Salish-class ferry
{{short description|Class of double-ended ferries in British Columbia, Canada}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2020}}
| {{Infobox ship begin
|infobox caption= |display title= |sclass= 2 }} {{Infobox ship image |Ship image=2018-11-03 BC Ferries SALISH RAVEN - IMO 9750294 at Tsawwassen Terminal 18-08-28.jpg |Ship image size= 300px |Ship caption=Salish Raven docked at Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal in 2018 }} {{Infobox ship class overview |Name=Salish class |Builders= Remontowa Shipbuilding S.A., Gdańsk, Poland |Operators= BC Ferries |Class before= {{sclass|Burnaby|ferry|4}} |Class after= |Subclasses= |Built range= 2016, 2020 |In service range=2017–present |Total ships planned=4 |Total ships on order= |Total ships building= |Total ships completed=4 |Total ships cancelled= |Total ships active=4 |Total ships laid up= |Total ships lost= |Total ships retired= |Total ships scrapped= |Total ships preserved= }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Hide header= |Header caption= |Ship type= Ferry |Ship tonnage= * {{GT|8728}}
|Ship displacement= {{cvt|4227|LT|t}} |Ship length= {{cvt|107.2|m|ftin}} oa |Ship beam={{cvt|23.5|m|ftin}} |Ship height= |Ship draught= |Ship draft= |Ship depth= |Ship decks= |Ship deck clearance= |Ship ramps= |Ship ice class= |Ship sail plan= |Ship power= {{cvt|5,952|hp|lk=in}} |Ship propulsion= |Ship speed= {{convert|15.5|kn|lk=in}} |Ship capacity=* 600 passengers and crew
|Ship crew= |Ship notes= }} |
The Salish-class vessels are four intermediate-capacity ferries operated by BC Ferries and were built in 2016 at Remontowa Shipbuilding S.A. in Gdańsk, Poland. They were the first dual-fuel powered vessels in British Columbia service, capable of using liquified natural gas or diesel oil to operate. Salish Orca entered service on the Comox–Powell River route in May 2017. Salish Eagle entered service on the Tsawwassen–Southern Gulf Islands route in June 2017. Salish Raven entered service for the Southern Gulf Islands on August 3, 2017. These vessels replaced {{MV|Queen of Nanaimo||2}}, {{ship||Queen of Burnaby}} and {{ship||Mayne Queen}}.
Description
The four Salish-class vessels, Salish Eagle, Salish Orca, Salish Raven and Salish Heron, have a displacement of {{convert|4227|LT|t}} and all measure {{GT|8728|disp=long}} and max {{DWT|864|disp=long}}. Salish-class vessels are {{convert|107.2|m|ftin}} long overall and {{convert|100.69|m|ftin}} between perpendiculars.{{cite web |url=https://www.bcferries.com/onboard-experiences/fleet/profile-salish-eagle.html |title=Salish Eagle |publisher=BC Ferries |accessdate=July 31, 2019}}{{csr|register=MSI|id=9750270|shipname=Salish Orca|accessdate=August 3, 2019}} The ferries have a beam of {{convert|23.5|m|ftin}}. They are powered by dual-fuel engines capable of using liquified natural gas (LNG) or diesel fuel to operate.{{cite web |url=https://www.timescolonist.com/business/last-of-three-salish-class-ferries-arrives-1.20470732 |title=Last of three Salish-class ferries arrives |work=Victoria Times-Colonist |last=Wilson |first=Carla |date=June 7, 2017 |accessdate=July 31, 2019}} The engines are rated at {{convert|5952|hp|lk=on}}. They were the first vessels in British Columbia to be powered by LNG.{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/new-salish-orca-ferry-en-route-to-b-c-1.3862733 |title=New Salish Orca ferry en route to B.C. |last=Thomas |first=Megan |work=CBC News |date=November 22, 2016 |accessdate=July 31, 2019}} They have a maximum speed of {{convert|15.5|kn|lk=in}}. Each ship has two car decks. They have capacity for 600 passengers and crew and 138 vehicles measuring {{convert|6.1|x|2.6|m|ft}}. The ferries have several amenities aboard including a cafeteria, a gift shop and areas for children and pets.
Vessels
| class="wikitable"
|+ Salish class ! Name ! Year built ! Route(s) ! Status ! Picture | |
| Salish Eagle
|2017 | 9 (Southern Gulf Islands) | Active |
| Salish Orca
|2016 | 17 (Comox–Powell River) | Active |
| Salish Raven
|2017 | 5 (Southern Gulf Islands) | Active |
| Salish Heron
|2020 |9A (Tsawwassen–Outer Gulf Islands)/refit relief for routes 5/5A during off season | Active |
Construction and career
Constructed by Remontowa Shipbuilding S.A. in Gdańsk, Poland, the three original vessels of the Salish class were ordered as replacements for the older {{ship|MV|Queen of Burnaby}}, {{ship||Mayne Queen}}, and {{MV|Queen of Nanaimo||2}}.{{cite web |url=https://bc.ctvnews.ca/new-salish-raven-ferry-makes-inaugural-sailing-ahead-of-schedule-1.3528337 |title=New Salish Raven ferry makes inaugural sailing ahead of schedule |work=CTV News |last=Devlin |first=Megan |date=August 1, 2017 |access-date=July 31, 2019}} Salish Orca was the first completed, in November 2016, and entered service on May 15, 2017.{{cite web |url=https://www.vicnews.com/news/salish-orca-ready-to-set-sail-in-b-c-waters/ |title=Salish Orca ready to set sail in B.C. waters |last=Haagen |first=Ragnar |work=Victoria News |date=May 13, 2017 |access-date=July 31, 2019}} Salish Eagle was completed in February 2017 and entered service that June.{{csr|register=MSI|id=9750282|shipname=Salish Eagle|accessdate=August 3, 2019}} Salish Raven was completed in April 2017 and entered service ahead of schedule on August 3, 2017, after Queen of Nanaimo had significant mechanical issues preventing the ship from continued service.{{csr|register=MSI|id=9750294|shipname=Salish Raven|accessdate=August 3, 2019}} Salish Raven{{cite web |url=https://www.bcferries.com/onboard-experiences/fleet/profile-salish_raven.html |title=Salish Raven |publisher=BC Ferries |access-date=July 31, 2019}} sails on the Swartz Bay – Southern Gulf Islands Route 5, Salish Eagle sail on the Southern Gulf Islands – Tsawwassen route 9, Salish Orca sails on the Powell River – Comox route 17 {{cite web |url=https://www.bcferries.com/onboard-experiences/fleet/profile-salish-orca.html |title=Salish Orca |publisher=BC Ferries |access-date=July 31, 2019}} and Salish Heron sails on Tsawwassen – Southern Gulf Islands route 9a in the busy season and acts as a relief vessel for the other Salish-class ships during their refit and out of service periods.
On November 1, 2019, Remontowa Shipbuilding signed a contract with BC Ferries to build the fourth Salish-class vessel, intended to replace Mayne Queen on the Swartz Bay–Outer Gulf Island run (route 5A).{{cite web |url=https://www.bcferries.com/files/AboutBCF/2018-11-05-S55-application-island-class-and-salish-class-vessels.pdf |title=Application to the British Columbia Ferries Commissioner For New Salish Class Vessel and Island Class Vessels Routes 5, 19 and 23 November 5 2018 |publisher=BC Ferries |access-date=November 11, 2019 |archive-date=November 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191112020022/https://www.bcferries.com/files/AboutBCF/2018-11-05-S55-application-island-class-and-salish-class-vessels.pdf |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web|url=http://www.remontowa-rsb.pl/en/aktualnosci/remontowa-shipbuilding-will-build-another-lng-ferry-for-canada/|title=Remontowa Shipbuilding will build another LNG ferry for Canada|website=Remontowa Shipbuilding|access-date=November 13, 2019}} Construction for the fourth Salish-class vessel began on February 4, 2020.{{cite web |title=Building the Fourth Ferry For BC Ferries |url=http://www.remontowa-rsb.pl/en/aktualnosci/building-a-fourth-ferry-for-bc-ferries/ |website=Remontowa Shipbuilding |access-date=March 27, 2020}} The ship was planned to complete sea trials in 2021 before arriving in British Columbia to be outfitted and ultimately enter service in 2022.{{Cite press release |title=BC Ferries Fourth LNG-Fuelled Salish Class Vessel Launched|url=https://www.bcferries.com/news-releases/bc-ferries-fourth-lng-fuelled-salish-class-vessel-launches-at-remontowa-shipbuilding|access-date=January 31, 2021|publisher=BC Ferries}} On March 23, 2021, BC Ferries announced that the name for the fourth Salish-class vessel would be Salish Heron.{{cite web |url=https://www.timescolonist.com/news/local/b-c-ferries-new-salish-class-vessel-to-be-called-the-salish-heron-1.24298177 |title=B.C. Ferries new Salish-class vessel to be called the Salish Heron |last=Wilson |first=Carla |work=Times Colonist |date=March 23, 2021 |access-date=July 4, 2021 }} Salish Heron started its journey to British Columbia on December 22, 2021 from Gdańsk bound for Victoria. The journey also included a stopover at Manzanillo in Mexico. The ship finally arrived at Victoria on March 3, 2022.{{Cite tweet |user=BCFerries |number=1499565524342112259 |title=The Salish Heron Has Arrived in Victoria}} The vessel entered service on May 6, 2022 after having its artwork painted to its hull.{{cite web |url=https://www.tricitynews.com/bc-news/salish-heron-ferry-scheduled-to-pull-into-victoria-on-thursday-5118462 |title=Salish Heron Ferry Expected to Pull into Victoria Thursday |last=Wilson |first=Carla |date=March 2, 2022 |work=Tri-City News |access-date=March 2, 2022}}
Shortly after entering service, the Salish-class vessels experienced several problems; the first was that there was no galley ventilation system and at times the cafeteria's kitchen would reach extreme temperatures, making it unsafe for crews to work in the kitchen. In early 2018, all three active Salish-class vessels had a galley ventilation system installed, fixing the issue. The ships' elevators and issues with refuelling were problems; both issues were resolved when the ships were sent to local shipyards for repairs.{{Cite web|url=https://www.timescolonist.com/business/glitches-on-new-salish-vessels-are-to-be-expected-b-c-ferries-says-1.23123390|title=Glitches on new Salish vessels are to be expected, B.C. Ferries says |date=December 15, 2017|work=Times Colonist |last=Duffy |first=Andrew |access-date=November 14, 2019}}
On November 7, 2019, Salish Raven suffered a malfunction in one of its propellers at roughly 9:30{{Nbsp}}am after leaving Pender Island. A tugboat arrived to aid the ferry and all its passengers were disembarked by 1:30{{Nbsp}}pm. The vessel resumed sailing later that day.{{cite web |url=https://www.timescolonist.com/news/local/ferry-passengers-back-on-land-after-being-stranded-off-swartz-bay-for-more-than-four-hours-1.24000957 |title=Ferry passengers back on land after being stranded off Swartz Bay for more than four hours |work=Times Colonist |date=November 7, 2019 |access-date=November 12, 2019}}