Germany to build double-ended ferries for Canada

The new ferries are for operations between the Canadian mainland and Vancouver Island, specifically on the Horseshoe Bay?Departure Bay and Swartz Bay?Tsawwassen routes. The specifications call for 160m vessels that will accommodate 372 vehicles and 1,500 passengers while the contract price, reportedly of ?206.4 million (Can$325 million), is said by the owners to be around 40% less than the early Canadian bids.

The first vessel is scheduled to arrive in British Columbia in December 2007, with the second following in March 2008 and the third in June 2008. These vessels are among the first to be ordered for BC Ferries? Newbuild programme that will see a further 19 vessels built over the next decade and a half.

The average age of the company?s vessels is 32 years and under its Newbuild programme, it will retire several older vessels. The first vessels to go are the Queen of Tsawwassen, built in 1960, the Queen of Esquimalt and the Queen of Saanich, both built in 1963, and the Queen of Vancouver, built in 1962.

This new contract, which fills up the shipyard?s order book through to the middle of 2008, is the first for Canadian ferries to be placed in Germany or, for that matter, Europe. Although of “classic” double-ended configuration, the Super C class incorporates an advanced diesel electric propulsion system together with a sophisticated ballast/trim control

system.

Substantial volume

As well as passengers the design is arranged to carry a substantial volume of road traffic. The 4.75m high main deck offers a total of 1,010 lane metres with either eight 2.60m wide lanes or six 3.20m wide ? accommodating 186 cars or 32 tractor/trailer units respectively. The upper deck, 2.90m high, also offers 1,010 lane metres in eight 2.60m wide lanes for a further 186 cars.

The main machinery will comprise four 3,840kW prime movers ? yet to be specified ? supplying electric power to two 11,650kW electric drive motors each driving a propeller at either end of the vessel, together with auxiliary systems and public spaces. The design service speed is 21 knots but the system provides a high degree of redundancy so that with two prime movers off line, a speed of 18 knots can be maintained. The propellers run at constant speed and pony motors will be fitted for running-up purposes.

The ballast system is designed to rapidly trim the vessel to cope with the mixture of vehicle loads that have to be carried but which cannot be pre-planned prior to the vessel?s loading and departure. n