Wedoany.com Report-May 28, Damen Shipyards Galati, a Romania-based subsidiary of the Dutch Damen Shipyards Group, launched a new Island class ferry for BC Ferries, a Canadian ferry operator, on May 22, 2025. The vessel, launched on the Danube River, is the first of four battery-equipped diesel-hybrid ferries ordered by BC Ferries in January 2024. These ferries are designed to operate fully on electric power once charging infrastructure is available at the terminals.

The new ferries will serve four coastal communities in British Columbia, connecting Nanaimo to Gabriola Island and Campbell River to Quadra Island. Each vessel can carry up to 47 vehicles and 390 passengers, with recharging powered by renewable energy during passenger boarding and disembarking.

On May 23, 2025, Damen Shipyards Galati marked additional milestones, with the keel laying for the ninth Island class vessel and the steel cutting for the tenth. “As well as the launch of the seventh vessel, the next day, on the 23rd, the yard also carried out the keel laying for the ninth Island Class vessel, and cut steel for the tenth. It’s great to see the projects making progress in this way, with so many milestone moments taking place simultaneously. We’re all looking forward to the further development of these sustainable ferries in the coming months,” said Leo Postma, Executive Director Global Sales.

“I’m thrilled to celebrate these milestones with the team at Damen Shipyards Galati this week. The Island Class is now our largest single class of vessels, and they’re a critical part of our larger effort to renew and modernise our entire fleet to meet the needs of the people in British Columbia who rely on BC Ferries every single day,” said Ed Hooper, BC Ferries’ Executive Director of Shipbuilding.

“There are already many vessels built by Damen Galati operating in Canada and there will be many more in the years ahead,” said Gavin Buchan, Canadian Ambassador to Romania.

Damen is also providing onshore charging equipment to support the ferries’ electric operations. The four vessels under construction will be delivered in two phases, with the first two arriving in British Columbia in spring 2026 and the remaining two in fall 2026, all entering service by 2027.

The Island class, with six vessels currently in operation and four more being built, is BC Ferries’ largest vessel class. These ferries are integral to the company’s efforts to reduce emissions, minimize underwater noise, and enhance inter-island connectivity. BC Ferries is collaborating with BC Hydro to install rapid charging infrastructure, with the Nanaimo Harbour terminal set for electrification by summer 2026 and the other three terminals by early 2027.