BC Ferries will get four major major ships for its fleet.
The new ships will replace the aging queens of Alberni, New Westminster, Coquitlam and Cowichan, which are the oldest major ships still used.
BC Ferries asked for five new Diesel-Battery hybrid ships, all electric, but the independent ferries commissioner in British Columbia approved four.
“This will help stability in the fleet, people arrive where they have to go,” said British Columbia Prime Minister David Eby at a press conference on Monday afternoon.
“We have just received the decision, so we will take a look. But the commissioner is independent and serves an important objective to have a critical look at the British Columbia ferries, to ask for their ability to cover the costs and the impact on the public on sail.
“This is an important role, and that is there for a reason. And we will make sure that the decision benefits all the Colombians of British. ”
This news comes as the Queen of Oak Bay underwent a mechanical problem on Monday morning.
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The Ryan Cook professional chainsaw carver was aboard the ship when he stopped working.
“I was quite shocked, you know, as if they offered us coffee and pop and told us to come back,” he told Global News because all the passengers were on the terraces of the car at the time.
“But it was, you now, it was a bit of a strange feeling. You could see it, there is like a bunch of rocks from Nanaimo and it seemed to be slowly deriving towards them. I mean, it was not a concern by means, but it certainly attracted my attention and everyone seemed a little disturbed and a little improper.”
Cook said they were told that it was a management problem.
He added that they were stuck for about two hours before the ferry could be pushed on the platform using another steering system.
“What would have taken normally 10 minutes took about 30 minutes,” said Cook about the reception process. “And yes, I don’t know if this ferry will work soon.”
BC Ferries said he had Modified service between Bay Bay (Nanaimo) and Horseshoe Bay (Vancouver) Monday.
The company has not said how long the ship could be out of service.
Cook said most of the passengers seemed to make the most of a sunny day and a prolonged break.
“There is not much to complain about when it is a beautiful day, but at the same time, two and a half hours of your day when you take the early ferry here … a kind of disappointment,” said Cook.
BC Ferries said the four new ships, when built, should serve the main routes, the first of the four should come into service in spring 2029.
“I am very happy to be able to approve the replacement of the oldest oldest ships in the fleet,” said Commissioner Eva Hage in a statement. “This will mean a great improvement in services, reliability and capacity on the busiest routes of BC ferries.”
“The replacement of the four inherited ferries will lead to an essential increase in capacity and reliability.”
“A fifth ship, however, is neither essential nor affordable at this time, and approving it would be taxable. It would put even more upwards on the prices, would impose an even more important burden on taxpayers and could lead to unsustainable debt levels at BC Ferries. ”
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