BC Ferries will soon put in use its fourth LNG-powered vessel following the arrival of the ferry Salish Heron from Poland to Canada.
The LNG-powered ferry left Remontowa in Gdansk, Poland on December 22 for a long trip of more than 10,400 nautical miles.
It arrived in Victoria, British Columbia on March 4, Remontowa said in a statement.
After that, the ferry went to BC Ferries’ fleet maintenance unit base in Richmond for final preparations.
These include applying exterior graphics designed by Coast Salish Indian tribe artist Maynard Johnny Junior to the sides, Remontowa said.
The LNG-powered vessel will replace BC Ferries’ diesel-powered Mayne Queen on the Swartz Bay-Southern Gulf Islands line in the Canadian province of British Columbia.
The new 107 meters long vessel has the capacity to carry at least 138 vehicles and up to 600 passengers and crew.
The ship features three Wartsila engines and electrically-propelled Schottel thrusters.
Poland’s Remontowa previously built three Salish-class LNG-powered vessels for BC Ferries. These are Salish Orca, Salish Raven, and Salish Eagle.