferries has awarded Damen Shipyards Group a contract to construct two 81-metre ferries. The vessels are part of BC Ferries’ ongoing fleet renewal programme.

BC Ferries operates 24 ferry routes along the coast of British Columbia, Canada. The new vessels will be able to cover many of the company’s routes to the Northern and Southern Gulf Islands off the coast of Vancouver. Part of a fleet renewal programme, the new ferries will replace the 59-year old North Island Princess and the 53-year old Quadra Queen II.

Damen initially submitted its vessel designs to BC Ferries in March 2016 in response to a Request for Expressions of Interest that the Canadian company issued to the international shipbuilding industry. After attracting interest from no less than 28 shipyards, the highly competitive tender process proceeded in October 2016 when short-listed companies – including five Canadian shipyards – were invited to submit their bids. Damen was selected as the subsequent winner of this tender process.
Both vessels will be constructed at Damen Shipyards Galati in Romania and are expected to enter service in 2020. The 81-metre long design will have capacity to carry approximately 44 vehicles and up to 300 passengers and crew.

Damen has an agreement with Point Hope Shipyards in Victoria, British Columbia to perform any warranty work locally on these vessels.

“This is a design-build, fixed-priced contract that provides BC Ferries with substantial guarantees related to delivery dates, performance criteria, cost certainty and quality construction,” said Mark Wilson, BC Ferries’ Vice President of Engineering. “A key objective of BC Ferries’ fleet renewal program and the acquisition of these two minor class vessels is to achieve capital and operating cost savings and efficiencies through an overall class and standardization strategy.”

“We are extremely proud to be constructing these two ferries for British Columbia,” says Damen Leo Postma, Damen Sales Manager. “Furthermore, we are looking forward to further developing our existing relationship with BC Ferries by building safe, reliable high quality ferries contributing to BC Ferries’ vessel replacement programme.”

Damen Road Ferry 8117
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Illustrasjon: Damen
 
Damen launches two road ferries for Canadian operator BC Ferries

In the space of just a few weeks, two, 81-metre road ferries for the Canadian ferry operator BC Ferries have been launched at Damen Shipyards Galati and are now being fitted out ahead of entering service next year. Once operational they will be capable of carrying up to 300 passengers and crew, and 47 vehicles.

The ferries have been built to Damen’s Road Ferry 8117E3 design and the order was secured following an extensive, multi-phased, international tender process. BC Ferries is currently undertaking a fleet renewal programme that will see a number of new vessels operating in the province of British Colombia, on Canada’s Pacific coastline. The twin Damen Road Ferry 8117E3 will serve the Northern Gulf Islands off the coast of Vancouver, replacing vessels that are now over fifty years old.

The tender process initially attracted interest from numerous yards around the world and was designed to deliver maximum value for the users of what is one of the largest ferry operators in the world. The standards required are very high; BC Ferries is regulated by the BC Ferries Commissioner and the service levels are set by the provincial government.

In his speech at the launch, which was delivered partly in Romanian, Paul Catsburg, director of the vessel replacement programme at BC Ferries, said, “This class of vessels is very important for BC Ferries as it represents our newest vessel type, introducing a state-of-the-art, diesel-electric, hybrid propulsion system. The ships’ hybrid design is important for two main reasons; firstly to improve environmental stewardship and secondly to reduce operating costs by evolving to full electric propulsion.”

He also offered his sincere congratulations to all those involved in building the second hull and in particular recognised the efforts that the management and workers of Damen Galati had made to reach this important milestone.

Damen is working to a fixed-priced contract that provides BC Ferries with substantial guarantees related to delivery dates, performance criteria, cost certainty and quality construction. Building two identical vessels will also deliver capital and operating cost savings and additional efficiencies. After-sales warranty support will be provided by Point Hope Shipyards in Victoria, British Columbia in an agreement with Damen.


Road Ferry 8117E3
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Road_Ferry.jpg

Begge foto: via Damen
 
BC Ferries awards contract for 4 new 'Island Class' ferries

VANCOUVER - BC Ferries has awarded contracts for the construction of four more energy-efficient "Island Class" ferries, which will join the two that are scheduled to enter service next year.

Damen Shipyards Group, of the Netherlands, will build the ships, BC Ferries said in a news release Wednesday. The Dutch company also built the first two vessels.

As part of the contract, Damen will continue to work with Victoria-based Point Hope Shipyards, which will provide local technical and warranty support for the new vessels. The total budget for the project is roughly $200 million, according to BC Ferries.

Island Class ferries are designed to be completely battery powered, but current charging technology is not sufficient to make electricity available in the quantities required to operate them, the ferry company said.

Once charging technology matures, the vessels will be operated on electricity only. Until then, they will be run as diesel hybrids.

The first two Island Class vessels have completed sea trials and are scheduled for delivery to Victoria in January. They are scheduled to begin operation on the Powell River-Texada Island and Port McNeill-Alert Bay-Sointula Island routes by the middle of next year.

BC Ferries has previously said that Island Class vessels are designed to serve small routes between Vancouver Island and surrounding communities.

The next four vessels in the class are slated for use on the Campbell River-Quadra Island and Nanaimo Harbour-Gabriola Island routes - with two ships on each route - by 2022.

In each case, the two Island Class vessels will be replacing one larger ship, meaning more frequent service and increased passenger capacity per hour, according to BC Ferries.

Island Class ferries have the capacity to carry at least 47 vehicles and up to 450 passengers and crew, depending on their configuration.

BC Ferries said it issued a request for expressions of interest for this project in July 2018, pitching the project to Canadian shipbuilders as well as international ones. A total of 18 international shipyards expressed interest, and nine were short-listed and asked to submit a proposal. No Canadian companies submitted a bid.

Kilde: Vancouver Island CTV News
 
BC Ferries' Island Class Vessels

Island Class Vessel


We are pleased to introduce the newest class of ferry to our fleet - the Island Class. Island Class ferries will service four routes in the near future:
By 2020, two Island Class ferries will service:
  • Powell River – Texada (1 ferry)
  • Port McNeill – Alert Bay – Sointula (1 ferry)
By 2022, four Island Class ferries will service:
  • Campbell River – Quadra Island (2 ferries)
  • Nanaimo Harbour – Gabriola Island (2 ferries)
An overview of the Island Class ferries

The Island Class ferries will carry 47 vehicles and up to 300 passengers and crew. Double-ended for easy loading and unloading, the ships will also feature wide vehicle lanes, dedicated pedestrian paths, and bicycle parking spaces. The Island Class, will be battery hybrid-electric vessels that utilize some of the most advanced clean marine technology in the world. Once in service, we believe these vessels will be among the most efficient and quietest electric-hybrid ferries world-wide.

Passenger lounges and washrooms will be situated on the main deck for easy access. Lounge areas will be built for comfort with a variety of seating choices and charging stations for electronics. An overhead sundeck with seating, windbreaks, and an accessible washroom will provide a comfortable space to sit outdoors.


island-class-vessel-perspective.jpg




Key features of the Island Class ferries include:
  • Hybrid diesel-electric battery power generation and propulsion system
  • Flexibility for full electric operation in the future
  • Low energy consumption
  • Ultra-low sulphur diesel fuel source
  • Hull, thrusters, and propellers designed for minimal underwater radiated noise (URN)
  • Designed for low noise, low vibration, and minimal wake wash
  • Fully-contained wastewater system
  • Mechanical and electrical systems designed for efficient performance and ease of maintenance
  • Designed for maneuverability and comfortable travel in coastal waters at all times of the year
  • 14 knots of service speed for efficient travel and resiliency of service
  • Minimum 40 year service life
We are standardizing our fleet

The Island Class ferries are part of our move towards standardizing our ferry fleet. Standardization helps us:
  • Dramatically improve resiliency in our fleet by allowing us to move vessels around to replace each other during refits, repairs, and unexpected challenges
  • Provide a more consistent travel experience for our customers
  • Reduce logistical, operational, training, and maintenance costs
Kilde: BC Ferries
 
Tredje i denne serien på seks skip nå klar for sjøsetting i Romania
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Foto: via Mircea-Emanuel Misalia via Damen
 
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