Upgraded Spirit of British Columbia returns to Canada

Canada’s BC Ferries’ 1993-built Ro-Pax ferry Spirit of British Columbia has returned to service after its major mid-life upgrade and conversion to LNG propulsion at Remontowa Shiprepair Yard in Gdansk.

The Spirit-class Spirit of British Columbia has been converted to a dual-fuel ferry, so she can operate on LNG or ultra-low sulphur marine diesel to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

Among the changes, navigation and propulsion equipment, passenger elevators, LED lighting and air-conditioning were upgraded, passenger areas were recarpeted and washrooms refurbished.

The 167-metre vessel can carry 358 cars and 2,100 passengers. Powered by engines producing 15,953kW, the vessel has a maximum speed of 19.5 knots.

Sister ship Spirit of Vancouver Island will be converted between autumn 2018 and spring 2019.

BC Ferries plans to operate these two vessels, which service the Metro Vancouver to Victoria (Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay) route, for another 25 years.