By
Alex Smith |
BC Ferries has christened its first two Island-class ferries, Island Discovery and Island Aurora, at a naming ceremony at Point Hope Maritime’s shipyard in Victoria, Canada.
Island Discovery will operate on the Powell River to Texada Island route, while Island Aurora will sail between Port McNeill, Alert Bay and Sointula. Both vessels will enter service in mid-2020.
The ceremony included words from the operator and shipbuilder Damen Shipyards, before the unveiling of the ships’ names and the christening of the hulls. Each ship received both a community sponsor and a sponsor from among BC Ferries’ employees. Island Discovery was christened by former Northern Sunshine Coast Ferry Advisory Committee member Sandy McCormick from Texada Island, along with BC Ferries’ senior business analyst Sandy Leduc. Christening Island Aurora was the chair of the Tri-Island Ferry Advisory Committee Melissa Fletcher from Alert Bay and Sheila O’Neill, BC Ferries’ North Island catering superintendent.
The Island-class ferries have capacity for 47 vehicles and between 300 and 450 passengers and crew. The vessels will currently be powered by hybrid technology but are intended for fully electric operation once the necessary shore charging infrastructure is in place. Their construction was partially funded by the Canadian federal government.