The BC Ferry Commission has announced that BC Ferries' fleet is set to expand with the acquisition of four new vessels.
They will replace a quartet of aging ships — the Queens of Alberni, New Westminster, Coquitlam, and Cowichan — one of which has been in service since the 1960s.
BC Ferries had initially asked for five new diesel-battery hybrid, all-electric-ready ships, however the request for the fifth was denied on the grounds that it was "neither essential nor affordable at this time, and ... fiscally irresponsible."
"I'm very pleased to be able to approve the replacement of the fleet's four oldest major vessels," Commissioner Eva Hage said. "It will mean a vast improvement in service, reliability, and capacity on BC Ferries' busiest routes."
The new ferries will likely come into service in the spring of 2029, and operate on the major routes between the Lower Mainland and the island.
"These four ferries are reaching the end of their lives," Hage added, "and additional life extensions are not an option. Investing further in them would simply delay the inevitable expenditure; at the same time, it would increase the risk of mechanical breakdowns and service disruptions."
When asked about the move, BC Premier David Eby predicted the new ships will "assist with stability in the fleet with people getting to where they need to go."
"The structure of BC Ferries is a challenging one to understand," he added, noting that the commissioner is independent and "serves an important purpose."
In recent months, BC Ferries has come under fire for numerous cancellations on major routes, namely during the holidays. The transportation provider blamed bad weather and "mechanical difficulty" for the missed sailings.
On Christmas Day, for example, numerous departures from Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay were cancelled, along with all sailings between Tsawwassen and Duke Point. Also impacted were those from Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay and back.
BC Conservatives Transportation Critic Harman Bhangu said "severe weather highlights the urgent need for storm-resilient infrastructure to ensure reliable transportation for British Columbians."