BC Ferries held a naming ceremony on July 15 in Victoria, British Columbia, for its newest hybrid-electric vessel, Island Sarlequun. The ship recently arrived from Galați, Romania, and is scheduled to serve the route between Nanaimo Harbour and Gabriola Island in the coming weeks following final preparations and crew training.
The name sarlequun, meaning "people at Nanaimo Harbour" in the hul'q'umi'num language, was gifted by the indigenous Snuneymuxw First Nation.
The ferry is the second of four new hybrid-electric vessels expected by the company to enter service over the coming year. BC Ferries stated that the vessel is planned to operate alongside its sister ship, Island Xwsaĺux̌ul, on the aforementioned route.
The company said arrival of Island Sarlequun represents part of the fleet renewal programme of BC Ferries, which is designed to increase capacity and improve reliability.
These hybrid-electric vessels are designed to run on electric power once shore-based charging infrastructure is completed, which BC Ferries expects to be in place in 2027.
The vessel will replace Island Gwawis, which BC Ferries plans to redeploy to the Crofton-Vesuvius Bay route in early 2027. This redeployment of one of two ships is expected by the company to manage traffic volumes and increase capacity.
