Second dual-fuel ferry sets sail for BC

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The following is the text of a news release from BC Ferries:

(VICTORIA, British Columbia) — BC Ferries’ Salish Eagle, the second of three new Salish-class vessels, is on its way. The vessel departed Gdansk, Poland on Saturday for a 10,440-nautical mile journey bound for its new home in British Columbia.

The trans-Atlantic voyage will take approximately 45 to 55 days, depending on weather. The journey will include stops for refueling in Santa Cruz, Canary Islands and Panama City, Panama, after transiting the Panama Canal and sailing up the west coast of North America to British Columbia.

For those who want to join the voyage “virtually," customers can track the ship’s progress including course, position and speed at www.vesselfinder.com.

Salish Eagle, BC Ferries’ second dual-fuel vessel, is scheduled to arrive in British Columbia in April for crew training and familiarization. The ship is scheduled to start service in the Southern Gulf Islands in the summer.

“We are looking forward to introducing all three new Salish-class vessels into service this year, which will serve British Columbians for decades to come.” said Mike Corrigan, BC Ferries’ president and CEO. “We plan to operate these ships on natural gas, which will improve our environmental footprint and reduce our operating costs.”

The artwork created to adorn Salish Eagle, designed by Stz'uminus First Nation’s John Marston, will be applied on the ship when it arrives in B.C. The winter weather in Poland has temperatures below ideal for the application.

BC Ferries will take final acceptance and ownership of Salish Eagle upon final inspection once the vessel arrives in B.C. Remontowa Shipbuilding S.A. is responsible to deliver the ship to B.C. and has contracted with a professional international ship delivery specialist. Some of BC Ferries’ crewmembers are on various legs of the voyage for training and familiarization.

By Professional Mariner Staff