Damen Shipyards Galati in Romania has celebrated the keel laying of the first two of four fully electric ferries for BC Ferries.

The ceremony represents the third phase of Damen’s Island Class Ferries program, a collaboration that will eventually bring the number of Damen-built vessels in BC Ferries’ fleet to ten.

The Island Class series, which began with the delivery of four hybrid diesel-electric ferries, has laid the groundwork for BC Ferries’ shift towards fully electric vessels. Designed to operate with zero emissions, these new ferries are expected to play a critical role in BC Ferries’ target to reduce CO₂ emissions by 10,000 tons by 2030. The transition to fully electric technology has been made possible by the development of renewable shore power charging infrastructure, enabling the vessels to recharge during brief periods at port.