By Mark Edward Nero
BC Ferries’ Salish Orca, the first of three new Salish-class vessels, is on its way to British Columbia. The vessel departed Gdansk, Poland on Nov. 22 for a 10,440-nautical mile journey that is expected to take 45 to 55 days, depending on weather.
“This is an exciting day for BC Ferries as our newest ship, Salish Orca, is one step closer to joining our fleet,” BC Ferries’ President and CEO Mike Corrigan said in a statement. “We look forward to introducing a new ship into service for our passengers on the Northern Sunshine Coast.”
The journey is expected to include stops for refueling in the Canary Islands and Panama after transiting the Panama Canal and sailing up the west coast of North America to British Columbia.
BC Ferries is expected to take final acceptance and ownership of Salish Orca upon final inspection once the vessel arrives in British Columbia. Remontowa Shipbuilding SA of Poland has contracted with a professional international ship delivery specialist. Some of BC Ferries’ crewmembers are on various legs of the voyage for training and familiarization.
The vessel, which is BC Ferries’ first natural-gas-powered vessel, is scheduled to arrive in Canada in January for crew training and familiarization. After public open houses in Powell River and Comox, the ship is scheduled to start service on that route in the spring of 2017.
Those wishing to track the ship’s progress including course, position and speed, can do so at www.vesselfinder.com.
Showing posts with label Remontowa Shipbuilding. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Remontowa Shipbuilding. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 29, 2016
Friday, August 5, 2016
Delivery of 3 LNG-Powered Ferries Delayed
By Mark Edward Nero
The Salish Orca, a new intermediate-class vessel being built for BC Ferries, won’t be delivered at the end of August, but rather by the end of 2016, the British Columbia ferry operator says. The delay, BC Ferries spokesperson Deborah Marshall told local radio station CFAX 1070, is due to this being the first time the company has had natural gas-powered vessels design-built, a process that requires considerably more review.
The ferry, which is replacing the 50-year-old Queen of Burnaby, is being built by Remontowa Shipbuilding S.A. in Gdansk, Poland. It’s the first of three new intermediate-class vessels expected to be built, the others being Salish Eagle and Salish Raven.
The Polish shipyard was awarded a $165-million contract in 2014 to build the three new ferries. Delivery of the second vessel is now expected in early 2017, rather than October; the third is anticipated in the first quarter of next year.
The ships are being built as dual-fuel, capable of running on LNG or ultra low-sulfur diesel. Using primarily LNG to fuel the new ships will result in reduced emissions and reduced costs, according to BC Ferries.
The new Salish-Class ships will replace vessels that are at the end of their life cycle. BC Ferries’ use of LNG is expected result in the reduction of an estimated 9,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year, the same as taking 1,900 passenger vehicles off the road annually because LNG is cleaner burning than marine diesel.
The Salish Orca, a new intermediate-class vessel being built for BC Ferries, won’t be delivered at the end of August, but rather by the end of 2016, the British Columbia ferry operator says. The delay, BC Ferries spokesperson Deborah Marshall told local radio station CFAX 1070, is due to this being the first time the company has had natural gas-powered vessels design-built, a process that requires considerably more review.
The ferry, which is replacing the 50-year-old Queen of Burnaby, is being built by Remontowa Shipbuilding S.A. in Gdansk, Poland. It’s the first of three new intermediate-class vessels expected to be built, the others being Salish Eagle and Salish Raven.
The Polish shipyard was awarded a $165-million contract in 2014 to build the three new ferries. Delivery of the second vessel is now expected in early 2017, rather than October; the third is anticipated in the first quarter of next year.
The ships are being built as dual-fuel, capable of running on LNG or ultra low-sulfur diesel. Using primarily LNG to fuel the new ships will result in reduced emissions and reduced costs, according to BC Ferries.
The new Salish-Class ships will replace vessels that are at the end of their life cycle. BC Ferries’ use of LNG is expected result in the reduction of an estimated 9,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year, the same as taking 1,900 passenger vehicles off the road annually because LNG is cleaner burning than marine diesel.
