Dutch shipbuilder Damen has recently launched two ferries for the Canadian ferry operator BC Ferries at its Galati shipyard in Romania.
The 81-meter vessels were launched “within a few weeks”, the shipbuilder said, adding that they are now undergoing outfitting before the units enter service in 2020.
The ferries, built under a contract from June 2017, will be capable of carrying up to 300 passengers and crew and 47 vehicles.
The twin Damen Road Ferry 8117E3 will serve the Northern Gulf Islands off the coast of Vancouver, replacing ships that are now over fifty years old.
Once in Canada, they will be serviced by Point Hope Shipyards in Victoria, British Columbia in an agreement with Damen.
The total project budget, which includes financing and project management costs, is around CAD 86.5 million (USD 64.3 million). The project is partially funded by the Government of Canada.
BC Ferries is undertaking a fleet renewal program that will see a number of new units operating in the province of British Colombia, on Canada’s Pacific coastline. The company is currently also in the process of acquiring five new major vessels, which are expected to start entering service from 2023.