Two hybrid electric ships are on the last leg of their voyage to Victoria.
The vessels are BC Ferries’ Island Class ships, the first hybrid ships in operation for the company.
They originally set sail on November 20th from Constanta, Romania, beginning a 10,305 nautical mile-journey to Victoria.
The boats are currently traversing the Panama Canal, and, once through, they’ll head straight up the coast to Victoria.
BC Ferries expects the vehicles to arrive early in the new year.
See also: BC Ferries will add four new hybrid electric vessels to their fleet by 2022
After they arrive, they’ll be inspected at Victoria’s Point Hope Maritime on Harbour Road. The ships will be christened there, before the company begins crew training, ship familiarization, and dock fits.
After that, BC Ferries says the ships will be in use along the Powell River – Texada and Campbell River – Quadra Island routes by mid-2020.
The Island Class vessels are battery-equipped ships designed for full electric operation. But shore charging infrastructure is currently unavailable, so the vessels use an on board low sulphur diesel hybrid system.
“From the exterior details to the engines, the design of the new vessels reduces underwater radiated noise, lowers emissions, and improves customer service,” says a press release from BC Ferries.
To follow the ships’ progress on board their transport named Sun Rise, you can head to https://www.vesselfinder.com/?imo=9623219. Sun Rise is operated by Pan Ocean and sails under the flag of Marshall Islands.
