The BC Ferries vessel Queen of Oak Bay began the first
phase of a multi-million dollar three-quarter life upgrade Nov. 28 at Seaspan
Marine’s Vancouver Drydock in North Vancouver. The 33-year old ferry can carry
360 vehicles and 1,488 passengers and crew.
The extensive upgrade comprises multiple safety and
mechanical improvements, including critical systems renewals, propulsion
overhauls; electrical distribution upgrades; energy efficiency upgrades,
including LED lighting in machinery compartments and HVAC enhancements; and large
scale steel renewal.
Following the first phase of this major project, the vessel
is scheduled to return to the Horseshoe Bay–Departure Bay route in February
2015. The Queen of Coquitlam is replacing the Queen of Oak Bay for the
time being.
The second phase of the Queen of Oak Bay’s three-quarter
life upgrade is scheduled from November 2015 through February 2016 at BC
Ferries’ Fleet Maintenance Unit in Richmond, where the remaining scope of the
project includes upgrades to the passenger accommodations and services, energy
efficiency upgrades, installation of state-of-the-art bridge and navigation
systems, renewal of the steering systems, further electrical upgrades and
replacement of end-of-life equipment.
“The Queen of Oak Bay project is part of
the approximately $150 million that BC Ferries will spend in BC this year alone
on annual vessel maintenance, refits and vessel upgrades,” Mark Wilson, BC
Ferries’ Vice President of Engineering, said. “This extensive upgrade is an
important investment in one of our major vessels which will ensure we maintain
a safe, reliable and efficient service.”
The Queen of Oak Bay is the first of
C-Class vessel to undergo a three-quarter-life upgrade.
The Queen of Surrey will follow with the
first phase of a three-quarter-life upgrade in Feb 2016, while the remaining
C-Class vessels are set to undergo smaller asset betterments over the next four
years, starting with the Queen of Coquitlam in September
2015.
