Two ferries currently undergoing sea trials to show operational profiles to prospective shipyards
By
Rebecca Gibson |
BC Ferries has moved forward with the tender process for the mid-life upgrades and dual-fuel conversions of its largest vessels Spirit of Vancouver Island and the Spirit of British Columbia.
Both vessels are currently undergoing sea trials in the Saanich Inlet to demonstrate their operational profiles for the three shipyards bidding on the mid-life upgrades. These yards include Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards in Canada, Poland’s Remontowa yard and Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri.
Each vessel will undergo two days of sea trials so the shipyards can gather data on vessel manoeuvrability, acceleration and speed. They will also be able to collect information about control system parameters, as well as peak power loads in the variable weather, tide or current conditions the ships will experience when transiting Active Pass.
“This is an important step in the bidding process for the shipyards so they can measure and verify vessel performance to provide the optimal propulsive machinery arrangements they submit as part of their bids,” said Mark Wilson, BC Ferries’ vice president of Engineering.
BC Ferries expects to award a contract for the upgrades and conversions to the successful bidder in early 2016. Spirit of British Columbia’s LNG conversion and mid-life upgrade will then take place from autumn 2017 to spring 2018, while the Spirit of Vancouver Island will be converted from autumn 2018 to spring 2019.