New ferries: The Coastal Renaissance is the first
he Coastal Renaissance, the first of three vessels being built here for B.C. Ferries, is under budget and ahead of schedule, according to the ferry corporation.The same thing goes for the next two ships, the Coastal Inspiration and the Coastal Celebration. A fourth ferry, the Northern Expedition, is in the design phase.
The new vessels are part of an effort by B.C. Ferries to replenish its aging fleet and improve an image that was otherwise tarnished by labour and safety issues — chiefly the sinking of the Queen of the North nearly a year ago — as well as higher fares blamed on increasing fuel costs.
As controversial as it was to have the Super-C class vessels built outside of British Columbia, it would be foolish to figure on a fast-ferry fiasco from the German shipyard that’s constructing them.
The Coastal Renaissance is rapidly taking shape in the Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft yard just north of downtown Flensburg. It is expected to set sail for Canada in September — a month ahead of schedule — and be in service between Horseshoe Bay and Departure Bay before Christmas.
The Inspiration will join the Renaissance in April 2008, and the Celebration will be on the Swartz Bay-Tsawwassen route by July — also ahead of schedule.
