New larger BC Ferries set to sail

VICTORIA — Three of the biggest, most advanced double-ended ferries in the world will be docking in British Columbia by November.

B.C. ferries says everything in on schedule for the arrival of its new “Super C-class” ferries. The first of the new vessels, the Coastal Renaissance, will depart the shipyard in Flensburg, Germany on Sept. 21.

“Everyone associated with this project, from Flensburg to the hundreds of BC Ferries’ staff who have worked on it in Germany and in British Columbia, have done a remarkable job preparing for the delivery, said David L. Hahn, BC Ferries’ President and CEO. “This is one of the biggest new vessel initiatives in BC Ferries’ history.”

Coastal Renaissance arrives in British Columbia in mid-November and is scheduled to be in service in early 2008. The second vessel, Coastal Inspiration, arrives three months later and is expected to be in service in the spring. The third, Coastal Celebration, arrives in summer 2008 and is expected to be to be in service by summer 2008 as well.

BC Ferries has also finalized deployment plans for the new vessels. Coastal Renaissance will reside at Departure Bay in Nanaimo and will serve the Departure Bay – Horseshoe Bay route. Coastal Inspiration will reside at Duke Point in Nanaimo and serve the Duke Point- Tsawwassen run and Coastal Celebration will reside at Swartz Bay, and serve the Swartz Bay-Tsawwassen run.