Travel to and from the southern Gulf Islands will get easier when two new Salish Class ferries come into service in May, says BC Ferries.
Under construction in Gdansk, Poland, the gas-powered boats will increase capacity to Galliano, Mayne, Pender, Salt Spring and Saturna islands by 45 per cent.
A third vessel, the Salish Orca, will go into service between Comox and Powell River when it arrives in Canada later this year and after ‘several months of crew training.’
Sister ships, the Salish Eagle and Raven, will be added to routes ‘early next year,’ says a BC Ferries release, the Eagle sporting art by Stz’uminus sculptor and artist John Morton.
BC Ferries believes islanders and island visitors will be pleased with the improved service.
“The final schedules support our customers’ desire for times and routing that more closely model the current schedules, with added improvements we believe ferry users will appreciate,” said Mark Collins, BC Ferries’ vice-president of strategic planning and community engagement.