BC Ferries' newest hybrid-electric vessel arrives in Victoria waters

BC Ferries' newest vessel, Island Gwa'yam, arrived in Victoria Inner Harbour on Wednesday, September 9, marking a milestone in the ferry operator's fleet renewal. The 80-metre hybrid-electric ship was built at Damen Shipyards in Romania and will now undergo final testing, sea trials, and crew training before carrying passengers.

The name Gwa'yam means "whale" in Kwak'wala language and was gifted by the We Wai Kai First Nation. The Greater Victoria Harbour Authority called the arrival "exciting," noting the vessel's distinctive design as it cleared customs alongside the Emerald Princess.

Island Gwa'yam is one of four new Island Class vessels on order. The fleet is designed for shorter inter-island routes and will eventually grow BC Ferries' hybrid-electric service from six vessels to ten by 2027. Island Gwa'yam and its sister ship Island K'asa will operate Route 23 between Campbell River and Quadra Island, while two other vessels will serve the Nanaimo–Gabriola Island route.

Each vessel can carry about 400 passengers and crew plus 47 vehicles. The ships are capable of running on a mix of fossil fuels and battery power, with plans for full conversion to 100 per cent battery-electric operation once charging infrastructure is installed at terminals. The four-vessel order was placed with Damen Shipyards in January 2024. The Canada Infrastructure Bank provided a $75 million low-cost loan to help finance the purchase.