en.Wedoany.com Reported - BC Ferries held a naming ceremony for its latest hybrid-electric vessel, the "Island Sarlequun," on July 15 in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. The vessel recently arrived from Galați, Romania, and after final preparations and crew training, it is scheduled to enter service on the route between Nanaimo Harbour and Gabriola Island in the coming weeks.

The name "sarlequun" means "people of Nanaimo Harbour" in the hul'q'umi'num' language, gifted by the Snuneymuxw First Nation. This vessel is the second of four new hybrid-electric ships that BC Ferries expects to put into operation over the next year, and it is planned to operate on the same route alongside its sister ship, the "Island Xwsaĺux̌ul."

BC Ferries stated that the arrival of the "Island Sarlequun" is part of its fleet renewal plan, aimed at increasing capacity and improving reliability. These hybrid-electric vessels are designed to operate on electric power once shore-based charging infrastructure is completed, which BC Ferries expects to be in place by 2027.

The vessel will replace the "Island Gwawis," which BC Ferries plans to redeploy to the Crofton-Vesuvius Bay route in early 2027. By redeploying one of these two vessels, the company expects to manage traffic flow and increase capacity.