The first hybrid electrical vessels of BC Ferries officially entered the waters of the Pacific and will be arriving to Victoria BC in January.
The two ferries are part of the long-term plan of the company to have an entire fleet that is powered by electricity. Both ships are expected to be in operation by the middle of 2020 following final crew training and inspection.
BC Ferries revealed that one would replace North Island Princess on Powell River-Texada route, while the other would replace Quadra Queen II on Port McNeill-Alert Bay-Sointula route.
Image: Port of Alert Bay (Cormorant Island, BC Canada)
North Island Princess, which was built in 1958, is the oldest in the fleet.
Both newbuilds feature a capacity of 47 vehicles and between 150-300 passengers and crew. The two will be the first of 6 to arrive in B.C., with the remaining 4 are expected to be in service by 2022.
All 6 ships have the capacity to be fully electrical. However, until the right infrastructure is in place, the company says the ferries will operate as hybrids.