Bureau Veritas Classes Seaspan’s First Eco Ferry

Classification society Bureau Veritas has classed Seaspan Swift, a new dual-fuelled/hybrid (diesel, liquefied natural gas and battery) ferry owned by Canada’s Seaspan Ferries Corporation (SFC).

The ferry has entered service between the British Columbia mainland and Vancouver Island, Bureau Veritas said.

Seaspan Swift is the first hybrid LNG fuelled and battery powered vessel in service and the first LNG fuelled vessel operating on the west coast of Canada. Additionally, Seaspan Swift is bunkered using a tanker truck to deliver LNG onboard the vessel. This type of bunkering operation is said to be the first of its kind in North America.

Designed by Vard Marine, the 148.9-meter long vessel is the first of two being built by Turkish shipbuilder Sedef Shipbuilding.

Following a 10,661 nautical mile delivery voyage to the SFC Tilbury Terminal in Delta, Vancouver, Seaspan Swift underwent pre-operation regulatory checks and crew training in December.

The second ferry, Seaspan Reliant, is expected to arrive on the Canada’s West Coast in early-2017.

Seaspan Swift and Seaspan Reliant mark the first vessels added to SFC’s fleet since 2002.