The fifth Island Class vessel to join the fleet at B.C. Ferries was named Island Kwigwis at a ceremony at the company’s maintenance facility in Richmond Tuesday.
The ferry, the fifth of six Island-class boats, will be put into service between Nanaimo and Gabriola Island next spring with its sister vessel, temporarily named Island 6.
“Island Kwigwis represents a small step on the path to fostering our relationships with First Nations, embracing our environmental responsibilities, while maintaining our commitment to the communities we serve,” said B.C. Ferries chief executive Mark Collins. “This ship will connect people and we are grateful for the opportunity to make that happen.”
The name Kwigwis means “eagle of the sea.” It was selected with support from the ‘Na̲mg̲is First Nation.
In keeping with maritime tradition and to bestow the ship with good luck and protection for those who travel on it, B.C. Ferries selected sponsors for the christening of the vessel. Chief Bill Cranmer from ‘Na̲mg̲is First Nation and Linda Provost, business adviser with B.C. Ferries, christened the ship Tuesday.
The Kwigwis will be joined by Island 6 later this month.
Island 6, which left Damen Shipyards Galati in Romania in the middle of October, is currently in port in California.
Each of the Island Class vessels is a hybrid with a diesel-electric engine with the ability to operate as a fully electric ship once B.C. Ferries has installed plug-in recharging capabilities at its terminals.
They can carry 47 vehicles and are double-ended for easy loading and unloading. The ferries have wide vehicle lanes, dedicated pedestrian paths and bicycle-parking spaces.
Their design reduces underwater radiated noise and lowers emissions.
The first two Island Class ferries, Island Discovery and Island Aurora, were brought to Victoria via a semi-submersible heavy-lift vessel in 2019 and are in service on the Powell River-Texada Island route and the Port McNeill-Alert Bay-Sointula Island route.
Island Nagalis and Island K’ulut’a will be in service next year on the Campbell River-Quadra Island route.
