Английская Википедия:Island-class ferry

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Шаблон:Short description Шаблон:Use mdy dates Шаблон:Use Canadian English

Шаблон:Infobox ship imageШаблон:Infobox ship class overviewШаблон:Infobox ship characteristics

The Island-class ferries are ferries owned and operated by BC Ferries. Six vessels were built between 2019 and 2021 by Damen Shipyards Group, a Dutch company, in Romania.[1][2] The first two ships were launched in mid-March 2019, and commenced service in June 2020. Two of an additional four vessels commenced service in April 2022, and the remaining two are due to enter service in late 2022.[3]

The vessels are powered by a diesel-electric hybrid system, and will transition to full electric operation when shore-side electric charging stations and funding becomes available.[3][4]

Description

The Island-class vessels were designed by Damen Shipyards Group as Damen Road Ferry 8117 E3,[5] with input from both the public and BC Ferries. The ferries are diesel-electric hybrid-powered, measuring Шаблон:Convert long and have a beam of Шаблон:Convert.[2] Each ship has the capacity for 47 vehicles, and between 300 and 450 passengers and crew. Features include a gallery deck for increased vehicle capacity, heated solariums on both sides of the sun deck, an indoor passenger lounge on the main car deck, and a small pet area. The vessels are also the most environmentally friendly in the fleet, as they will switch from the current hybrid technology to operating fully electric when shore equipment is installed. In addition, the Island-class ships are extremely quiet, creating less underwater radiated noise disturbance to marine life and providing a more enjoyable sailing for passengers. BC Ferries has also said that the weather conditions tolerance of the Island class is similar to their larger major vessel classes.[6] The vessels are double ended and are considered the minor class of the BC Ferries standardization plan.Шаблон:Citation needed

Island-class vessels

Island class construction data
Photo Name Launched Delivered Routes Status Notes
Файл:BC Ferries Island Discovery.jpg
Шаблон:Ship March 2019 January 18, 2020 18 – Powell RiverTexada Island In service Began service on June 10, 2020
Файл:BC Ferries Island Aurora Ferry.jpg
Шаблон:Ship March 2019 January 18, 2020 25 – Port McNeilAlert BaySointula In service Began service on June 18, 2020
Файл:BC Ferries Island Nagalis (02).jpg
Шаблон:Ship[7] October 29, 2020 July 22, 2021 23 – Campbell RiverQuadra Island In service Began service on January 18, 2023
Файл:BC Ferries Island K'ulut'a.jpg
Шаблон:Ship[7] December 17, 2020 August 13, 2021 23 – Campbell River – Quadra Island In service Began service on January 17, 2023
Файл:BC Ferries Island KWIGWIS.jpg
Шаблон:Ship[8] February 22, 2021 September 28, 2021 19 – Nanaimo HarbourGabriola Island In service Began service on April 12, 2022
Файл:BC Ferries Island GWAWIS.jpg
Шаблон:Ship[9] April 22, 2021 December 23, 2021 19 – Nanaimo Harbour – Gabriola Island In service Began service on April 12, 2022

Construction and service history

The first two vessels were announced in 2017 and launched in March 2019. All vessels were built by Damen Shipyards Galati for a combined cost of $86.5 million.[4][10] Construction was completed in July, and the vessels were loaded on board a semi-submersible transport ship for the two-month crossing from Romania to Canada, and were delivered in Victoria, British Columbia on January 18, 2020. On February 19, the vessels were christened and named Шаблон:Ship and Шаблон:Ship. They entered service that same summer, June 10 on the Powell River to Texada Island route, and June 18 on the Alert Bay – Port McNeill – Sointula route respectively.[11]

Файл:BC Ferries Kwigwis and Gwawis.jpg
Island Kwigwis and Island Gwawis

On November 6, 2019, BC Ferries ordered four more of the vessels, which are all due to enter service in 2022. The contract for the four new vessels was again awarded to Damen, for $200 million. Each vessel in this phase made the transatlantic voyage under its own power and temporary name.[12] All four vessels were later named in the Kwakwaka'wakw indigenous language, replacing their temporary numbered name. Island 3 became Шаблон:Ship (meaning "dawn on the land) and Island 4 became Шаблон:Ship (meaning "porpoise") on August 23, 2021.[13] Island 5 was revealed and christened as Шаблон:Ship (meaning "eagle of the sea") on December 14, 2021.[14] Island 6 marked the completion of phase 2 as Шаблон:Ship (meaning "raven of the sea") on January 11, 2022.[15] Originally the new vessels were scheduled to enter service in the spring of 2022, however, the two vessels slated for the Quadra Island route have been tentatively delayed until early 2023, due to lack of available crew. Island Kwigwis and Island Gwawis entered service and replaced Quinsam on the Gabriola Island route on April 12, 2022.[16] Most of the Island-class vessels underwent sea trials in the Saanich Inlet, near Victoria, and in Baynes Sound before their entry to service, and spent time at both the Point Hope Shipyard and BC Ferries Deas Dock.Шаблон:Citation needed

The name Island Gwawis received backlash from Snuneymuxw First Nation on the grounds of discrimination, after the vessel, named in another First Nations language, operated through Snuneymuxw territory. The group had been invited to participate in the naming process along with other indigenous groups.[17]

In its nearly first two years of service, the Island Discovery has been replaced multiple times by the Island Aurora, Island K'ulut'a, and Island Nagalis on the Powell RiverTexada Island route due to mechanical issues.[18] The Island K'ulut'a also spent a brief period of time on the Alert BayPort McNeillSointula route. In preparation for dual ship service on both Route 19 (Gabriola Island) and Route 23 (Quadra Island), the Island Aurora conducted test sailings with the primary vessel on the routes. Island Gwawis also test sailed in tandem with the Quinsam in the days leading up to the new service it would provide.Шаблон:Citation needed

On December 11, 2023, BC Ferries announced that it has received approval from the Ferry Commissioner to place an order for four additional Island-class vessels. These vessel are slated to begin operation in 2027 and will serve the Nanaimo – Gabriola Island and the Campbell Island – Quadra Island routes. These vessels will also serve as relief vessels and can supplement the existing Island-class vessels to boost capacity on high-demand routes. When the new vessels are launched, there will be ten Island-class vessels in total, making this class the largest in BC Ferries' fleet.[19] In January 2024, BC Ferries announced that it has awarded the contract to build the four new vessels to Damen Shipyards, who had built the existing six. The price for the contract has not yet been made public. No Canadian shipyard applied for the bid.[20][21]

References

Шаблон:Reflist

Шаблон:BC Ferries