Canadian ferry operator BC Ferries is sending one of its Ro-Ro/Passenger vessels to a mid-life upgrade expected to prepare it for another 20 years of service.
The 1992-built Queen of Cumberland will undergo an CAD 18 million (USD 13.9m) upgrade from November 21, 2015 to April 17, 2016. The refit work will be carried out at Esquimalt Drydocking Company.
For the duration of the works, service on the Swartz Bay-Southern Gulf Islands route will be provided by a combination of the Skeena Queen and the Bowen Queen, the company said.
“A significant upgrade such as the one the Queen of Cumberland is undergoing allows BC Ferries to operate a more efficient vessel for decades into the future,” said Mark Wilson, BC Ferries’ Vice President of Engineering.
“We are confident that our customers will see positive results and we hope they are pleased with this commitment to reliable service.”
To maintain the capacity levels to/from Salt Spring Island, BC Ferries is adding sailings to the Swartz Bay- Fulford Harbour and Vesuvius Bay-Crofton routes.