A naming ceremony for the world’s longest cable ferry crossing, which will be operated by the Canadian ferry company BC Ferries, was held at Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards in North Vancouver, this month.
The 78.5m-long ferry, which is named Baynes Sound Connector (after the channel it will cross) and classed by Lloyd’s Register, will join Canada’s coastal ferry fleet and operate on the Buckley Bay to Denman Island route after it is delivered later this summer.
With a capacity for 150 passengers, including crew, and 50 vehicles, the vessel is said to be the longest cable ferry in the world, covering a distance of approximately 1.9 kilometres and travelling at speeds of up to 8.5 knots.bc ferries
The finishing touches are now being added to the vessel (pictured below) before she is towed to Buckley Bay on Vancouver Island in June where the vessel will be connected to its three cable links that were laid in April.
At the ceremony, Mike Corrigan, BC Ferries’ President and CEO, said: "Today marks a special milestone in our vessel replacement program as we honour maritime tradition with the naming ceremony and thank the workers at Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards who have produced a fine vessel for us. “As we continue to invest in the long-term sustainability of British Columbia’s ferry system, we celebrate this new ship today which will carry our passengers and their vehicles safely and efficiently for many years to come."
Ben Thompson, LR’s Business Devoplment Manager for Western Canada, said: “LR Canada is very proud to be involved in this seminal project to build a cable ferry for BC Ferries at Vancouver Shipyard. It is not only the first vessel to be built at the recently upgraded Vancouver facility using the new infrastructure installed for the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy shipbuilding programme, but it is also the first cable ferry to be Classed and Delegated in Canada.
"Prior to shipyard selection, LR worked closely with BC Ferries and Transport Canada to review and approve this unconventional design in order to satisfy Transport Canada’s requirements ahead of any unified regulations for cable ferries in Canada. The construction has been supervised by our Project Manager, Richard Chern, a Senior Surveyor at LR Vancouver."
