BC Ferries Names Future Super C-Class Ships

BC Ferries operates a dense network along the Pacific coast of British Columbia with a fleet of 35 vessels.

As the start of a newbuilding program, the Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft (FSG) will, between December 2007 and June 2008, deliver three "Super C-Class" double-ended ferries that measure 160 x 28.2 with a 5.75 m draft, able to carry 370 automobiles, 1650 passengers and 35 crew.

The vessels are reportly to be powered by four MaK 8M 32 C generator sets which jointly supply the electrical energy for the currently operating unit of the two propulsion motors (each of 11,000 kW), all the auxiliary systems and the comprehensive facilities available on the ships. At an engine speed of 600 rpm, a total of 16,000 kW is available at the main switchboard and, even with only two generator sets active, a cruise speed of 18 knots can still be maintained.

Two Vancouver companies, SmartDesign Group and Lisa Bell & Associates, have been selected by Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft shipyard as the interior design companies for BC Ferries’ three new Super C-class vessels.
SmartDesign Group will develop the interior design standards for the Super C-class passenger accommodation areas.

Lisa Bell & Associates, a Vancouver-based food service facilities consulting firm, has also been contracted by Flensburger to work on the Super C-class vessels. The firm will design the equipment layout for all food service areas.

The detailed interior design phase for the three Super C-class vessels will continue until January 2006. Construction of the vessels will begin in September 2006 with delivery of the first vessel in December 2007, the second in early 2008 and the third in mid-2008.

BC Ferries has chosen the names for the vessels that will begin operating between the mainland and Vancouver Island in early 2008.
An advisory board comprised of local newspaper reporters and BC Ferries’ employees selected the names Coastal Renaissance, Coastal Inspiration and Coastal Celebration after reviewing a total of 7,602 entries submitted in a contest that ran from Oct. 18, 2005 through Jan. 31 of this year.

Over the next 15 years, $2 billion will be required to replace aging ships and upgrade terminals